Gas reaches $4.05 in Louisiana

AAA projected on May 11 that 45 million Americans would travel at least 50 miles from home between Thursday, May 21 and Monday, May 25 for Memorial Day weekend, setting a holiday record. Of those travelers, 39.1 million were expected to go by car, making driving the dominant mode even as fuel costs rose. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline was $4.56 on May 21 and described Memorial Day weekend prices as the highest in four years. In Louisiana, AAA’s statewide average reached $4.051 a gallon as of May 22. (gasprices.aaa.com) California prices were also elevated. NBC’s California stations reported that Memorial Day gas prices there were at their highest level for the holiday since 2022. (newsroom.aaa.com) At the same time, CBS Baltimore reported long lines at Baltimore-Washington International Airport on Friday, May 22, as travelers left for the weekend. ### Why are so many people still driving? AAA said 39.1 million people were expected to travel by car over the five-day holiday period, or about 87% of Memorial Day travelers. Stacey Barber, AAA’s vice president of travel, said in the group’s May 11 forecast that “travel demand remains strong” and that “despite higher fuel prices, many people are prioritizing leisure travel during holiday breaks.” (newsroom.aaa.com) The same AAA forecast said this year’s total of 45 million travelers was slightly above 2025 and set a new Memorial Day weekend record. Air travel was also expected to rise, with 3.66 million people projected to fly, but road trips remained the clear majority. (nbcsandiego.com) ### How high did gas prices get in Louisiana? AAA’s fuel tracker listed Louisiana’s average regular price at $4.051 a gallon as of May 22. That was above the state’s $4.006 average a week earlier and far above the $2.718 average a year earlier, according to the same tracker. The national picture was also higher. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said on May 21 that the U.S. average for regular gasoline stood at $4.56, up 3 cents from a week earlier and $1.38 above the same time last year. AAA said pump prices were the highest they had been since the summer of 2022. ### What was happening in California? (newsroom.aaa.com) California stations reported another regional spike. NBC said Memorial Day weekend gas prices in California were the highest for the holiday since 2022, as travelers entered the summer driving season facing higher costs at the pump. (gasprices.aaa.com) AAA’s national forecast did not single out California in its main release, but it said drivers nationwide were paying more than they did over Memorial Day weekend last year. That broader rise helps explain why local coverage focused on state-by-state price pressure even as travel demand held up. (newsroom.aaa.com) ### What did the airport crowds look like? CBS Baltimore reported on May 22 that long lines stretched through terminals at BWI as travelers departed for Memorial Day trips. The station said the airport rush came with higher prices and fewer budget flight options after Spirit Airlines shut down operations earlier in May, removing one of BWI’s largest low-cost carriers. (nbcsandiego.com) Travelers interviewed by CBS Baltimore said they were preparing for delays and crowds. The station also reported that BWI traffic was getting an added lift from Naval Academy families leaving Maryland after commissioning week events in Annapolis wrapped up Friday morning. (newsroom.aaa.com) ### What happens next through the holiday weekend? Monday, May 25 is the end of AAA’s Memorial Day travel window, and the organization said holiday traffic would remain heavy as travelers returned home. CBS Baltimore said AAA and transportation officials expected another busy stretch on Monday and urged BWI passengers to arrive early and check flight status before leaving for the airport. (cbsnews.com) (newsroom.aaa.com)