Gas prices are up. Here’s how much Kentuckians can expect to shell out Memorial Day weekend

AAA expects 39.2 million U.S. travelers to stray more than 50 miles from home for the Memorial Day holiday weekend, with hundreds of thousands of Kentuckians among them.

That national forecast is up 8.3% over last year, and the vast majority of travelers will go by vehicle. But high prices at the pumps may cause some strain.

Nationally, the average gallon in the U.S. was at $4.60 Thursday, according to AAA.

Kentucky was seeing a lower average price, at $4.295, but some counties had crept significantly higher. Oldham and Jefferson counties were seeing the average gallon go for more than $4.50 heading into Memorial Day weekend, while Bullitt and Menifee counties had averages at or exceeding $4.45 a gallon.

See average fuel prices by Kentucky county with the interactive map below.

Note: This map will automatically update as new data become available.

AAA said a recent dip in demand across the nation “helped minimize price increases ahead of Memorial Day.”

Despite this, AAA reports 10 states have seen large increases in consumer fuel prices in the last week, including Iowa, where gas jumped 10 cents on average, Idaho and Colorado, where it jumped 9 cents, and Arizona and Florida, where drivers saw an 8-cent increase.

In California, a gallon of regular average $6.07 Thursday.

Summer travel could drive prices even higher. McClatchy reports at least one prediction anticipates the national average hitting $6.20 per gallon by August.

In Kentucky, the average price is nearly $1.50 more than it was a year ago, when a regular gallon ran $2.847 on average. It’s also up around 50 cents from where it was a month ago.

Tips for Memorial Day travel

The following are tips from AAA to get the most out of your long weekend travel plans:

• Plan ahead. Flights, accommodations, tour and more are in high demand.
• Consider off-peak times or days for travel and activities.
• Hit the road when there’s less traffic. The longest driving delays are expected to be Thursday, May 26 and Friday, May 27.
• Check your car before hitting the road, including making sure tires are properly inflated.

Tips to save fuel

Below are some tips from AAA to conserve gas while traveling across the country or just around town.

• Slow down. Fuel economy can drop significantly at more than 50 mph.
• Avoid hard starts and accelerations.
• Avoid prolonged idling.
• Use cruise control where appropriate.
• Limit air conditioning use when possible.
• Park in the shade when the weather is hot, and use a windshield screen to lessen heat inside the car.
• Remove unnecessary bulky items, unused roof and bike racks and other accessories before traveling.

Do you have a question about tourism in Kentucky? We’d like to hear from you. Fill out the form below or email ask@herald-leader.com.

This story was originally published May 26, 2022 at 2:44 PM.