DALLAS, Tx. — GasBuddy is warning Americans to prepare for the most expensive summer at the pump in years. According to their 2026 Summer Travel Survey, the national average is expected to hit $4.48 a gallon by Memorial Day, a huge jump from $3.14 last year. Prices could climb as high as $4.80 a gallon through the end of summer.
The primary driver behind higher gas prices is the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has severely disrupted global oil supplies.
Experts say that even after the Strait reopens, it could take over a year for gas prices to fully recover. Additional pressure from refinery dynamics and the upcoming hurricane season could even push prices past the $5 mark, potentially setting new all-time records.
The financial strain is already impacting travelers ahead of Memorial Day Weekend. While 56-percent of Americans still plan to drive this summer, the number is down significantly from 69-percent last year.
Over half of those surveyed said cost was their top priority, with many planning to take fewer trips or use savings tools like the GasBuddy app to find the lowest possible prices at the pump as they adapt to the surge.
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