Fuel to take chunk of holiday budget

Utahns hitting the road for Christmas travel will feel the pinch of higher gas prices much more than last year.

The state's regular unleaded prices are up 34 cents per gallon from last year, although they have dropped 10 cents a gallon since Thanksgiving.

Regular gas averaged $1.82 per gallon nationwide but $1.90 in Utah as of Monday, said Rolayne Fairclough, spokeswoman for AAA Utah.

"I noticed the future price of oil jumped substantially today," she said. "I think with the winter hitting hard in the Midwest and OPEC cutting production, oil prices will run up again. We better enjoy the relatively low gas prices through the holidays."

With both Christmas and New Year's Day following on weekends this year, AAA expects holiday travel to hit an all-time high with 62.7 million Americans traveling 50 miles or more from home — a 3 percent increase from last year.

Fairclough estimates 530,000 Utahns will travel between Christmas and New Year's. Those going by automobile will make up 446,000 of the total, and 82,000 are expected to fly.

With the holiday period stretching out a week or more, compared to four days for Thanksgiving, the roads and airports shouldn't be as crowded on any particular day, she said.

Drivers filling their tanks in Ogden will pay an average of $1.80 per gallon, 10 cents below the state average. In Provo, a gallon of regular will run $1.88. Richfield has the distinction of having the state's highest gas prices, averaging $1.99; Nephi comes in second at $1.97; Moab third at $1.95; and the lowest average prices are in the Salt Lake area at $1.75.

Drivers entering the state from the north and gassing up in Brigham City will pay $1.84 per gallon. Logan drivers will pay $1.91 per gallon and Payson drivers an average of $1.82.

Idaho drivers will pay an average of $1.87 per gallon of unleaded regular. In Colorado, drivers will pay $1.77; in Arizona, $1.80; in Nevada, $1.97; and in California, drivers will pay from $2.10 to $2.40, depending on where they fill up. In Montana, drivers will pay an average of $1.89 and in Wyoming, an average of $1.72.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates 410 Americans will be killed in holiday crashes. Many crashes will involve alcohol and impaired driving. And many drivers will push themselves too hard and become fatigued while driving. Drowsy driving is a major factor in Utah crashes, Fairclough said.

Travel experts recommend getting a good night's sleep before a long drive, stopping every two hours or 100 miles for a short break and sharing driving responsibilities.

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E-mail: lweist@desnews.com