The holidays are the busiest travel stretch of the year, and fuel is a bigger part of the bill than most families plan for. For Thanksgiving 2025, AAA projected a record 81.8 million travelers, about 73 million of them by car, and it expected more than 122 million people to travel over the year end holidays. Holiday drives also tend to be longer than a typical weekend trip, with a full car, a loaded trunk and sometimes winter weather.
This guide shows what actually moves your holiday fuel bill, based on 12 years of EIA gas price data and Department of Energy fuel economy figures. To see what 20 common holiday drives cost at this week's prices, check our Thanksgiving road trip gas cost table. For your own route, start with the Trip Planner or the GasBudgeter Road Trip Gas Calculator, then use the seasonal factors below to build a budget that holds up in the real world.
Thanksgiving: What Really Moves the Fuel Bill
Gas Prices Usually Fall Into Thanksgiving
Despite the travel rush, gas prices rarely rise for Thanksgiving. In 9 of the last 12 years, the EIA weekly U.S. average price of regular gasoline was lower in Thanksgiving week than in mid October, by about 10 cents a gallon in a typical year. Thanksgiving week was also below the summer average in 9 of the last 11 years. Stations switch to winter blend gasoline in the fall, which is cheaper to make, and demand eases after the summer driving season.
National averages hide local swings, and stations right at busy highway exits often charge more than stations a short drive away. The practical takeaway: plan with this week's price, and expect it to hold or drift lower rather than spike.
Leave When the Roads Are Quieter
Traffic, not price, is what to plan around. For Thanksgiving 2025, the traffic data company INRIX expected Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons to be the most congested times to leave, with heavy traffic for most of the day on the Sunday drive home. Leaving early in the morning, or coming home on Saturday or Monday if you can, avoids the worst of it. Less stop and go traffic means better fuel economy for the whole trip.
A Loaded Car Uses More Fuel
Holiday cars carry passengers, luggage, food and gifts. According to fueleconomy.gov, every extra 100 pounds cuts fuel economy by about 1 percent, so 500 to 700 pounds more than you usually carry costs roughly 5 to 7 percent. A rooftop cargo box costs far more: 6 to 17 percent on the highway and 10 to 25 percent at 65 to 75 mph. If you need the extra space, a cargo carrier mounted on the back of the car costs only about 1 to 5 percent on the highway.
Christmas and New Year's Road Trips
December Prices Are Usually Lower Still
The seasonal slide usually continues into December. In 10 of the last 12 years, the national average price of regular gasoline was lower in Christmas week than in Thanksgiving week. The year end holiday period is also spread over more days, so traffic is less concentrated than it is at Thanksgiving. Our Christmas road trip gas cost table prices 22 holiday drives at this week's prices.
Cold Weather Costs Mileage
Winter weather is the factor Christmas drivers cannot ignore. According to fueleconomy.gov, a gas car's mileage in city driving is about 15 percent lower at 20°F than at 77°F, and up to 24 percent lower on short trips of 3 to 4 miles. Hybrids lose about 30 to 34 percent under the same conditions. The causes add up: thicker fluids, an engine that takes longer to warm up, cabin heating, denser air, lower tire pressure and winter blend gasoline, which holds slightly less energy per gallon.
On a long highway drive, the engine reaches full temperature quickly, so the loss is smaller than those city figures. We suggest budgeting about 10 percent extra fuel for a cold weather highway trip. For a $250 base fuel estimate, that adds about $25.
Snow and Ice Add More
Snow and ice mean slower speeds, more braking and sometimes detours around closed roads, all of which burn extra fuel. If winter weather is possible anywhere on your route, add another 10 percent cushion to your fuel budget.
Your Complete Holiday Road Trip Fuel Budget Template
- Get your base fuel estimate. Enter your route and your car's highway MPG in the Trip Planner, which prices each leg at the gas price of the state it starts in.
- Adjust for the load. Lower your MPG by about 1 percent for every 100 extra pounds you carry, and by 6 to 17 percent if you add a rooftop cargo box.
- Use this week's gas price. Prices usually hold steady or drift lower into Thanksgiving and Christmas, so today's price makes a safe budget.
- For winter trips, add about 10 percent for cold weather, plus another 10 percent if snow or ice is possible along the route.
- Add a 10 percent contingency for detours, traffic and filling up at a pricier station.
- Set aside this total in your holiday budget before your trip so it does not compete with gift or food spending.
Smart Holiday Fuel Strategies
- Fill up before the Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon rush. Prices rarely jump for the holiday, so the goal is avoiding lines, not beating a price spike.
- Gas often costs a little less early in the week, a pattern we cover in our best day to buy gas guide.
- Warehouse clubs such as Costco and Sam's Club often sell gas for less than nearby stations, though you need a membership to fill up there.
- Check tire pressure before a cold weather Christmas trip. Tires lose about 1 PSI for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit drop in temperature. See our full guide on tire pressure and gas mileage for the full explanation and correction process.
- Driving an EV this holiday season? Warm the cabin while the car is still plugged in, and use seat warmers instead of the cabin heater to save range, as fueleconomy.gov recommends.
Expert Note
Holiday road trip fuel costs can vary significantly from your everyday driving. Using the Gas Budget Worksheet to set aside your fuel budget before the trip prevents it from competing with gift and entertainment spending at the worst possible moment.
Holiday Route Cost Guides
Holiday driving is mostly the same handful of corridors, repeated by millions of people on the same few days. Our Thanksgiving gas cost table prices 20 of them at this week's prices, and these guides cost out the most common ones in detail.
- New York to Boston
- Philadelphia to New York
- New York to Washington DC
- Washington DC to Orlando
- Chicago to Detroit
- Chicago to St Louis
- Minneapolis to Chicago
- Austin to Dallas
- Dallas to Houston
- Houston to San Antonio
- Atlanta to Nashville
- Nashville to Memphis
- Phoenix to Los Angeles
Frequently Asked Questions
Are gas prices higher on Thanksgiving than at other times of year?
Usually not. In 9 of the last 12 years, the U.S. average price of regular gasoline was lower in Thanksgiving week than in mid October, and it was below the summer average in 9 of the last 11 years, according to weekly EIA data. Stations right at busy highway exits can still charge more than stations nearby.
When is the best time to fill up before Thanksgiving travel?
Before the Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon rush, mainly to avoid lines and traffic. National prices rarely jump for the holiday, so there is no price spike to race. If you can, fill up at a station a mile or two off the highway rather than right at a busy exit.
How much more fuel does a car use in cold weather?
According to fueleconomy.gov, a gas car's mileage in city driving is about 15 percent lower at 20°F than at 77°F, and up to 24 percent lower on short trips of 3 to 4 miles. Hybrids can lose about 30 to 34 percent. On a long highway drive the loss is smaller because the engine warms up quickly.
How do I budget for a holiday road trip when gas prices are uncertain?
Price the trip at this week's gas price, then add a cushion of about 10 percent for detours, traffic and price swings. Prices usually hold steady or drift lower into Thanksgiving and Christmas, so today's price is a sensible base, but 2026 has been a volatile year, so check again a few days before you leave.
Is it worth renting an efficient car for holiday travel?
Rarely for the fuel savings alone. A 1,000 mile round trip uses about 56 gallons in an 18 MPG SUV and about 29 gallons in a 35 MPG compact. That saves about 27 gallons, or roughly $120 at $4.50 a gallon, which seldom covers several days of rental fees. Renting can still make sense if your own vehicle is not reliable enough for a long winter drive.
What is the cheapest holiday travel period for gas prices?
Christmas week, usually. In 10 of the last 12 years, the U.S. average price of regular gasoline was lower in Christmas week than in Thanksgiving week, according to weekly EIA data. Within any holiday week, the day you drive matters more for traffic than for price.
How does cold weather affect EV range on Christmas road trips?
At 20°F with the heater running, fueleconomy.gov says EV range can drop by about 41 percent, so a car rated for 300 miles may manage closer to 180. Preheat the cabin while the car is plugged in, use seat warmers, and plan more charging stops than the rated range suggests.
How do I plan fuel stops on a heavily trafficked holiday route?
Plan a stop every 150 to 200 miles and check prices with a gas price app the morning you leave. Keep a backup station in mind in case of a long line. Stations a mile or two off the highway are often cheaper and less crowded than those right at busy exits.
Should I use premium gas in winter for better cold weather starting?
No. Modern cars with fuel injection start reliably in cold weather on regular 87 octane gas, whatever the temperature. Premium adds cost without any cold weather starting benefit. If your owner's manual calls for regular, keep using regular all winter.
Should I put antifreeze in my car before a holiday winter road trip?
Antifreeze (coolant) should already be in your engine at the correct concentration from your regular maintenance schedule. Have the coolant concentration tested before a winter road trip if the vehicle is more than two years from its last coolant service. Correct coolant concentration is critical for engine protection in cold weather and is an important vehicle reliability factor.
How do I keep my holiday road trip fuel budget from competing with gift spending?
Give fuel its own line in your monthly budget using the GasBudgeter Gas Budget Worksheet. Work out the amount with the template in this guide and set it aside from your regular transportation budget the month before the holiday, so it is a known cost rather than a surprise at the pump.