Gas Prices Dip for Memorial Day but Treasure Coast Drivers Still Pay $1.18 More Per Gallon Than Last Year

Treasure Coast families filling up before this weekend's Memorial Day road trips will get a little relief at the pump — but not much.

Florida's average gas price dropped 20 cents per gallon last week, settling at $4.23 on Sunday, according to AAA — The Auto Club Group. That's still $1.18 above the $3.05 per gallon Floridians paid on Memorial Day 2023. For a family driving an average-sized vehicle, that gap adds up fast.

"Memorial Day travelers will pay about $17 more than last year to fill an average-sized tank of gas," AAA spokesperson Mark Jenkins said in a statement. "Global supply concerns regarding the conflict with Iran has kept upward pressure on fuel prices. This could continue through the summer months unless a resolution is reached."

Drivers on the Treasure Coast are already paying among the highest prices in Florida. The West Palm Beach–Boca Raton metropolitan market — the closest major metro price benchmark to Martin County — averaged $4.42 per gallon, the most expensive in the state, public data shows. The cheapest gas in Florida remains in the Panhandle, where Pensacola averaged $4.07 per gallon.

Relief may be short-lived. U.S. crude oil climbed $10 per barrel last week — a 10 percent jump — to $105.42, and gasoline futures rose 18 cents per gallon. Those wholesale increases typically work their way to retail pumps within days, meaning prices could tick back up before the long weekend ends.

Nearly 2.6 million Floridians are expected to travel this Memorial Day weekend, with more than 2.3 million driving. Nationally, Texas offers the cheapest fuel at $4.00 per gallon; California tops out at $6.15.

This article was generated with AI assistance using publicly available information. It was reviewed and approved by a human editor before publication. TC Sentinel uses AI writing tools in accordance with FTC guidelines.