If you're traveling for the Fourth of July, you have company. AAA says more people will hit Virginia roads this week than any other Independence Day in the past decade.
In short, it boils down to the price of gas. Prices are falling below $3 a gallon around the area, and that has a lot of people ready to pack up and head out.
AAA says 42.3 million people across the U.S. will travel this week, including 1.2 million Virginians. That's the highest number of travelers in the state in 10 years.
That's partly because a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Charlottesville right now costs just below $3, down 75 cents from this year's price peak in April. AAA says the trend is surprising, especially because gas in Charlottesville is historically more expensive.
Virginia Chinchester with AAA Mid-Atlantic said, "Typically we're higher than the other areas in Virginia. But this is the first time we're showing that Charlottesville's less expensive."
Another reason for higher travel this week is that July Fourth falls on a Wednesday. With the holiday in the middle of the week, surveys show people are actually more likely to use the few days on either side of the holiday for vacation.
If, on the other hand, you're scrapping your July Fourth plans - maybe because of storm damage or power outages - AAA also stresses moving quickly to avoid last-minute cancellation penalties from hotels or resorts.
