Holiday travel expected to be second-busiest ever

Holiday travel this year is expected to be the second-busiest since AAA started tracking it in 2000. For Illinoisans, it means driving across a state line could avoid the nation’s second-highest gas taxes.

More than 103 million Americans will hit the road for the holidays, according to AAA. It’s the second-highest number since 2000, when AAA started estimating holiday travel.

Those traveling to another state should think twice before paying Illinois’ gas taxes, which are No. 2 in the U.S. behind California. Illinoisans also pay the highest gas prices in the Midwest.

Despite adding taxes at the local level, Cook County’s average gallon of gas is cheaper than western counties such as Mercer, Henderson and Warren. Across the state, waiting a few more miles to fill up could save you extra holiday cash.

Motorists should check AAA’s gas prices by county to see where gas is cheapest during their holiday travel. In the Chicago metropolitan area, the peak congestion time for traffic between Dec. 23 and New Year’s Day will be at 5:30 p.m., Dec. 28.

The best time to drive during those days is before noon. Chicago is one of the top 10 destinations in the U.S.

Illinois motorists felt two gas tax hikes in 2023: One on New Year’s Day and another on July 1, when the new state budget started. Gov. J.B. Pritzker delayed the 2022 hike from July 1 to New Year’s Day of 2023, postponing it until after his re-election.

Illinois gas taxes shot up when Pritzker doubled the state tax from 19 cents to 38 cents in 2019 to fund his $45 billion Rebuild Illinois initiative. An Illinois Answers Project investigation found $141 million in Rebuild Illinois projects sponsored by Pritzker have gone to people with whom he has close ties.

Finding less expensive gas near you also tells lawmakers it’s the season for giving, and Illinois’ taxes only take.