ST JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. -- Where most of us call home is a welcomed break for drivers like Jeffrey Venezin. "I try to make this trip once a year from New Jersey. Florida is a nice place," he said.
40 million people drive to the sunshine state every year, but this trip is costing more because of a spike at the pump. "$3.75, in Michigan it was $3.60," said Edward Krol.
Gas prices have jumped about 45-cents since January. And they are expected to get higher before they drop. "We've seen that the price has to go upward of $4.50 or so before people tend to change their plans," said Richard Goldman.
Goldman is the Executive Director of the St Augustine and Ponte Vedra Beaches Visitor and Convetnions Bureau. He says with St. Augustine's 450th Commemoration, he is expecting a big year for tourism. "Even if gas prices do increase a little bit, we don't think they will do a lot of damage to our celebration," said Goldman.
Tourism is St Johns County's biggest industry. It brought in $750 million last year. Goldman says it's to early to tell if gas prices will make an impact. "They didn't effect me, I am still down here," said Venezin.
It's traditions like Venezin's annual Florida road trip that continues to drive-up the local economy. You can find the cheapest gas prices for your next road trip by going to
Gas Buddy.
