Memorial Day gas prices near record highs as 40 million drivers hit roads

Americans traveling this Memorial Day weekend will face some of the highest gas prices in history.

Despite soaring costs due to the ongoing conflict in Iran, which is causing transportation bottlenecks and blockades, AAA expects more than 39 million people to hit the roads over the holiday weekend.

Meanwhile, the White House has tried to build rapport with Americans ahead of the 2026 midterm elections by rolling out a series of extraordinary measures aimed at easing pain at the pump amid an economic squeeze causing rising prices and stubborn inflation.

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Drivers fill up at a gas station as fuel prices rise across the country ahead of the busy Memorial Day weekend. (Susan Montoya Bryan/AP)

Rising fuel prices persist amid further turmoil in global energy markets as escalating tensions in Iran disrupted oil supplies and sent crude prices soaring following the outbreak of war in late February.

National gas prices are now near record highs, eclipsing levels seen in previous summer travel seasons and raising fears of even higher costs to come.

President Donald Trump released record amounts of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to drive down prices and called for a federal gas tax holiday. His administration also temporarily waived a century-old shipping law, known as the Jones Act, to move fuel between U.S. ports more quickly.

Despite these efforts, drivers across the country continue to see large increases at the pump.

West Coast drivers face the highest costs, with gasoline reaching $6.14 a gallon in California and $5.70 in Washington state, according to data compiled by AAA.

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On the East Coast, prices climbed above $4.50 in several regions, including $4.67 in Washington, D.C. and $4.62 in Pennsylvania.

In the Midwest, Illinois stands out at $5.01 per gallon, while much of the region remains in the $4 average range. Southern states continue to experience relatively lower costs, although prices there are also climbing, reaching $4.03 in Georgia, $4.09 in Texas and $4.51 in Florida. Mississippi currently has the cheapest gasoline in the country at $4.01 per gallon.

Beyond gasoline, other fuel prices are rising even faster.

Diesel rose to $5.65, an increase of about $2.10 over the past year. As a key fuel for freight, shipping and public transport, it is particularly susceptible to supply disruptions and its rising cost can quickly ripple through the economy as a whole, driving up the prices of everything from groceries to goods.

Diesel prices are rising even faster than gasoline prices, sparking concerns about rising shipping and consumer costs nationwide. (Rebecca Noble/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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The rise underscores broader economic risks from the standoff, as uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz continues to roil energy markets.

As the midterm elections approach, rising gas prices are once again becoming a major political vulnerability as frustrated Americans see the cost of fueling up.