news-record.com

Highway travelers from North Carolina during the Thanksgiving holiday are expected to total 1.09 million, up about 2 percent from last year, according to an AAA Carolinas study released Monday.

Gas prices in North Carolina will average 88 cents a gallon more than last year while air fares, hotel room rates and rental cars are expected to cost less.

The most expensive gas on average in North Carolina is in Wilmington at $3.111, up 91 cents from last year. The cheapest gas is in Winston Salem at $3.038. Statewide the average price is $3.079, up 88 cents from 2006. In Greensboro the average is $3.062.

With airfares down about 7 percent to an average fare of $163, air travel for the Carolinas is expected to be about 163,000 North Carolinians.

Other facts from the study:

* In North Carolina, road construction on the interstates will cease from 4 p.m. Tuesday to 9 a.m. Monday.

* 43 percent of travelers would travel with two to three other people and of families with children, 71 percent said they would travel with their kids.