Memorial Day gas near $6 a gallon

Tens of millions of Americans heading out for Memorial Day weekend are running into some of the highest gasoline prices seen for the holiday in years, according to CNN and AAA. CNN reported on May 20 that pump prices are near all-time highs for the holiday, with some local stations showing prices close to $6 a gallon. (waaytv.com) AAA, meanwhile, said 45 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home between Thursday, May 21, and Monday, May 25, setting a Memorial Day weekend record. (newsroom.aaa.com) The squeeze is showing up unevenly across the country. The San Francisco Chronicle said drivers in parts of California are seeing $6-a-gallon gasoline even as heavy holiday traffic is still expected in the usual bottlenecks. (newsroom.aaa.com) Local television stations in other states have also reported sharp increases, including prices above $4 a gallon in parts of Virginia and forecasts of higher summer prices in Minnesota. ### How high are gas prices heading into the holiday? GasBuddy expects the national average to be about $4.48 a gallon this Memorial Day, according to CNN’s report republished by Yahoo Finance. CBS News reported a separate GasBuddy forecast that average U.S. gasoline prices could run about $4.80 a gallon between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day. (waaytv.com) California is again among the highest-priced markets. The San Francisco Chronicle’s transportation coverage highlighted $6 gas in parts of the state, underscoring the gap between national averages and what West Coast drivers can pay at the pump. ### Who is still traveling despite the higher fill-up cost? (sfchronicle.com) AAA said 45 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles over the holiday period, up slightly from 44.8 million in 2025. Of those travelers, 39.1 million are expected to drive and 3.66 million are expected to fly, according to AAA’s May 11 forecast. Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in the group’s forecast that Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer and that demand remains strong despite higher fuel costs. (finance.yahoo.com) AAA also said cruises, buses and trains are included in the broader holiday travel tally. ### Why are prices elevated this year? (sfchronicle.com) CNN tied the run-up in fuel costs to the war with Iran and the resulting shock to global oil markets. In a separate April timeline, CNN reported that the conflict and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz had pushed U.S. average gas prices above $4.10, the highest since 2022. AAA said in a May 18 safety advisory that gas prices have reached four-year highs as millions prepare for road trips. (newsroom.aaa.com) That advisory focused on maintenance and roadside risks, but it also reinforced the scale of the price increase facing drivers at the start of the summer season. (southjersey.aaa.com) ### Where is the pressure most visible? California remains the clearest example. The San Francisco Chronicle said holiday traffic is expected to stay heavy in the usual places despite $6 gasoline, suggesting demand for road travel has held even with higher pump prices. Virginia and Minnesota offer a lower-priced but still rising picture. WDBJ reported a station in Cave Spring selling gasoline for $4.17 a gallon, while FOX 9 said Minnesota prices could reach $4.80 this summer. (cnn.com) ### What should travelers watch over the next few days? AAA’s forecast period runs through Monday, May 25, and covers roads, airports and cruises. The group’s latest Memorial Day outlook remains the main benchmark for how many Americans are expected to travel and how many of them will be on the road. (newsroom.acg.aaa.com) GasBuddy’s national average forecast and local station prices will be the clearest indicators of whether pump costs keep climbing through the holiday weekend. (sfchronicle.com) In California, the San Francisco Chronicle’s traffic reporting is tracking where congestion remains heaviest as the getaway period begins. (finance.yahoo.com) (newsroom.aaa.com) (cbsnews.com)