- The national average for gas is $4.60 per gallon, according to AAA.
- More people are expected to drive on Memorial Day weekend than last year.
- Find out how much gas costs in your state, and how it compares to the rest of the United States.
It’s a Memorial Day weekend like no other, when you’ll be met with holiday trips at gas prices that continue to break records.
Gas prices have risen nearly two weeks ago, with the national average coming in at $4.59 a gallon, according to the AAA, a jump of 42 cents from the time the national record was initially broken in March.
However, despite the pain being felt at the pump across the country, the weekend is expected to lead to more cross-country travel than last year.
Across all transportation, there is an 8% increase in travel this weekend compared to 2021, according to Cars.com. 82% of this travel will be by car, but most of it will be using shared cars to save money. Location data company Arrivalist said in a statement that it estimates that 37.9 million Americans will be traveling by road during this time.
“Record high gas prices do not frighten as many enthusiastic road trippers this Memorial Day as one might imagine,” Cars.com editor-in-chief Jenny Newman said in a statement. “Many Americans seem willing to pay a premium to take some time out and celebrate the holiday. But the nature of the road trip is changing: Group cars are no longer just for commuting between work and school.”
Here’s what you should know about hitting the road this Memorial Day weekend:
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Why are gas prices so high?
Several factors have contributed to the rise in gas prices, the most important of which is the Russian oil embargo due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Worldwide the cost of oil is still more than $100 due to the embargo. US crude oil costs $110.32 a barrel, while Brent crude, the international benchmark, is $115.13 as of Wednesday, according to the US Energy Information Administration.
Gas prices are starting to stabilize this week, but Patrick de Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, told USA TODAY that things could change at the pump. Prices usually rise in the summer, and Memorial Day is “the unofficial start of the summer driving season,” de Haan said.
Gas demand and hurricane season, which begins on June 1 and is expected to bring several storms this year, could drive prices up.
“We’re probably preparing for a bumpy, expensive ride at the pump in the summer,” de Haan said. “No doubt in my mind, barring the slump, it’s going to be the most expensive summer we’ve ever had.”
When should I get gas?
Sooner rather than later, de Haan said.
The reason, he added, is that while the increases are slowing, they could rise towards the end of the week and when people start to go on the road. But prices may decrease in some cities and provinces, so it is better to monitor daily changes.
De Haan said gas stations will also be more crowded as the weekend approaches, so not only can you pay more for fuel, but you can spend more time waiting to do so.
Those who travel across states should also see if there are any price differences across state lines. For example, the average price in Nevada is $5.24, but heads east to Utah and is $4.59.
Another tip from De Haan to save money? Slow down by about five to 10 miles per hour on the highway.
“You can generally increase fuel efficiency by[up to]10%, if not more, and at a national average of $4.50, even a 10% savings equates to roughly 50 cents a gallon,” he said.
Where is gas more expensive?
The West Coast is where you’ll find the most expensive gas in the US, with all Pacific states averaging over $5. California has the most expensive gas at $6.06.
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Where is the cheapest gas?
Gas prices are more than $4 in each state, but the cheapest gas is in the Midwest, with the lowest cost in Oklahoma and Kansas at about $4.10.
Average gas prices per state
Wondering how much gas costs in your state on average? Here’s how much fuel nationwide by fuel type as of Wednesday, according to the AAA:
Gas prices in Alabama
Regular: $4.30
Average class: $4.63
Premium: $4.98
Diesel: $5.36
Gas prices in Alaska
Regular: $5.20
Average class: $5.39
Premium: $5.58
Diesel: $5.30
Gas prices in Arizona
Regular: $4.92
Average class: $5.22
Premium: $5.47
Diesel: $5.49
Gas prices in Arkansas
Regular: $4.12
Average class: $4.42
Premium: $4.72
Diesel: $5.21
gas prices in california
Regular: $6.07
Average: $6.26
Premium: $6.40
Diesel: $6.58
Colorado gas prices
Regular: $4.20
Average class: $4.53
Premium: $4.82
Diesel: $5.33
Gas prices in Connecticut
Regular: $4.68
Average class: $5.02
Installment: $5.31
Diesel: $6.31
DC gas prices
Regular: $4.85
Average class: $5.35
Premium: $5.53
Diesel: $5.82
Gas prices in Delaware
Regular: $4.60
Average class: $4.95
Premium: $5.19
Diesel: $5.96
Gas prices in Florida
Regular: $4.57
Average class: $4.92
Premium: $5.23
Diesel: $5.56
Gas prices in Georgia
Regular: $4.14
Average class: $4.50
Premium: $4.85
Diesel: $5.27
Hawaii gas prices
Regular: $5.42
Average class: $5.60
Premium: $5.85
Diesel: $5.89
Gas prices in Idaho
Regular: $4.67
Average: $4.85
Premium: $5.07
Diesel: $5.53
Gas prices in Illinois
Regular: $4.97
Average class: $5.38
Premium: $5.75
Diesel: $5.29
Gas prices in Indiana
Regular: $4.58
Average class: $4.92
Premium: $5.26
Diesel: $5.38
Gas prices in Iowa
Regular: $4.23
Average class: $4.35
Premium: $4.80
Diesel: $5.20
KS gas prices
Regular: $4.09
Average class: $4.35
Premium: $4.62
Diesel: $5.15
Gas prices in Kentucky
Regular: $4.30
Average class: $4.64
Premium: $4.95
Diesel: $5.25
Gas prices in Louisiana
Regular: $4.23
Average class: $4.55
Premium: $4.87
Diesel: $5.16
Maine gas prices
Regular: $4.74
Average class: $5.06
Installment: $5.36
Diesel: $6.27
Maryland gas prices
Regular: $4.60
Average class: $5.02
Premium: $5.29
Diesel: $5.92
Massachusetts gas prices
Regular: $4.74
Average class: $5.06
Installment: $5.31
Diesel: $6.33
Gas prices in Michigan
Regular: $4.57
Average: $4.89
Premium: $5.23
Diesel: $5.26
Minnesota gas prices
Regular: $4.19
Average class: $4.40
Premium: $4.77
Diesel: $5.26
Mississippi gas prices
Regular: $4.18
Average class: $4.48
Premium: $4.82
Diesel: $5.18
Missouri gas prices
Regular: $4.17
Average class: $4.46
Premium: $4.74
Diesel: $5.14
Gas prices in Montana
Regular: $4.38
Average class: $4.65
Premium: $4.92
Diesel: $5.46
Gas prices in Nebraska
Regular: $4.18
Average: $4.29
Premium: $4.67
Diesel: $5.18
Nevada gas prices
Regular: $5.24
Average class: $5.47
Premium: $5.67
Diesel: $5.55
New Hampshire gas prices
Regular: $4.68
Average class: $5
Installment: $5.31
Diesel: $6.27
Gas prices in New Jersey
Regular: $4.77
Average class: $5.16
Premium: $5.37
Diesel: $6.26
gas prices new mexico
Regular: $4.32
Average class: $4.63
Premium: $4.89
Diesel: $5.35
Gas prices in New York
Regular: $4.93
Average class: $5.28
Premium: $5.54
Diesel: $6.51
Gas prices in North Carolina
Regular: $4.37
Average: $4.72
Premium: $5.09
Diesel: $5.52
North Dakota gas prices
Regular: $4.21
Average class: $4.44
Premium: $4.69
Diesel: $5.18
Gas prices in Ohio
Regular: $4.45
Average class: $4.78
Premium: $5.12
Diesel: $5.24
Gas prices in Oklahoma
Regular: $4.08
Average class: $4.37
Premium: $4.59
Diesel: $5.11
Gas prices in Oregon
Regular: $5.17
Average class: $5.35
Premium: $5.55
Diesel: $5.68
Gas prices in Pennsylvania
Regular: $4.77
Average class: $5.12
Premium: $5.43
Diesel: $6.29
Gas prices in Rhode Island
Regular: $4.72
Average class: $5.09
Installment: $5.38
Diesel: $6.40
Gas prices in South Carolina
Regular: $4.28
Average: $4.62
Premium: $4.96
Diesel: $5.45
Gas prices in South Dakota
Regular: $4.24
Average class: $4.35
Premium: $4.71
Diesel: $5.25
Tennessee gas prices
Regular: $4.28
Average class: $4.63
Premium: $4.97
Diesel: $5.35
Texas gas prices
Regular: $4.27
Average class: $4.61
Premium: $4.91
Diesel: $5.13
Utah gas prices
Regular: $4.60
Average class: $4.80
Premium: $4.99
Diesel: $5.53
Gas prices in Vermont
Regular: $4.72
Average class: $5.03
Installment: $5.32
Diesel: $6.31
Gas prices in Virginia
Regular: $4.46
Average class: $4.87
Installment: $5.20
Diesel: $5.61
Gas prices in Washington
Regular: $5.22
Average class: $5.42
Premium: $5.61
Diesel: $5.77
Gas prices in West Virginia
Regular: $4.46
Average class: $4.76
Premium: $5.07
Diesel: $5.62
Wisconsin gas prices
Regular: $4.34
Average class: $4.69
Premium: $5.09
Diesel: $5.08
gas prices wyoming
Regular: $4.31
Average class: $4.54
Premium: $4.79
Diesel: $5.48
Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jordan_mendoza5.