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Traveling for Memorial Day weekend? Here's how much gas cost, and when you should fill up

It's a Memorial Day weekend unlike any other, as holiday travel will be met with gas prices that continue to shatter records.

Gas prices have been increasing for nearly two weeks, with the national average at $4.60 a gallon, according to AAA, a 43-cent jump from when the national record was initially broken in March.

Yet despite the pain at the pump being felt nationwide, the holiday weekend is expected to result in more travel across the country compared to last year.

Across all modes of transportation, there is an 8% increase in travel this weekend compared to 2021, according to Cars.com. Of that travel, 82% will be done by car, but most of it will be carpooling to save money. Location data company Arrivalist said in a release that it estimates 37.9 million Americans will travel by road during this time.

"Record-high gas prices aren’t scaring away as many avid road trippers this Memorial Day as one would think," Jenni Newman, Cars.com's editor in chief, said in a statement. "It seems many Americans are willing to pay a premium to take some time off and celebrate the holiday. But the nature of the road trip is changing: Carpooling is no longer just for work and school commutes."

Here's what you should know about being on the road for this Memorial Day weekend:

Traveling for Memorial Day?: Here's when to avoid hitting the road, according to experts

Planning to head out this summer?: Here's how to take a summer road trip without spending a fortune as gas prices reach records

Gas prices were over $6.00 per gallon on Friday in San Rafael, Calif.
Gas prices were over $6.00 per gallon on Friday in San Rafael, Calif.

Why are gas prices so high?

There are several factors contributing to the rise of gas prices, with one of the main components being the embargo on Russian oil due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The cost of oil worldwide continues to be over $100 due to the embargo. U.S. crude oil costs $112.88 per barrel, while Brent crude, the international standard, costs $116.41 as of Thursday, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Gas prices have begun to level off this week, but Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, told USA TODAY things can change at the pump. Prices typically rise in the summer, and Memorial Day is the "unofficial kickoff to the summer driving season," De Haan said.

The demand for gas and hurricane season, which begins on June 1 and is expected to bring several storms this year, can result in higher prices.

"We're probably setting up for a bumpy and expensive ride at the pump in the summer. It undoubtedly in my mind, barring a recession, is going to be the priciest summer that we've ever seen," De Haan said.

When should I get gas?

"Sooner rather than later," De Haan said.

He added the reason is that although increases are slowing down, they could rise up toward the end of the week and when people begin to hit the road. But prices may be dipping in some cities and counties, so it's best to monitor daily changes.

De Haan said gas stations would also be busier as the weekend approaches, so not only could you be paying for more gas, but you could be spending more time waiting to do so.

Those traveling across states should also see if there are any price differences across state lines. For instance, the average price in Nevada is $5.24, but go east to Utah and it's $4.59.

Another tip from De Haan to save money? Slow down about 5-10 mph on the highway.

"You can generally boost your fuel efficiency by 5% to 10%, if not more, and with a national average of $4.50, even a 10% savings is the equivalent of close to 50 cents a gallon," he said.

Where is gas the most expensive?

The West Coast is where you'll find the most expensive gas in the U.S., as all states bordering the Pacific Ocean are averaging over $6.. California has the most expensive gas at $6.07.

Story continues below.

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Where is gas the least expensive?

Gas prices are above $4 in each state, but the cheapest gas is in the Midwest, with Oklahoma having the lowest cost at $4.09.

Average gas prices per state

Are you wondering how much gas costs in your state on average? Here is how much it is across the country by fuel type as of Wednesday, according to AAA

Alabama gas prices

Regular: $4.30

Mid-grade: $4.63

Premium: $4.98

Diesel: $5.36

Alaska gas prices

Regular: $5.20

Mid-grade: $5.39

Premium: $5.58

Diesel: $5.30

Arizona gas prices

Regular: $4.92

Mid-grade: $5.22

Premium: $5.47

Diesel: $5.49

Arkansas gas prices

Regular: $4.12

Mid-grade: $4.42

Premium: $4.72

Diesel: $5.21

California gas prices

Regular: $6.07

Mid-grade: $6.26

Premium: $6.40

Diesel: $6.58

Colorado gas prices

Regular: $4.20

Mid-grade: $4.53

Premium: $4.82

Diesel: $5.33

Connecticut gas prices

Regular: $4.68

Mid-grade: $5.02

Premium: $5.31

Diesel: $6.31

DC gas prices

Regular: $4.85

Mid-grade: $5.35

Premium: $5.53

Diesel: $5.82

Delaware gas prices

Regular: $4.60

Mid-grade: $4.95

Premium: $5.19

Diesel: $5.96

Florida gas prices

Regular: $4.57

Mid-grade: $4.92

Premium: $5.23

Diesel: $5.56

Georgia gas prices

Regular: $4.14

Mid-grade: $4.50

Premium: $4.85

Diesel: $5.27

Hawaii gas prices

Regular: $5.42

Mid-grade: $5.60

Premium: $5.85

Diesel: $5.89

Idaho gas prices

Regular: $4.67

Mid-grade: $4.85

Premium: $5.07

Diesel: $5.53

Illinois gas prices

Regular: $4.97

Mid-grade: $5.38

Premium: $5.75

Diesel: $5.29

Indiana gas prices

Regular: $4.58

Mid-grade: $4.92

Premium: $5.26

Diesel: $5.38

Iowa gas prices

Regular: $4.23

Mid-grade: $4.35

Premium: $4.80

Diesel: $5.20

Kansas gas prices

Regular: $4.09

Mid-grade: $4.35

Premium: $4.62

Diesel: $5.15

Kentucky gas prices

Regular: $4.30

Mid-grade: $4.64

Premium: $4.95

Diesel: $5.25

Louisiana gas prices

Regular: $4.23

Mid-grade: $4.55

Premium: $4.87

Diesel: $5.16

Maine gas prices

Regular: $4.74

Mid-grade: $5.06

Premium: $5.36

Diesel: $6.27

Maryland gas prices

Regular: $4.60

Mid-grade: $5.02

Premium: $5.29

Diesel: $5.92

Massachusetts gas prices

Regular: $4.74

Mid-grade: $5.06

Premium: $5.31

Diesel: $6.33

Michigan gas prices

Regular: $4.57

Mid-grade: $4.89

Premium: $5.23

Diesel: $5.26

Minnesota gas prices

Regular: $4.19

Mid-grade: $4.40

Premium: $4.77

Diesel: $5.26

Mississippi gas prices

Regular: $4.18

Mid-grade: $4.48

Premium: $4.82

Diesel: $5.18

Missouri gas prices

Regular: $4.17

Mid-grade: $4.46

Premium: $4.74

Diesel: $5.14

Montana gas prices

Regular: $4.38

Mid-grade: $4.65

Premium: $4.92

Diesel: $5.46

Nebraska gas prices

Regular: $4.18

Mid-grade: $4.29

Premium: $4.67

Diesel: $5.18

Nevada gas prices

Regular: $5.24

Mid-grade: $5.47

Premium: $5.67

Diesel: $5.55

New Hampshire gas prices

Regular: $4.68

Mid-grade: $5

Premium: $5.31

Diesel: $6.27

New Jersey gas prices

Regular: $4.77

Mid-grade: $5.16

Premium: $5.37

Diesel: $6.26

New Mexico gas prices

Regular: $4.32

Mid-grade: $4.63

Premium: $4.89

Diesel: $5.35

New York gas prices

Regular: $4.93

Mid-grade: $5.28

Premium: $5.54

Diesel: $6.51

North Carolina gas prices

Regular: $4.37

Mid-grade: $4.72

Premium: $5.09

Diesel: $5.52

North Dakota gas prices

Regular: $4.21

Mid-grade: $4.44

Premium: $4.69

Diesel: $5.18

Ohio gas prices

Regular: $4.45

Mid-grade: $4.78

Premium: $5.12

Diesel: $5.24

Oklahoma gas prices

Regular: $4.08

Mid-grade: $4.37

Premium: $4.59

Diesel: $5.11

Oregon gas prices

Regular: $5.17

Mid-grade: $5.35

Premium: $5.55

Diesel: $5.68

Pennsylvania gas prices

Regular: $4.77

Mid-grade: $5.12

Premium: $5.43

Diesel: $6.29

Rhode Island gas prices

Regular: $4.72

Mid-grade: $5.09

Premium: $5.38

Diesel: $6.40

South Carolina gas prices

Regular: $4.28

Mid-grade: $4.62

Premium: $4.96

Diesel: $5.45

South Dakota gas prices

Regular: $4.24

Mid-grade: $4.35

Premium: $4.71

Diesel: $5.25

Tennessee gas prices

Regular: $4.28

Mid-grade: $4.63

Premium: $4.97

Diesel: $5.35

Texas gas prices

Regular: $4.27

Mid-grade: $4.61

Premium: $4.91

Diesel: $5.13

Utah gas prices

Regular: $4.60

Mid-grade: $4.80

Premium: $4.99

Diesel: $5.53

Vermont gas prices

Regular: $4.72

Mid-grade: $5.03

Premium: $5.32

Diesel: $6.31

Virginia gas prices

Regular: $4.46

Mid-grade: $4.87

Premium: $5.20

Diesel: $5.61

Washington gas prices

Regular: $5.22

Mid-grade: $5.42

Premium: $5.61

Diesel: $5.77

West Virginia gas prices

Regular: $4.46

Mid-grade: $4.76

Premium: $5.07

Diesel: $5.62

Wisconsin gas prices

Regular: $4.34

Mid-grade: $4.69

Premium: $5.09

Diesel: $5.08

Wyoming gas prices

Regular: $4.31

Mid-grade: $4.54

Premium: $4.79

Diesel: $5.48

Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jordan_mendoza5.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Memorial Day travel: How much are gas prices? When should I get gas?