Gas prices across Tennessee dropped slightly over the past week, but drivers heading out for the Memorial Day holiday are still paying significantly more at the pump compared to last year.
According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Tennessee is now $4.12 per gallon, down three cents from last week. However, prices remain 33 cents higher than a month ago and $1.41 higher than this time last year.
AAA spokeswoman Megan Cooper said travelers planning holiday road trips should expect noticeably higher fuel costs this Memorial Day weekend.
“Today’s state gas price average is $1.37 more expensive than what drivers paid on last year’s holiday, which adds roughly $20 to the cost of filling a 15-gallon gas tank,” Cooper said.
Despite the slight statewide decline, Tennessee motorists are still seeing elevated prices due to high crude oil costs and strong seasonal travel demand. AAA says this year’s Memorial Day gas prices are the highest seen in four years as record numbers of travelers prepare to hit the roads nationwide.
In Southeast Tennessee, Chattanooga drivers are paying some of the lowest prices in the state at an average of $4.04 per gallon. Nashville currently has some of the highest averages at $4.16, while Jackson tops the list at $4.19 per gallon.
AAA is also warning drivers against cutting corners on vehicle maintenance in an effort to offset higher fuel costs. A new survey found that 44 percent of Tennesseans allow their gas tanks to run closer to empty before filling up when prices rise.
“When fuel prices rise, drivers often look for immediate ways to save money, and that can include delaying maintenance or stretching a tank of gas longer than recommended,” Cooper said. “Those short-term decisions can lead to long-term costs, especially during busy travel weekends.”
AAA recommends motorists have their vehicles inspected before traveling for the holiday weekend to help avoid breakdowns and costly repairs during peak travel periods.
Nationally, gasoline demand dipped slightly last week, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, while domestic gasoline supplies also decreased. Meanwhile, crude oil prices continue hovering around the $100 per barrel mark, keeping upward pressure on prices at the pump.