10 Cheapest Gas States Offer a Full Tank of Vacation Options
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Best Places to B... As tens of millions of Americans prepare to get in their cars and trucks for their final road trips of the summer, the high price of gas will hit home again -- but for some, a bit less painfully than for others.
24/7 Wall St. and DailyFinance have looked at the states where the price of a gallon of regular gas is well below the national average of $3.62 to find the places where traveling by car is more of a bargain. And it turns out, those states offer bountiful vacation options for the budget-conscious family.
The number of people taking road trips this holiday weekend may actually rise compared to last Labor Day, despite the fact that gas costs significantly less last year: an average of $2.68 per gallon of regular. AAA predicts that 31.5 million Americans will travel more 50 miles from home by car from Sept. 1 to Sept. 5. The association pegs its predicted increase in automobile travel to high air fares and families' budget concerns based on the state of the economy.
Read on for a look at the cheapest places to fill up your tank this weekend.
(iStock Photo)
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10. Louisiana Gallon of Regular: $3.48
Gallon of Premium: $3.74
Gas Consumed Annually: 2.99 billion gallons
Number of Vehicles: 4.03 million
Parts of the state's coast have still not recovered entirely from Hurricane Katrina. There remain, however, several excellent vacation spots along the Gulf of Mexico, including Gulfport and Lake Charles. And New Orleans remains a major destination for tourists.
(AP Photo/Bill Haber, File)
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9. Arkansas Gallon of Regular: $3.48
Gallon of Premium: $3.74
Gas Consumed Annually: 2.05 billion gallons
Number of Vehicles: 2.04 million
Arkansas is a popular vacation destination for many people in the central U.S. Two of the nation's largest natural springs -- Hot Springs and Eureka Springs -- are located in the state. The Ozark Mountains are a favorite destination for travelers interested in music and folk concerts. Arkansas also has several hundred lakes, the largest of which form the Diamond Lakes region.
(AP Photo/Mike Wintroath)
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8. Alabama Gallon of Regular: $3.47
Gallon of Premium: $3.75
Gas Consumed Annually: 3.29 billion gallons
Number of Vehicles: 4.61 million
Alabama has active tourist areas on the Gulf around Mobile, though its shores have not entirely recovered from Katrina either. Tourists interested in Southern history can visit a number of important Civil War sites in the state. Alabama also hosts a number of Labor Day music festivals, including those in Section and McCalla.
(AP Photo/Jay Reeves)
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7. Missouri Gallon of Regular: $3.47
Gallon of Premium: $3.71
Gas Consumed Annually: 4.15 billion gallons
Number of Vehicles: 4.9 million
The Ozark Mountains offer some of the most popular destinations in the state, and Branson is a center of country music entertainment. Missouri also has a number of well-known fishing options, among them the Merrimack River and Pomme de Terre Lake.
(AP Photo/James A. Finley)
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6. Texas Gallon of Regular: $3.47
Gallon of Premium: $3.74
Gas Consumed Annually: 15.77 billion gallons
Number of Vehicles: 18.21 million
Texas is big enough to offer options for nearly every possible outdoor activity and vacation preference: Coastal resorts near Corpus Christie; abundant camp sites in pine forests; urban options in Houston and Dallas; and dozens of historic sites, the most famous of which is the Alamo.
(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
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5. Virginia Gallon of Regular: $3.46
Gallon of Premium: $3.75
Gas Consumed Annually: 4.88 billion gallons
Number of Vehicles: 6.3 million
Virginia's Atlantic beaches are close to both Washington and Baltimore, and the Shenandoah Valley and Blue Ridge Mountains also feature a number of resorts. It boasts a number of Civil War battlefields, including famous Antietam.
(AP Photo/Leslie E. Kossoff)
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4. Mississippi Gallon of Regular: $3.46
Gallon of Premium: $3.70
Gas Consumed Annually: 2.13 billion gallons
Number of Vehicles: 2.03 million
Mississippi's casinos are a mecca for gamblers, particularly from nearby states. Among the state's many Civil War battlefields, the most well-known is probably Vicksburg. Tourists also congregate in the towns along the Mississippi River, at sport and fishing destinations such May's Lake.
(AP Photo/Rogelio Solis)
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3. Tennessee Gallon of Regular: $3.45
Gallon of Premium: $3.71
Gas Consumed Annually: 3.99 billion gallons
Number of Vehicles: 5.14 million
The state offers a number of popular hiking and camping areas in the the Appalachian Mountains. Indeed, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is among the most visited in the country. For those who want to stay in cities, Nashville is the center of the nation's country music industry. Memphis, another country music destination, is also home to The National Civil Rights Museum.
(AP Photo/Duncan Mansfield)
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2. South Carolin... Gallon of Regular: $3.39
Gallon of Premium: $3.65
Gas Consumed Annually: 3.36 billion gallons
Number of Vehicles: 3.61 million
South Carolina's Atlantic coast is home to a number of seaside resorts and some of the world's greatest golf courses. Congaree National Park is well-known for hiking and camping. And, just across the border in Georgia lies Savannah, of the great cities of the South. Its historic district features many large homes and mansions, some of which are nearly 200 years old.
(AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain)
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1. Arizona Gallon of Regular: $3.37
Gallon of Premium: $3.57
Gas Consumed Annually: 3.37 billion gallons
Number of Vehicles: 4.36 million
Arizona is the only state on this list which is not part of the South. Its attraction is due in part to the pleasant climate. Arizona is also home to several national parks and forests, and of course, the Grand Canyon. Budding archaeologists will be interested in the Anasazi, Hohokam, Mogollon and Salado tribal excavations.
(AP Photo/Matt York)
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