Right in time for the kickoff of the summer travel season, the average price of a gallon of gas in the United States could soon reach $4.80 per gallon — the highest they’ve been in four years — one fuel industry analyst says.
It’s even more stark in California, where the average price of gas already surpasses $6. It was $6.14 per gallon on May 21, which was $1.26 more than it was a year ago but still 27 cents lower than the highest average gas price in October 2022, according to AAA’s gas price tracker.
“BREAKING: GasBuddy Forecasts Most Expensive Summer at the Pump in Years Amid Strait Closure… possibly touching $5/gal, setting new record average of $4.80 per gallon, exceeding 2022’s summer average of $4.43 if the Strait remains closed,” Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, wrote in an X post.
The prediction comes as the national average price of gas rose to $4.56 per gallon on May 21, representing an increase of $1.38 compared to this time last year.
De Haan said in a blog post that gas prices are expected to keep rising in the coming weeks as the Iran war continues.
With gasoline demand on the rise and the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz, pump prices are likely to remain elevated as the summer travel season gets underway.
AAA projects 45 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home for Memorial Day between Thursday, May 21 and Monday, May 25. This year’s domestic travel forecast is slightly higher than in 2025 and sets a new Memorial Day weekend record with 39.1 million people traveling by car, the group said.
For people using diesel fuel, the cost has marched even higher, AAA reports.
Diesel was selling for an average of $7.48 a gallon on May 21. That’s up 45% on average per gallon the same time last year ($5.10), the group said.
Driving still remains the preferred mode of transportation this holiday, with 87% of Memorial Day travelers choosing to take to the road to reach their destinations. AAA projected that 39.1 million people would travel by car nationwide over Memorial Day weekend in 2026.
California average gas prices on May 21
To save on travel and keep safe, AAA gives these gas tips:
Michele Chandler covers public safety, dining and whatever else comes up for the Redding Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. Accepts story tips at 530-338-7753 and at mrchandler@gannett.com. Please support our entire newsroom’s commitment to public service journalism by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Gas prices may hit 4-year high in summer. See California city averages
Reporting by Michele Chandler, Redding Record Searchlight / Redding Record Searchlight
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