Summer travel plans impacted by rising gas costs, survey finds
OREGON (KTVZ) -- GasBuddy released its 2026 Summer Travel Survey results and forecast today, indicating that American road trip culture remains resilient even as fuel prices surge.
The national average gas price is forecast to reach $4.48 per gallon on Memorial Day and could average $4.80 per gallon throughout the summer travel season.
This projected Memorial Day price marks a sharp increase from $3.14 per gallon a year ago. The forecast also warns of potential all-time record highs if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed for a significant portion of the summer, which would exacerbate already volatile market conditions.
GasBuddy conducted its 2026 Summer Travel Survey from May 15–18, 2026, gathering insights from a random group of its users to inform these findings.
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, stated that this summer marks the most volatile period at the pump in years, largely due to the Strait of Hormuz closure. "This is the most volatile summer at the pump in years and the Strait of Hormuz closure is at the center of it," Haan said. "Americans are going to pay billions more to get where they're going this summer and even after the Strait reopens, it could take a year or more for gas prices to fully recover. Some states are already suspending gas taxes to ease the pain and federal discussions are underway. Every bit of relief matters. Use every tool you have, including GasBuddy, to find the lowest price near you."
Despite the increase in prices, 56% of surveyed Americans still plan to drive more than 2 hours this summer, though this figure is a decrease from 69% last year. Among those planning trips, 38% anticipate driving more than 5 hours to their destinations, with the majority intending to take multiple trips.
Cost has become the dominant factor for travelers, cited by 53% of respondents as a top priority. Gas prices are directly impacting the driving plans of 67% of travelers and 36% report that rising costs are causing them to take fewer road trips overall. In response, travelers are increasingly relying on savings tools, with 83% planning to use GasBuddy to find the lowest prices and most are willing to drive 2 to 3 miles out of their way to save at the pump. Cents off per gallon is the overwhelming loyalty driver, cited by 90% of respondents when choosing where to fill up.
The national average price of gasoline is projected to be $1.48 more expensive on Memorial Day compared to last year.
According to GasBuddy's forecast, if the Strait remains closed for much of the summer, prices could reach beyond $5 per gallon and potentially set new all-time records. Even after the Strait fully reopens, sub-$3 gas is unlikely to return for many months, possibly more than a year. The summer average forecast of $4.80 per gallon reflects current market conditions and is subject to significant change based on geopolitical developments.
