For those traveling the highways this Christmas season, Santa appears to have already given a gift that you can no doubt feel in your wallet.

Thanks to drastically reduced fuel prices, the AAA is projecting a significant increase in the amount of those driving to spend time with friends and family over Christmas.

“Travel volume for the year-end holidays will reach the highest peak recorded by AAA (since 2001),” the agency reported. “Nearly 91 percent of all travelers (89.5 million) will celebrate the holidays with a road trip, an increase of 4.2 percent from 2013.”

Holiday travel overall, including those traveling by air, is expected to total 98.6 million, an increase of 4 percent from the 94.8 million who traveled last year.

Low gas prices continue to help boost disposable income this holiday season, with today’s national average price of gas at $2.55 per gallon, 69 cents less than a year ago.

“Lower gas prices are filling stockings with a little more cash to spend on travel this year as travelers are expected to pay the lowest prices since 2009,” said Marshall L. Doney, AAA President and Chief Operating Officer. “Lower prices are increasing disposable income and enabling families to set aside money for travel this year.”

Doney added that fuel prices are just one factor, but overall consumer confidence is also helping drive the travel increase.

“While the economy continues to improve at an uneven pace, it seems more Americans are looking forward with increasing consumer confidence, rather than looking back at the recession,” Doney said. “This is helping to drive expected travel volumes to the highest level we have seen for the year-end holidays.”

This upward trend marks the highest forecast growth rate for the year-end holiday season since 2009 and the highest travel volume for the holiday period on record. AAA data dates back to 2001.

The year-end holiday period is defined as Tuesday, Dec. 23 to Sunday, Jan. 4.