Independence Day Travelers Get a Break as Gas Prices Keep Falling

As millions of Americans hit the road for the Fourth of July weekend, there's finally some relief at the pump. AAA projects over 72 million people will travel this holiday, with more than 60 million driving. 36. Still, that’s no reason to pop the champagne just yet — prices remain well above what we saw earlier this year.

Where’s the cheapest gas right now? 18 per gallon, edging out Texas by 12 cents. 43. So if you’re filling up in the Midwest, you’re in luck. But for West Coast drivers, that holiday road trip still stings.

Here’s the thing: even with recent drops, we haven’t returned to the sub-$3 gas we enjoyed back in February, before the US launched strikes on Iran. Today’s national average is roughly equal to the highest prices of 2023. Whether prices keep falling depends heavily on the conflict in Iran and the stability of the Strait of Hormuz.

CNN reports that US-Iran talks have resumed, though both sides carried out strikes over the weekend. For now, drivers may start eyeing more fuel-efficient cars or EVs if prices stay elevated for months.