Travelers see lower gas prices compared to last year this holiday weekend

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Independence Day weekend is on track to be the busiest on record with more than 43 million Americans expected to travel, according to AAA.

Travelers can look forward to saving money at the gas pump. AAA says the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel is $3.55 which is $1.32 less than the price for a gallon during the last year's Fourth of July weekend.

AAA also expects nearly 800,000 Missourians to travel for the holiday weekend.

If you are traveling within the state, you will see the lowest average for a gallon of regular gas in Cape Girardeau at $3.07, and the highest average in St.Louis at $3.43, according to AAA.

You can also save on fuel by driving the speed limit and accelerating slowly, turning your car off during long waits to avoid idling and using cruise control during uninterrupted miles of driving.

Paying with cash or using a gas rewards card help save on the price of fuel as well.

Missouri State Highway Patrol says, more troopers will be on the roads for the counting period to make sure everyone is traveling safely.

The counting period for the Independence Day Weekend began Friday at 6 p.m. and will go to 11:59 p.m. Tuesday.

Over the 2022 holiday weekend, MSHP says Troopers arrested 146 people for driving while intoxicated and 13 boating while intoxicated arrests.

Also during the 2022 counting period, 11 people were killed and 449 injured in Missouri over the holiday in 1,069 traffic crashes.