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Gas prices down as Montana drivers ‘rev up’ week of holiday travel

Posted at 5:27 PM, Nov 19, 2018
and last updated 2019-07-17 14:51:01-04

BILLINGS- If you and your family will be hitting the highways this week, this is perhaps the most important question: Is your vehicle ready?

This busy holiday travel week, AAA Montana anticipates emergency crews will respond to more than 600 calls for help on Montana roadways.

From flat tires to dead batteries to being locked out of your vehicle, tow truck drivers are prepared to help hundreds of motorists as they adventure out for the Thanksgiving holiday.

As with most things, timing is everything – and those with AAA suggest that now is the time to ensure your vehicle is ‘road trip’ ready by checking the oil, the battery and, perhaps most importantly, your tires.

This year, AAA expects a 5 percent increase in travel over last year.

Here’s how they break it down:

  • There will be more people choosing to fly than drive – with nearly 4. 3 million travelers taking a flight that many booked in September.
  • Car rental costs have dropped, with many travelers paying 10 percent less this year than in previous years.
  • And holiday hotel prices are also on the decline – with folks spending roughly $166 dollars per night, down 6 percent from a year ago.

But here’s the news you’ll really like hearing if you are traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday: gas prices are going to be cheaper this week than this time last year.

The gas tracking website, Gasbuddy.com, reports that Billings’ gas prices have fallen 4.1 cents per gallon in just one week, which is great timing for Montana motorists.

Eighty-one stations in Billings were compared against the national average and were down 4.5 cents per gallon from last week.

The national average has dropped by a 24. 1 cents per gallon ratio during the last month.

Areas near Billings are sitting at $2.89 per gallon. That aligns with Montana’s state average of gas prices, which also sits at $2.89 a gallon.

In Wyoming, gas prices are a little lower at $2.85 a gallon. In Idaho, gas prices are higher at $3.03 a gallon.

All of those prices are down from last week’s average.