Travelers will still take to the roads for the Thanksgiving holiday despite high gas prices, according to a forecast issued Thursday.
AAA estimates that about 31.2 million people will travel by motor vehicle for Thanksgiving, up 1.3 percent from the 30.8 million who drove in 2006. About 80 percent of all holiday travel is by automobile.
Gas prices in Colorado are up 90 cents per gallon compared with last year, with an average price of regular unleaded in the state at $3.11 per gallon.
Travelers “are finding ways around such challenges as the increased cost of gasoline and are still traveling,” said Sandra Barnes, AAA Colorado’s director of travel, in a written statement. Some are cutting costs by spending less on hotels, restaurants and other travel expenses, according to Barnes.
Colorado mountain resorts are expecting to see their fair share of Thanksgiving travelers.
Thanksgiving bookings in Vail, for example, are pacing ahead of last year, according to Vail Valley Partnership director of marketing Chris Romer.
More travelers to Vail come by car during Thanksgiving than for other holidays. Travelers to a luxury destination such as Vail may be “a little bit more immune to those minor hiccups” like high gas prices, he said.
Kelly Yamanouchi: 303-954-1488 or kyamanouchi@denverpost.com
