Item by Chris Graham
[email protected]
Less of us Virginia types will be traveling long distances this Fourth of July holiday. Big surprise, right, given gas prices topping out around $4 a gallon?
“Fewer Virginians will be traveling this July 4th holiday due to soaring gas prices, higher airfares coupled with fewer flights and seats, and general concerns about the economy,” AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesperson Windy VanCuren said.
More than 1 million Virginians will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday weekend, AAA projects. That’s a decrease of 3 percent from the July 4th weekend in 2007.
The average price of a gallon of regular unleaded in Virginia is $3.98 as of this morning. It was $2.82 a gallon a year ago.
“Despite the decrease, however, a significant number of Virginians will still travel this holiday. Over 13 percent of the Commonwealth’s population will be celebrating the July 4th holiday away from home,” Van Curen said.