Gas Prices for July 4th: Lowest We’ve Seen Since 2021

This Fourth of July holiday, gas prices across the country are at the lowest they’ve been since 2021. That’s a break for the 72 million Americans hitting the road this year for their Independence Day plans.

A national average of about $3.15 per gallon is being reported for regular gas—around 34 cents less than this time last summer. The dip is thanks partly to eased tensions in the Middle East and extra oil output from OPEC+.

Alabama is among the 10 least expensive states, with an average price of $2.84 per gallon.

AAA forecasts that a record 72.2 million people will travel more than 50 miles between June 28 and July 6. Of those, 61.6 million will drive, and 5.84 million will fly.

Stacey Barber, VP of AAA Travel says, “Summertime is one of the busiest travel seasons of the year, and July 4th is one of the most popular times to get away.” She adds that since July 4 is on a Friday this year, many folks are treating it like a long weekend—or a full week off.

But not everything is all smooth sailing. Crude oil markets still have possible bumps—like OPEC+ decisions, storms in the Gulf, and any flare-ups overseas. Patrick De Haan from GasBuddy notes that prices could fall below $3 later this summer if conditions stay calm.

Overall, this holiday weekend is looking cheaper for drivers than it has in years. AAA and GasBuddy both say drivers are likely to spend roughly $500 million less on fuel compared to last year’s July 4 holiday, WVTM13 reported.