Gas prices have been relatively low for the past couple of years, making holiday road trips a cost-saving option for many households. This year it will still be cheaper to drive than fly, but drivers can expect to pay more at the pump this holiday travel season.
According to AAA, national prices have risen for 20 consecutive days, up 11 cents since October. That puts the national average for regular unleaded gas at $2.24 a gallon, up 24 cents compared to the same date last year.
Of the 103 million people expected to travel this holiday season, more than 93.6 million will drive to their destination, meaning that holiday road trip might come in slightly above budget. Still, it’s nothing to get alarmed about. While the price of gas has climbed, drivers will still pay some of the lowest gas prices since 2009, when the national average was just $1.62 a gallon. For comparison, the average price of gas on this date in 2013 was $3.20 a gallon.
So why the bump at the pump? AAA says the increase is due to “market expectations of tighter availability following the announcement of an OPEC deal to cut oil production by 1.8 million barrels per day.” This deal is intended to rebalance the global oil market and is scheduled to start in January.
For consumers, the cost of gas still varies greatly by state, with some regions seeing a bigger jump in prices than others. Leading the charge is Florida, which saw gas prices increase 10 cents to $2.32 in just a week. Indiana saw prices jump eight cents to $2.29 a gallon, while Missouri, Wisconsin and Ohio all saw gas prices go up seven cents in the last week.
When it comes to the states with the most expensive gas, the West Coast ends up paying more to fill their tanks. Of the top five most expensive states for gas, four are located on the West Coast, including Hawaii ($2.95), California ($2.67), Alaska ($2.62), and Washington ($2.59). The District of Columbia rounds out of top five with an average of $2.54 a gallon.
On the flipside, the least expensive states for gas are Arkansas ($2.02), Oklahoma ($2.02), South Carolina ($2.03), Missouri ($2.04) and Texas ($2.05).
While motorists can’t do anything to control gas prices, there are some tricks to save money on gas on your next road trip. First, make sure your tires are properly inflated before you hit the highway. Not only is this safer, but it can help you save fuel. Next, drive the speed limit. You burn more gas the faster you drive, so stay under the limit and you’ll maximize your fuel. And finally, map out your refills by using an app like Gas Buddy, Gas Guru or Waze. These services will help you find stations along your route with the cheapest gas, ensuring you get the best deal when you fill up.
Brittany is a writer at Yahoo Finance.
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