Fewer Americans plan to hit the road for Thanksgiving this year, even as gas prices remain near the lowest holiday level since the pandemic, according to GasBuddy, North America’s trusted fuel savings platform for more than 25 years. GasBuddy forecasts a national average price of gas of $3.02 per gallon on Thanksgiving Day, matching last year and marking one of the cheapest holiday averages since 2021.
GasBuddy’s 2025 Thanksgiving Travel Survey shows that 60 percent of Americans plan to take a road trip, a sharp decrease from 72 percent last year. The decline comes despite stable fuel prices and points to a more home-centered holiday season.
“Gas prices are cooperating this Thanksgiving, but that’s not translating into more travelers,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “Drivers have grown more resilient to price swings, yet I worry that concerns about a cooling economy may be weighing on Americans’ willingness to travel. Even with affordable gas, economic uncertainty can make people stay closer to home.”
According to the survey, 74 percent say gas prices have no effect on their Thanksgiving travel plans, up from roughly 56 percent last year. Among those traveling, patterns remain familiar:
• 56 percent will cross at least one state line.
• 66 percent expect to drive more than 100 miles.
• Most plan to leave early to mid-morning on Wednesday, Nov. 26.
Gas stations remain the most common pit stop, driven by convenience, price, and clean restrooms. A majority (60 percent) say they’ll use a loyalty or cash-back program to save on fuel, though slightly fewer than last year. Drivers can also join Pay with GasBuddy+ to save a guaranteed three to five cents per gallon on every fill-up. Visit gasbuddy.com/pay to learn more.
“Even with fewer people on the road, it pays to compare prices before filling up,” added De Haan. “Crossing a state line can mean a 10 to 25 cent jump in prices, and in rare cases, differences of up to a dollar per gallon. Tools like GasBuddy and Pay with GasBuddy+ can make a meaningful difference on longer trips.”
Meanwhile, average gasoline prices in Modesto have fallen 11.4 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.17/gallon on Monday, Nov. 17. That’s according to GasBuddy’s survey of 201 stations in Modesto. Prices in Modesto are 25.3 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 6.0 cents per gallon higher than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has increased 4.1 cents compared to a week ago and stands at $3.76 per gallon.
GasBuddy price reports show that the cheapest station in Modesto was priced at $3.79/gallon while the most expensive was $4.99, a difference of $1.20/gallon. The lowest price in the state was $3.29 while the highest was $7.99, a difference of $4.70/gallon.
The national average price of gasoline has fallen 0.4 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.03/gallon on Nov. 17. The national average is up 1.1 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 1.1 cents per gallon higher than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country.
Neighboring areas and their current gas prices include: Stockton – $4.13/gallon, down 16.0 cents from last week’s $4.29; Oakland – $4.50, down 3.1 cents from $4.53; and San Jose – $4.42, down 3.4 cents per gallon from last week’s $4.46/gallon.
