Gas prices trending down in Jacksonville before busy travel weekend

Jacksonville — According to AAA 97 million Americans will be hitting the road this weekend to meet friends and family for the holidays, and right before you fill your tank up, gas prices in the Jacksonville area are trending lower.

According to Gasbuddy.com the average price of regular gas in the Jacksonville area is $2.28 per gallon. That’s about 3 cents lower than the price a week ago. Patrick DeHann from Gasbuddy says that we could see prices go even lower as we get closer to Christmas.

"If you're leaving for the weekend, if you fill up now you'll probably find that in a few days your gas station may have the same price or it may be a couple cents lower." DeHann says.

DeHann says its noteworthy that the prices in Jacksonville are about 2 cents higher than they were a year ago and that's much better than when compared to the national average.

"Nationally, prices are about 18 cents higher than a year ago." DeHann Says.

If you are going to be traveling for New Years, Patrick says its likely gas prices should stay relativity low before a spike towards the end of February.

"I would say that for the next few months, gas prices in Jacksonville probably will hold in the low to mid 2 dollar a gallon range, but next spring, as we tend to see, prepare for prices to rise." DeHann says.

According to Gasbuddy.com the cheapest gas in Jacksonville is $2.13 a gallon at the Sam's Club on Youngerman Circle off of Blanding Blvd on the Westside.