July Fourth gas prices: How much will gas cost? When should I get gas for my road trip?
Fourth of July travelers will have some relief at the pump, although gas prices are still at levels never before seen for the holiday weekend.
The national average for a gallon of gas is $4.86, according to AAA. That is 26 cents more than Memorial Day weekend prices, but it reflects a decline in prices in recent weeks. Gas prices peaked when the all-time record, not adjusted for inflation, was reached June 14 at $5.01 a gallon.
The drop in prices comes as a record number of Americans are expected to take road trips for July Fourth weekend. But high prices are still a concern for some travelers: 50% of respondents surveyed by the travel planning site The Vacationer said gas prices affected their holiday travel plans.
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said people may be excited about the decline in gas prices, but it might not last long.
"Little bouts of relief here and there are going to be common this summer, but we may not also be done with the fireworks yet," De Haan told USA TODAY.
Here's what you should know about gas prices for Fourth of July weekend:
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Why are gas prices going down? How long will it last?
De Haan listed several factors for why gas prices are dropping, notably the fears of a global economy in decline resulting in oil prices falling. But oil prices have begun to rise: U.S. crude oil hit $113.66 a barrel, while the international standard Brent crude costs $122.21, both reflecting 2% price increases on Wednesday, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
"As we go into the July for weekend, it's possible that prices could bottom out at some point next week, and they may inch up a little bit, just depending on what happens between now and then," he said. "It's been very difficult to predict beyond a week or two."
Aside from the rise in the demand for gas this summer, another factor that could contribute to another increase in prices is the beginning of hurricane season, because offshore refineries could be hit by storms.
When should I get gas for July Fourth travel?
Later is actually better, De Haan said.
He expects demand to be high on Thursday and Friday but not for Saturday to Monday. Plus, prices are likely to drop.
"Don't be in a rush to fill up before you leave. Don't go fill up the tank tomorrow night if you're leaving Friday; wait until Friday, because there should be some relief that continues up to and through the holiday weekend," De Haan said.
Another way people could save up on gas is drive 5 to 10 mph slower to increase fuel efficiency. De Haan said people who are traveling to other states should take that into consideration when getting gas, because some states have prices that are dramatically lower.
For example, gas costs at least $7.19 a gallon in Needles, California, but just 2 miles north of the California-Arizona border, you can get gas around $4.75 in Mohave Valley, Arizona.
Question, answered: Is using a phone while pumping gas actually dangerous?
Where is gas the most expensive?
The West Coast is where you'll find the most expensive gas; California leads the way at $6.29 a gallon.
Where is gas the least expensive?
The Southeast is the best place to get gas, with seven states under $4.50 a gallon. The state with the cheapest gas is Georgia at $4.37.
Average gas prices per state
Wondering how much gas costs in your state or any state you are traveling to for July Fourth? Here are gas prices in each state, according to AAA.
Alabama gas prices
Regular: $4.47
Mid-grade: $4.85
Premium: $5.21
Diesel: $5.58
Alaska gas prices
Regular: $5.58
Mid-grade: $5.78
Premium: $5.97
Diesel: $6.11
Arizona gas prices
Regular: $5.25
Mid-grade: $5.57
Premium: $5.82
Diesel: $5.88
Arkansas gas prices
Regular: $4.42
Mid-grade: $4.76
Premium: $5.08
Diesel: $5.38
California gas prices
Regular: $6.29
Mid-grade: $6.51
Premium: $6.65
Diesel: $6.96
Colorado gas prices
Regular: $4.90
Mid-grade: $4.53
Premium: $4.82
Diesel: $5.33
Connecticut gas prices
Regular: $4.84
Mid-grade: $5.29
Premium: $5.64
Diesel: $6.09
DC gas prices
Regular: $5.03
Mid-grade: $5.55
Premium: $5.89
Diesel: $6.09
Delaware gas prices
Regular: $4.80
Mid-grade: $5.25
Premium: $5.49
Diesel: $5.78
Florida gas prices
Regular: $4.63
Mid-grade: $5.04
Premium: $5.35
Diesel: $5.65
Georgia gas prices
Regular: $4.37
Mid-grade: $4.77
Premium: $5.12
Diesel: $5.49
Hawaii gas prices
Regular: $5.59
Mid-grade: $5.78
Premium: $6.05
Diesel: $6.16
Idaho gas prices
Regular: $5.23
Mid-grade: $5.43
Premium: $5.64
Diesel: $5.88
Illinois gas prices
Regular: $5.41
Mid-grade: $5.87
Premium: $6.25
Diesel: $5.81
Indiana gas prices
Regular: $4.97
Mid-grade: $5.38
Premium: $5.71
Diesel: $6.02
Iowa gas prices
Regular: $4.62
Mid-grade: $4.80
Premium: $5.29
Diesel: $5.42
Kansas gas prices
Regular: $4.59
Mid-grade: $4.86
Premium: $5.16
Diesel: $5.37
Kentucky gas prices
Regular: $4.59
Mid-grade: $4.98
Premium: $5.31
Diesel: $5.78
Louisiana gas prices
Regular: $4.43
Mid-grade: $4.78
Premium: $5.12
Diesel: $5.35
Maine gas prices
Regular: $5.00
Mid-grade: $5.37
Premium: $5.66
Diesel: $6.11
Maryland gas prices
Regular: $4.83
Mid-grade: $5.33
Premium: $5.59
Diesel: $5.80
Massachusetts gas prices
Regular: $4.91
Mid-grade: $5.35
Premium: $5.64
Diesel: $6.11
Michigan gas prices
Regular: $5.01
Mid-grade: $5.40
Premium: $5.75
Diesel: $5.95
Minnesota gas prices
Regular: $4.70
Mid-grade: $4.96
Premium: $5.32
Diesel: $5.57
Mississippi gas prices
Regular: $4.40
Mid-grade: $4.73
Premium: $5.08
Diesel: $5.34
Missouri gas prices
Regular: $4.58
Mid-grade: $4.90
Premium: $5.20
Diesel: $5.37
Montana gas prices
Regular: $4.96
Mid-grade: $5.26
Premium: $5.53
Diesel: $5.90
Nebraska gas prices
Regular: $4.71
Mid-grade: $4.86
Premium: $5.32
Diesel: $5.35
Nevada gas prices
Regular: $5.57
Mid-grade: $5.81
Premium: $6.00
Diesel: $5.97
New Hampshire gas prices
Regular: $4.86
Mid-grade: $5.29
Premium: $5.61
Diesel: $6.08
New Jersey gas prices
Regular: $4.89
Mid-grade: $5.40
Premium: $5.64
Diesel: $5.96
New Mexico gas prices
Regular: $4.69
Mid-grade: $5.03
Premium: $5.30
Diesel: $5.58
New York gas prices
Regular: $4.94
Mid-grade: $5.35
Premium: $5.67
Diesel: $6.21
North Carolina gas prices
Regular: $4.51
Mid-grade: $4.88
Premium: $5.24
Diesel: $5.66
North Dakota gas prices
Regular: $4.71
Mid-grade: $5.01
Premium: $5.37
Diesel: $5.61
Ohio gas prices
Regular: $4.83
Mid-grade: $5.21
Premium: $5.56
Diesel: $6.06
Oklahoma gas prices
Regular: $4.57
Mid-grade: $4.89
Premium: $5.12
Diesel: $5.28
Oregon gas prices
Regular: $5.49
Mid-grade: $5.70
Premium: $5.90
Diesel: $6.47
Pennsylvania gas prices
Regular: $4.94
Mid-grade: $5.33
Premium: $5.61
Diesel: $6.15
Rhode Island gas prices
Regular: $4.88
Mid-grade: $5.37
Premium: $5.66
Diesel: $6.16
South Carolina gas prices
Regular: $4.39
Mid-grade: $4.77
Premium: $5.11
Diesel: $5.53
South Dakota gas prices
Regular: $4.75
Mid-grade: $4.88
Premium: $5.34
Diesel: $5.40
Tennessee gas prices
Regular: $4.49
Mid-grade: $4.86
Premium: $5.21
Diesel: $5.58
Texas gas prices
Regular: $4.51
Mid-grade: $4.88
Premium: $5.20
Diesel: $5.27
Utah gas prices
Regular: $5.19
Mid-grade: $5.39
Premium: $5.59
Diesel: $5.67
Vermont gas prices
Regular: $4.94
Mid-grade: $5.35
Premium: $5.74
Diesel: $6.04
Virginia gas prices
Regular: $4.69
Mid-grade: $5.13
Premium: $5.46
Diesel: $5.74
Washington gas prices
Regular: $5.48
Mid-grade: $5.71
Premium: $5.89
Diesel: $6.46
West Virginia gas prices
Regular: $4.83
Mid-grade: $5.14
Premium: $5.40
Diesel: $5.96
Wisconsin gas prices
Regular: $4.68
Mid-grade: $5.11
Premium: $5.49
Diesel: $5.52
Wyoming gas prices
Regular: $4.89
Mid-grade: $5.09
Premium: $5.35
Diesel: $5.72
Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jordan_mendoza5.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: July Fourth gas prices: How much gas costs in your state and across US
