Memorial Day drivers warned of gas price hike as | Travel News

With Memorial Day weekend drawing close to, gas costs show no indicators of easing. As of May 22, AAA is reporting pump costs nationwide are hovering round $4.55, matching their highest level since 2022.

Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum evaluation at GasBuddy, warns that motorists might face an unwelcome shock on account of tensions between the U.S. and Israel’s battle with Iran: one other gas price hike earlier than the vacation weekend.

“The national average price of gasoline spent much of last week drifting lower after jumping early in the week as oil prices softened on hopes that diplomatic progress between the U.S. and Iran could help ease supply concerns,” De Haan defined.

“However, that optimism faded after President Trump’s meeting with China’s Xi Jinping failed to produce a breakthrough on Iran, while renewed warnings toward Tehran have helped push oil prices higher again.”

De Haan continued, “With global oil inventories continuing to trend toward historically tight levels, markets remain extremely sensitive to geopolitical developments and potential supply disruptions.”

According to USA Today, De Haan anticipates that gasoline and diesel costs will doubtless keep unpredictable. With Memorial Day weekend quickly approaching, “any sustained increase in oil prices could begin pushing retail fuel prices higher again in the weeks ahead.” Despite elevated fuel prices, the American Automobile Association (AAA) tasks that 45 million Americans will journey between Thursday and Monday.

AAA predicts that 39.1 million people are anticipated to journey by car, 3.66 million Americans will fly to their Memorial Day locations and one other 2.2 million will journey by bus, prepare or cruise all through the weekend. Based on these projections, this 12 months’s home journey forecast is anticipated to be barely larger than final 12 months’s.

Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, addressed the sustained Memorial Day journey regardless of escalating gas prices from 2025 (when common gasoline averaged $3.17 per gallon) to 2026 (when common gasoline now averages $4.47 per gallon).

“Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, and for most Americans, it’s a three-day weekend,” she said. “Travel demand remains strong, and despite higher fuel prices, many people are prioritizing leisure travel during holiday breaks.”

How drivers can save fuel forward of Memorial Day, per specialists

While rising gas costs could also be unavoidable for the close to future, De Haan suggests drivers can scale back fuel consumption by sustaining their cruise control between 60 and 65 miles per hour.

AAA Spokesperson Adrienne Woodland additionally offered steerage for Memorial Day motorists, recommending they stop their vehicle’s gas tank from dropping under a quarter full. Additionally, drivers ought to carry out common vehicle upkeep.

“Repeatedly driving on a very low fuel tank can actually damage the fuel pump, and the repair of that can cost thousands of dollars,” Woodland defined to Upper Michigan Source.

Here are some extra ideas for drivers to cut gas prices down all through Memorial Day weekend and past:

• Use gas price apps like GasBuddy, Waze or AAA to find the most affordable stations close by.
• Fill up your tanks at a grocery store station, as these areas usually offer fuel rewards packages.
• Pay for gas with money as an alternative of a credit card when a station provides a decrease price for money funds. (This option might save drivers 10 cents or more per gallon.)
• Utilize credit card factors earned from earlier purchases for fuel reductions.
• Skip the premium gas, as it “isn’t necessary or beneficial in most cars,” in accordance with The Penny Hoarder.