With gas prices hovering around $4.51 a gallon, there’s little relief for drivers heading into the busy Memorial Day weekend, the official kickoff to summer travel.
Or, is there? While it might seem like an unlikely panacea, Cracker Barrel could bring some unexpected solace. Here’s what to know.
What’s happening?
On Tuesday, Cracker Barrel launches a 10-week nationwide “Fuel Your Summer Road Trip” giveaway of $250,000 in free gas—and food—to Cracker Barrel Rewards members during this summer’s peak road trip season. The deal lasts through July 26.
A total of 250 Cracker Barrel Rewards members will each receive $1,000—a $500 gas gift card and a $500 food gift card from the Southern-hospitality restaurant chain. That means 25 lucky weekly winners during those 10 weeks.
The catch: To be entered into the sweepstakes, customers need to be signed up for the free rewards program and purchase qualifying entrées (dine in, takeout, or delivery) to earn one entry into that week’s drawing. Customers can earn additional entries by tacking on retail items to their bill.
“Road trips are synonymous with summer and our goal is to help . . . make those plans feel a little easier—both at the table and at the pump,” Cracker Barrel’s chief marketing officer Sarah Moore said in a news release.
The promotion comes ahead of a major American milestone, the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, and is a nod to the oh-so-American tradition of hitting the road to celebrate our Founding Fathers (and Mothers).
Will gas prices impact summer travel?
According to a recent online study from Wired Research, cited by the family-style restaurant chain, nearly 79% of Americans say gas prices will impact summer travel plans, with 65% saying they will take fewer trips this summer and more than half choosing destinations closer to home.
A record 45 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home for Memorial Day weekend between Thursday, May 21, and Monday, May 25, slightly more than last year, with some 39.1 million expected to travel by car, according to AAA.