- The national average gas price reached $4.56 per gallon for Memorial Day weekend, the highest in four years and up 54 cents from last month.
- Florida's average gas price is $4.51 per gallon, ranking 22nd highest nationwide, with local Gainesville prices at $4.56 per gallon.
- Gasoline demand slightly rose to 8.76 million barrels per day while supply and production decreased as summer travel began.
Gas prices have reached four-year highs across the nation heading into Memorial Day weekend.
According to the AAA’s weekly report released on Thursday, the cost per gallon in the Gainesville area is $4.56, up four cents from $4.41 on May 14. The average price in Florida went from $4.38 to $4.51 and, and nationwide, the cost is $4.56, up from $4.53.
“As holiday travelers start hitting the road today in record numbers, Memorial Day weekend gas prices are the highest they’ve been in four years,” the AAA release stated. “The national average for a gallon of regular is at $4.56, up 3 cents over last week and $1.38 higher than this time last year. Current prices are close to what drivers were paying 4 years ago, when the national average on Memorial Day was $4.61. 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.”
Gas prices saw their biggest spike in June 2022, when the national average broke the $5 per gallon barrier. Last summer, the average cost dropped to its lowest mark since 2021.
The latest data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows that the gasoline demand increased from May 14 from 8.75 million barrels per day (b/d) to 8.76 million. The total domestic gasoline supply decreased from 215.7 million barrels of crude oil (bbl) to 214.2 million. Gasoline production also decreased from May 14, averaging 9.3 million barrels per day.
Thursday’s national average for a gallon of gas is $4.56, which is up 54 cents since last month’s $4.02. Last year, the price was $3.18.
Florida has the 22nd-highest price per gallon in the nation at $4.51. Last month, gas was at $3.94 per gallon, and last year it was $3.09 statewide.
In the Gainesville area, last month’s price was $4.00 per gallon, and last year it was $3.14.
According to GasBuddy.com, here are the cheapest stations to fill up at in Alachua County:
- $4.29 at Pilot, 17276 US-301, Waldo
- $.38 at Love’s Travel Stop, 5615 SE US-301, Hawthorne
- $4.39 at Marathon, 3970 NE County Road 340, High Springs
- $4.44 at Sam’s Club, 4001 SW 30th PL, Gainesville
- $4.46 at Circle K, 16070 Martin Luther King Blvd., Alachua
- $4.48 at Chevron, 2320 SW Archer Rd., Gainesville
- $4.49 at Raceway, 15330 NW US-301, Waldo
- $4.54 at Circle K, 9303 NW 39th Ave., Gainesville
State Stats
Gas
The nation’s top 10 most expensive gasoline markets are California ($6.14), Washington ($5.78), Hawaii ($5.64), Oregon ($5.35), Alaska ($5.27), Nevada ($5.27), Illinois ($5.01), Arizona ($4.81), Colorado ($4.76), and Ohio ($4.76).
The nation’s top 10 least expensive gasoline markets are Mississippi ($4.01), Georgia ($4.03), Indiana ($4.04), Louisiana ($4.05), Texas ($4.09), Oklahoma ($4.09), Kansas ($4.11), Arkansas ($4.12), Alabama ($4.17), and South Carolina ($4.17).
Electric
The nation’s top 10 most expensive states for public charging per kilowatt hour are West Virginia (52 cents), Hawaii (51 cents), Alaska (50 cents), Louisiana (47 cents), New Hampshire (46 cents), California (46 cents), New Jersey (45 cents), Illinois (44 cents), Arkansas (44 cents), and South Carolina (44 cents).
The nation’s top 10 least expensive states for public charging per kilowatt hour are Kansas (29 cents), Missouri (32 cents), Utah (33 cents), Maryland (33 cents), Iowa (34 cents), Nebraska (34 cents), South Dakota (34 cents), Vermont (35 cents), Delaware (37 cents), and New Mexico (37 cents).