Thanksgiving Travel: Tips On Lowest Gas Prices, Weather Forecast

TAMPA, FL - Heading out to visit the relatives for Thanksgiving? Patch has some information that could come in handy.

If you are traveling Thursday, you could run into some rainy weather. In Tampa, there is a 20 percent chance of showers on Wednesday. On Thanksgiving Day, rain chances increase through the day. There is an 80 percent chance of showers Thursday and a few storms likely.

If you are traveling through the Orlando area Wednesday, there is a 20 percent chance of scattered showers. But expect it to rain on Thursday, rain chances are 90 percent. Heading north, the forecast in Ocala calls for a 20 percent chance of rain on Wednesday, but 90 percent on Thursday, according to The Weather Channel.

Nearly 51 million people will travel for Thanksgiving, the highest number in 12 years, according to the American Automobile Association. The Thanksgiving weekend is loosely defined as Wednesday to Sunday, Nov. 26.

Gas prices in the Tampa Bay area are higher this year, according to AAA. Gas prices during Thanksgiving last year were about $2 per gallon.

In Tampa, the average gas price is $2.45 per gallon. AAA says Tampa's prices are average for the state. The lowest gas prices in Tampa Bay, according to GasBuddy.com:

$2. 29 per gallon at Costco, 8712 W. Linebaugh Ave. near Sheldon Road;

$2.33 per gallon at Circle K, 4804 Gunn Highway and Plantation Boulevard;

$2.33 per gallon at 7-Eleven, 6016 Gunn Highway and Henderson Road;

$2.33 per gallon at Shell 5705 Gunn Highway and Lynn Road;

$2.33 per gallon at Murphy, 6228 Gunn Highway and Normandine Road;

In St. Pete, the lowest gas prices according to GasBuddy.com are:

$2.32 per gallon at Sam's Club, 1701 34th Street N & 17th Avenue N

$2.39 per gallon at Suhani, 2539 Dr Martin Luther King Jr St. N and 26th Avenue N;

$2.45 per gallon at Exxon, 3201 Dr Martin Luther King Jr St. N and 32nd Avenue N;

$2.49 per gallon at Mobil, 101 40th Avenue N and 1st Street N;

$2.49 per gallon at Citgo, 1000 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Street N and 10th Avenue.

To check on gas prices near you, click here

AAA says most travelers will be driving despite the highest Thanksgiving gas prices since 2014. Gas prices are higher in Naples and West Palm Beach, but lower in Orlando, Panama City and Jacksonville, according to AAA.

And be sure you service your car before starting out: AAA predicts it will have to rescue more than 330,000 motorists this Thanksgiving season.

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