A recovering economy and falling gas prices are contributing to an increase in Labor Day holiday travel for the second straight year for South Carolinians, making it the highest number of travelers in six years, according to AAA Carolinas.
More than 451,000 Palmetto state residents – a 1.5% increase from 2013 – are expected to travel more than 50 miles from home. Of those travelers, 387,000 (86%) will be driving, while an estimated 36,000 (8%) will be flying.
Labor Day gas prices have fallen 24 cents a gallon since July 4th, allowing consumers to keep more money in their wallets and spend slightly more on food and accommodations.
At a $3.14 statewide average today, South Carolina has the cheapest prices at the pump in the country due to the lowest gas tax in the nation –16 cents a gallon, which has remained the same for nearly three decades.
“The continued downward trend in gas prices is good news for motorists and it’s one of the big reasons travelers are heading out for a final road trip during the last holiday of the summer as children head back to school,” said Dave Parsons, CEO and president of AAA Carolinas.
The most expensive gas in the state is in Myrtle Beach at $3.15 and the least expensive is in Spartanburg at $3.09.
South Carolina motorists will encounter higher gas prices in North Carolina ($3.34), Georgia ($3.32), Virginia ($3.19) and Tennessee ($3.20).
The most popular driving destinations for Carolina travelers are Charlotte, Myrtle Beach, Raleigh, Asheville, and Charleston, according to AAA Vacations, the largest leisure travel agency in the Carolinas, which tracks personalized drive trip routes.
Airfares have risen 2% this year, with an average lowest round-trip fare of $219, up from $214 last year, according to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index.
Hotel rates for AAA Three Diamond hotels have increased 6% from a year ago with travelers spending an average of $171 per night compared to $161 last year. The average hotel rate for AAA Two Diamond hotels has risen 9% with an average cost of $125 per night.
Car rental rates remain the same as last year at an average of $51 for a weekend daily rate.
South Carolina gasoline prices are ten cents lower this year than in 2013 and prices that year were down eight cents a gallon following the price spike in 2012 due to Hurricane Isaac.
Barring a major development, such as a Gulf Coast hurricane, prices are likely to remain low. Despite tensions overseas, U.S. refineries are running at full tilt and there is an abundance of supply.
“Unrest in the Middle East is not expected to push gas prices higher as analysts have assessed the potential for a disruption of oil supply to be limited,” said Parsons.
The South Carolina Department of Public Safety and member agencies of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Network will be in full effect for the “Sober or Slammer” campaign which started on Aug.15 and runs through Sept.1. The program includes public awareness initiatives and high-visibility enforcement in an effort to remove drunk drivers from the roads. South Carolina also partners with North Carolina and Georgia for the “Hands Across the Border” campaign, which promotes highway safety awareness.
South Carolina will suspend construction projects along interstates and high volume multilane primary routes throughout the holiday weekend.
The Labor Day travel period is defined as Thursday, Aug.28, through Monday Sept. 1.
Survey data is taken from AAA’s Leisure Travel Index, AAA/HIS Global Insight holiday travel forecast and AAA Carolinas data.
To estimate fuel costs travelers can go to www.fuelcostcalculator.com to input starting city, destination, and the make and model of their car.
The free AAA Mobile app for iPhone and Android devices uses GPS navigation to help travelers map a route, find updated gas prices, view nearby member discounts and access AAA Roadside Assistance.
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