If you’re leaving town for the Memorial Day weekend, you will find a lot of company on the roads, even with this year’s higher gas prices.
The American Automobile Association predicts that more than 45 million people in the U.S. will travel more than 50 miles between Thursday, May 21, and Monday, May 25.
“This year’s domestic travel forecast is slightly higher than last year and sets a new Memorial Day weekend record with 39.1 million people traveling by car and 3.66 million expected to fly to their destinations,” AAA states.
The average cost of a gallon of regular gas in the U.S. is $4.55, up by more than $1.37 from May 2025. Prices are, of course, significantly higher in Tulare County, so local drivers need to find “bargains” wherever they can.
The lowest price for a gallon of regular gas in the county (and the third lowest price in the state) is $5.21 at the Fastrip station at 101 W. Visalia Road, Farmersville, according to GasBuddy.com on May 20.
Gas at the Costco station at 1405 W. Cameron Ave., Visalia, is $5.35 a gallon. The next two lowest prices – both $5.39 – are at the new Costco, 6610 W. Riggin Ave., Visalia; and Day & Night, 1401 W. Inyo Rd., Tulare.
If you prefer to fill up on the way to the coast, the cheapest gas reported in Kings County is all in Lemoore: $5.31 a gallon at Fastrip, 775 N. Lemoore Ave., followed by 7-Eleven, 110 N. Lemoore Ave. at $5.32, and Yokut Gas Station, 17051 Jersey Ave. at $5.35.
If your trip takes you north on Highway 99, you might want to stop at Family Express, 4205 E. Butler Ave., Fresno, which sells regular at $5.29 a gallon. Fastrip, 8432 S. Madera Ave., Kerman, has it for $5.35.
Three Fresno County stations charge $5.39 for a gallon: Berri Brothers, 4201 E. Shields, Fresno; Diamond Gas & Mart, 225 N. H St., Fresno; and Walmart, 14037 W. Whitesbridge Ave., Kerman.
Drivers heading south will find that the best gas prices in Kern County are in Bakersfield. GasBuddy reports $5.27 per gallon at Fastrip, 1640 S. Chester Ave., and $5.29 at both SMP Energy, 402 S. Chester Ave., and Kwik Trip, 2805 Edison Highway.
The above prices were all in effect on May 20.
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Memorial Day travel is up. Find cheap gas for your trip
Reporting by Steve Pastis, Visalia Times-Delta / Visalia Times-Delta
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
