NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas knows that for the over 1 million Kansans estimated to do their year end holiday travel by car in 2022, they'll pay less at the pump than they did last year at this time.
"The average today in Kansas is $2.76 a gallon," Steward said Thursday. "That's down 50 cents just in the last month. If we look back to where we were a year ago, it was at $2.98, so we're 20, 22 cents less than that. It's certainly a good trend that we've been seeing for drivers, in terms of saving money."
The national average as of Thursday was $3.10 a gallon. Area counties are, as usual on both sides of the state average.
Reno $2.58
Rice $2.86
McPherson $2.70
Harvey $2.58
Sedgwick $2.70
Stafford $2.94
Pratt $2.92
Kingman $2.91
"We've got some competing factors going on right now," Steward said. "Projections of a lot of people traveling for the holidays, but people may be delaying those trips a day or two because of this weather."
Making sure your car is ready for your holiday trip is important.
"If you can, make sure that you get your car in and you get it checked out before you hit the road," Steward said. "Pay special attention to the battery, your tires, make sure your tires are properly inflated and have good tread, so you have traction if there is bad weather. Check systems like antifreeze, make sure that's in good shape, hoses and belts. Make sure your vehicle is in overall good shape."
To find out gas prices along your route, go to gasprices.aaa.com.
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