GasBuddy forecasts expensive summer at the pump

CHEYENNE (WNE) — Fuel savings platform GasBuddy on Wednesday released its 2026 Summer Travel Survey results and forecast, revealing that American road trip culture is showing resilience, even as gas prices surge to levels not seen in years.

GasBuddy forecasts the national average will reach $4.48 per gallon on Memorial Day, up sharply from $3.14 per gallon a year ago, and could average $4.80 per gallon over the summer from Memorial Day through Labor Day, with the possibility of all-time record highs if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed for a significant portion of the summer.

Despite the price surge, 56% of Americans still plan to drive more than two hours this summer, though that’s down from 69% last year — a meaningful shift reflecting the financial strain on travelers. 

Of those still hitting the road, 38% expect to drive more than five hours to their destinations, and the majority plan multiple trips. Cost is now the dominant travel consideration, cited by 53% of respondents as a top priority, with 67% saying gas prices are directly impacting their driving plans and 36% saying rising costs are causing them to take fewer road trips altogether.

“This is the most volatile summer at the pump in years, and the Strait of Hormuz closure is at the center of it,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “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. ”

This story was published on May 21, 2026.