Looking ahead to the peak summer driving season, which begins on Memorial Day weekend, gasoline prices show no signs of slowing down.
The national average of unleaded gas reached a new high of $ 4.59 per gallon on Wednesday, with 50 states above $ 4 per gallon, AAA data show. Gas prices are now $ 1.56 higher than a year ago and $ 1.05 higher than when the war in Ukraine began in February, according to AAA spokesman Andrew Gross.
“This has caused shock waves in the oil market which have kept oil costs high,” he said. “Nationally, meanwhile, seasonal gas demand is increasing as more drivers get off the road, despite the pain they suffer from paying at the pump.”
While higher prices may make tourists travel less and travel shorter distances, the AAA expects more than 39 million people to leave this Memorial Day weekend.
There is still a desire to travel, according to GasBuddy’s summer travel survey.
“We’ve found that 58% of Americans plan to hit the road for a trip this summer, 57% more than last year, even with higher gasoline prices,” said Patrick De Haan, head of oil analysis at GasBuddy.
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“What we did notice is that motorists will travel a little less, with 65% only making one or two road trips,” De Haan said.
GasBuddy found that the most common amount of time traveling by car will be between two and three hours and more than five hours.
6 simple tricks to save gas
If you’re planning to hit the road this weekend, there are ways to protect yourself a bit from the price hike at the pump. Here are the best tips from consumer savings expert Andrea Woroch:
- Refuel on weekdays. Beat the crowds and save by filling it sooner rather than later. Gas costs will continue to rise throughout the week and increase on Friday, so it’s best to get gas now before the rush, Woroch said.
- Get a setup. From inflating the tires properly to making sure the engine runs smoothly, a fine-tuning could be key to getting better fuel economy. Other tricks to maximizing fuel economy include keeping the windows rolled up to reduce drag and set up cruise control when possible to prevent excessive braking and acceleration.
- Keep track of gas prices. Apps like GasBuddy, Gas Guru, and AAA TripTik can locate which gas station has the cheapest price per gallon. This is especially useful when trying to avoid these expensive gas stations right next to the freeway.
- Pay in cash. The price can range from 10 cents to 15 cents more per gallon for credit card transactions. Pay in cash to get the lowest price, or use a gas rewards credit card to earn cash with these charges. CNBC Select has a complete summary of the best menus to feed based on your eating habits.
- Sign up for loyalty programs. Many major gas station chains have loyalty programs, which can help offset the price at the pump. Some grocery store chains may also offer penny-per-gallon rewards. For example, Kroger and Shop & Stop donate fuel points for every $ 1 spent on groceries that can be redeemed at participating gas stations.
- Stay closer to home. You don’t always have to drive far to escape. Try the RoadTrippers app to plan shorter, worthwhile road trips. You may be surprised at all the things to see and do within driving distance of your home, Woroch said.
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