HomeLocalMemorial Day Travel Numbers Strong Despite Rising Gas Prices

Memorial Day Travel Numbers Strong Despite Rising Gas Prices

AAA Northeast’s May 21 survey of prices in Rhode Island finds self-serve, regular unleaded averaging $2.95 per gallon. Rhode Island’s price is three cents above the national average of $2.92. A year ago at this time, the average price in Rhode Island was 64 cents lower at $2.31 per gallon.

The range in prices in the latest AAA survey for unleaded regular is 26 cents, from a low of $2.83 to a high of $3.09. AAA advises motorists to shop around for the best prices in their area, and to make sure they and their passengers buckle up — every time.

Today’s local gas prices and their ranges are as follows:

Self Serve                                           Grade                        

$2.95 ($2.83-$3.09)                            Regular Unleaded                  

$3.25 ($3.15-$3.39)                            Midgrade Unleaded               

$3.45 ($3.35-$3.53)                            Premium Unleaded                

$3.29 ($3.19-$3.39)                            Diesel

            As Memorial Day approaches, and despite rising gas prices, nearly 42 million Americans will be traveling U.S. roadways this holiday weekend, a 5 percent increase over last year and the most since 2005.

            By the Numbers: 2018 Memorial Day Holiday Travel Forecast

  • Close to 1.9 million New England residents are expected to travel, 1.7 million of them by car.
  • The vast majority of travelers – 36.6 million – will drive to their destinations, 4.7 percent more than last year.
  • 3.1 million will travel by air, a 6.8 percent increase and the fifth year of consecutive air travel volume increases.

For Americans traveling by automobile, INRIX, a global transportation analytics company working with AAA, predicts drivers will experience the greatest amount of congestion on Thursday and Friday, May 24-25, in the late afternoon as commuters leave work early and mix with travelers.

Christian Winthrop
Christian Winthrop
Christian Winthrop is a media publisher and journalist and the founder and editor of Newport Buzz, the leading news platform covering Newport, Rhode Island. He is also the creator of Palm Beach Buzz, expanding the same community-focused journalism model to South Florida. A fifth-generation Newporter, Winthrop previously worked in national politics and later as an entertainment producer in New York City before returning home to launch Newport Buzz in 2011.
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