It's official: every single US state is now above $4/gallon heading into Memorial Day weekend. The national average hit $4.56 as of May 21 — the highest Memorial Day price since 2022 and $1.38 more than last year.

AAA's headline says it all: "Memorial Day Weekend Gas Prices Reach Four-Year Highs."

A record 39.1 million Americans are expected to hit the road this weekend despite these prices. Here's what's behind the surge.

📊 This Week's Numbers

• National average: $4.56/gal (up 3¢ week-over-week, +$1.38 year-over-year)

• Cheapest states: Mississippi ($4.01), Georgia ($4.03), Indiana ($4.04), Louisiana ($4.05)

• Most expensive: California ($6.14), Washington ($5.78), Hawaii ($5.64), Oregon ($5.35)

• Crude oil: WTI at ~$98/bbl, Brent at ~$105/bbl

🔥 3 Things Driving Prices Right Now

1. Iran is literally charging tolls on the Strait of Hormuz. Iran launched the "Persian Gulf Strait Authority" on May 18, imposing a permit-and-toll regime on ships passing through the strait. Over 11 million barrels/day of Gulf crude remain curtailed. Wood Mackenzie warns oil could hit $200/barrel if disruptions extend through year-end.

1. Memorial Day demand is slamming into shrinking supply. Gasoline inventories fell to 214.2 million barrels — well below the 5-year average. Meanwhile 39.1 million drivers are hitting the road this weekend. The IEA warns oil markets could enter a "red zone" by July.

1. Peace talks are stalling. The US and Iran have signaled progress, but they're deadlocked over Iran's uranium stockpile and who controls Hormuz. Don't count on a quick deal to bring relief.

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Gas prices dipped slightly this week — the national average fell to $4.528 as of May 15, down about 3 cents from last week's $4.56. But AAA says the relief is already fading: "Little Relief for Drivers as National Average Dips then Rises Again."

Here's why you shouldn't relax just yet:

📊 This Week's Numbers

• National average: $4.53/gal (down ~$0.03 week-over-week)

• Cheapest states: Mississippi ($4.00), Louisiana ($4.01), Texas ($4.01), Oklahoma ($4.02)

• Most expensive: California ($6.15), Washington ($5.77), Hawaii ($5.65)

🔥 3 Things Driving Prices Right Now

1. The Strait of Hormuz crisis isn't over. The EIA's May Short-Term Energy Outlook revealed disruptions are far worse than initially estimated — 10.5 million barrels/day shut in during April (up from the 9.1M estimate). The strait is assumed closed through late May. If it stays shut through June, oil prices could spike $20/barrel higher.

1. Memorial Day is about to hit. A record 45 million Americans are expected to travel, with 39.1 million hitting the road. That surge in demand could push prices back up fast.

1. UAE left OPEC. As of May 1, the UAE is no longer bound by OPEC production quotas. This could mean more supply eventually — but the short-term impact is uncertain.

🌍 Find the Cheapest Gas Anywhere in the World

Our Smart Gas Finder works worldwide — whether you're filling up in Manila, London, São Paulo, or right here in the US. Just type in your location and get real-time prices for the cheapest and nearest stations.

Pro members get full access to the Smart Gas Finder, detailed 2-week price forecasts, regional breakdowns, and fill-up timing strategies.

👉 Upgrade to Fuel Planner Pro to stop overpaying at the pump.

The national average just hit $4.56 per gallon — up $0.26 in just one week and marking the second straight week of 25-cent jumps. We haven't seen prices this high since the summer of 2022, when gas peaked at $5.01.

Here's what's driving the surge:

🛢️ Strait of Hormuz Crisis Continues

The US-Iran blockade has now persisted for over two months, keeping roughly 20% of the world's oil supply bottlenecked. While crude oil dipped below $100/barrel this week (WTI settled at $95.08), gasoline prices haven't followed — supply chain disruptions take weeks to unwind.

📉 Supply Is Shrinking

The EIA reports domestic gasoline supply dropped from 222.3 million to 219.8 million barrels last week. Production also fell, averaging just 9.6 million barrels/day. Less fuel on hand = higher prices at the pump.

💰 The Damage by State

• Most expensive: California ($6.16), Washington ($5.76), Hawaii ($5.66)

• Cheapest: Oklahoma ($3.98), Mississippi ($4.00), Louisiana ($4.02)

• Year-over-year: You're paying $1.40 more per gallon than last May

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The average driver fills up ~60 gallons/month. At today's prices, that's $84 more per month than last year — over $1,000/year in extra fuel costs.

Want to know exactly when to fill up, which days are cheapest, and where prices are headed the next two weeks?

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Pro members get access to the Smart Gas Finder, which finds the cheapest and nearest gas stations anywhere in the world. Whether you're driving in Europe, Asia, South America, or anywhere else — just type in any location and instantly compare fuel prices near you. Rising fuel costs aren't just a US problem, and neither is our tool.

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National Average Hits $4.55 — Up $0.50 in Two Weeks

The AAA national average hit $4.558 as of May 7 — that's a 25-cent jump for the second straight week. Prices are now $1.40 higher than this time last year.

What's Driving the Spike?

Geopolitical tensions around the Strait of Hormuz and U.S.-Iran developments sent crude oil prices soaring. Despite earlier forecasts calling for sub-$3 averages this year (GasBuddy projected $2.97), reality has diverged sharply.

Cheapest States Right Now

• Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas — still under $3.50

• Gulf Coast states remain your best bet

Most Expensive

• California — pushing past $5.25+

• Washington, Hawaii, Nevada — all above $4.20

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🔮 What Happens Next Week?

Our Pro members get the full 2-week price trend forecast, station-by-station price alerts, and optimal fill-up timing recommendations.

This week's Pro forecast correctly anticipated the spike before it hit.

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Most people fill up when the tank hits empty. That's the worst strategy.

Here's what the data actually shows:

Gas prices follow weekly cycles. In most US cities, prices are lowest on Mondays and Tuesdays, and peak on Thursdays and Fridays before the weekend. That pattern alone can save you 10-15 cents per gallon.

Stations within 2 miles of each other can differ by 30+ cents. The station on your commute isn't always the cheapest — it's just the most convenient. A 2-minute detour can save you $4-6 per fill-up.

Prices trend predictably. Crude oil futures, refinery output, and seasonal demand create patterns that repeat. If you know a price spike is coming in 3 days, you fill up now. If prices are dropping, you wait.

The average American spends $2,800/year on gas. Most of that is overspending by $400-600 just from bad timing and not comparing prices.

I built Strategic Fuel Planner to fix this. The free tier finds you the cheapest stations nearby. The Pro tier ($9.99/mo) adds AI price predictions so you know exactly when to fill up.

The math is simple: if it saves you $40+/month, it pays for itself 4x over.