Gas prices have jumped up in the last few weeks and experts are saying that they are the highest prices for a Memorial Day weekend since 2014.
| Previous Memorial Day Weekend | Average Price National Gas Price |
| May 22 – May 26, 2014 | $3.65 |
| May 21 – May 25, 2015 | $2.74 |
| May 26 – May 30, 2016 | $2.32 |
| May 25 – May 29, 2017 | $2.37 |
“AAA forecasts nearly 37 million travelers will hit the road for the holiday weekend. Compared to an average of the last three Memorial Day weekends, pump prices are nearly 50 cents more expensive and climbing,” said Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokesperson. “Trends are indicating that this summer is likely to bring the national average to at least $3/gallon.”
While the South and Southeast continue to tout the cheapest gas in the country, prices are still at least 50-cents more expensive than this time last year. However, Don Redman with AAA said the higher prices are not keeping people away from traveling on the roadways.
“Gas prices alone don’t really determine whether people travel or not,” Redman said. “How they feel about the economy and particularly their personal economy does. What we are seeing is that people feel very optimistic about the economy and that is what is getting those people out driving.”
The chart below lists the five cheapest gas price averages in the southern region.
| State | May 28, 2017 | May 28, 2018 | Price Difference |
| South Carolina | $2.04 | $2.65 | +61 cents |
| Mississippi | $2.09 | $2.65 | +56 cents |
| Alabama | $2.09 | $2.66 | +57 cents |
| Arkansas | $2.12 | $2.68 | +56 cents |
| Oklahoma | $2.12 | $2.69 | +57 cents |
Redman added that there has been a 7% increase in people buying airplane tickets this year versus last year.
