Triple A is predicting that holiday travel this year will come close to reaching pre-pandemic numbers. They are forecasting 27.7 million more travelers with an estimated 109.5 million taking to the roads, railways, the skies or the seas between today (Thursday) and Jan. 2. The vast majority, 100.1 million, will be traveling by automobile and Iowans can expect to see relatively stable prices at the pumps. As of Wednesday, AAA Iowa reports the average cost of both regular unleaded and diesel rose by only a penny per gallon while wholesale ethanol held steady. The average is now at $3.04 for regular unleaded, which is $.85 higher than a year ago and $.26 lower than the national average of $3.30, which dropped by $.02 over the week. Retail diesel is now at $3.33 per gallon, which is $.25 per gallon lower than the national average of $3.58. At this time last year, the average diesel price in Iowa was $2.41 per gallon. Wholesale ethanol is unchanged at $2.14.