The statewide gas price average in Texas is $2.56 for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel, according to the AAA Texas Weekend Gas Watch. That price is two cents less than on this day last week and is 20 cents less per gallon compared to this day last year. Of the major metropolitan areas surveyed in Texas, drivers in Midland are paying the most on average at $2.76 while drivers in San Antonio are paying the least at $2.40 per gallon. The national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is $2.84, which is two cents less than this day last week and 12 cents less than the price per gallon at this same time last year.
AAA is forecasting that three million Texans, the highest number on record, will to drive to their Memorial Day weekend destination. That number exceeds last year’s figure by nearly 100,000 people. Gas prices are getting cheaper for the majority of Texas motorists despite the fact that gasoline stocks remain lower compared to this time one year ago. Crude oil prices have remained relatively stable recently, which is one reason gas prices are cheaper than last year at this time. Across the U.S., motorists can find gas for $2.75 or less at nearly half of all gas stations in the country.
“As three million Texans hit the road for Memorial Day weekend, the most ever, gas prices continue to go down and are 20 cents cheaper on average in Texas compared to this time last year,” said Daniel Armbruster, AAA Texas/AAA New Mexico spokesperson. “AAA Texas reminds all motorists to prioritize safety and never drive intoxicated or ‘intexticated’, as both have deadly consequences.”
By the numbers: 2019 Memorial Day holiday travel forecast
|
Texas |
|
|
|
Mode of travel |
People |
Change from 2018 |
|
Automobile |
3 million |
+3.5% |
|
Air Travel |
267,000 |
+5.1% |
|
Other Travel (Trains, Buses) |
161,521 |
+2.1% |
|
Texas Total Travel Volume |
3.4 million |
+3.6% |
|
National |
|
|
|
Mode of travel |
People |
Change from 2018 |
|
Automobile |
37.6 million |
+3.5% |
|
Air Travel |
3.25 million |
+4.8% |
|
Other Travel (Trains, Buses) |
1.9 million |
+3.8% |
|
National Total Travel Volume |
42.7 million |
+3.6% |
- Automobiles: The vast majority of travelers – 37.6 million – will hit the road, the most on record for the holiday and 3.5% more than last year.
- Planes: 3.25 million people will take to the skies, 4.8% more than last year, second only to 2005.
- Trains, Buses and Cruise Ships: Travel across these sectors will increase by 3.8% to 1.9 million passengers.
Drivers beware: Worst times to hit the road
For the 37.6 million Americans traveling by automobile, INRIX, in collaboration with AAA, predicts drivers will experience the greatest amount of congestion on Thursday, May 24 and Friday, May 25 in the late afternoon as commuters leave work early and mix with holiday travelers. Several major U.S. metros could experience double the travel times compared to a normal trip, while New Yorkers and Washington, D.C., could see three times the delay.
|
Metro Area |
Worst Day for Travel |
Worst Time for Travel |
Delay Multiplier of Normal Trip |
|
Atlanta |
Thursday, May 23 |
4:30 - 6:30 PM |
2.2x |
|
Boston |
Monday, May 27 |
3:45 - 5:45 PM |
3.0x |
|
Chicago |
Friday, May 24 |
3:30 - 5:30 PM |
1.6x |
|
Detroit |
Friday, May 24 |
2:30 - 4:30 PM |
1.7x |
|
Houston |
Sunday, May 26 |
2:15 - 4:15 PM |
1.0x |
|
Los Angeles |
Friday, May 24 |
4:30 - 6:30 PM |
1.0x |
|
New York |
Thursday, May 23 |
4:45 - 6:45 PM |
2.0x |
|
San Francisco |
Saturday, May 25 |
1:00 - 3:00 PM |
1.6x |
|
Seattle |
Monday, May 27 |
3:30 - 5:30 PM |
1.0x |
|
Washington, D.C. |
Monday, May 27 |
3:45 - 5:45 PM |
3.0x |
|
|
|
|
Source: INRIX |
DFW Busiest Cooridors by Rank
- I-35 E (Southbound) at intersection with US-67
- I-635 LBJ Freeway (Westbound) at US-75
- I-35 W (Southbound) at US-287
- I-30 (Eastbound) at TX-360
- I-20 (Eastbound) at Patriot Parkway
Prices up to date at press time using market prices posted at 3:41 a.m. Motorists can find current gas prices along their route with the free and revamped AAA App for iPhone, iPad and Android. The app can also be used to map a route and learn traffic conditions along that route, find discounts, locate parking, book a hotel and request and track AAA roadside assistance. Learn more at www.AAA.com/mobile.
To help members and non-members identify quality auto repair shops that can assist in the maintenance and repair of their vehicles, AAA offers the Approved Auto Repair program as a free public service. AAA-approved repair facilities meet and maintain high professional standards for training, equipment, cleanliness and customer service. Motorists can look for the Approved Auto Repair sign at local auto repair facilities, or search for a nearby AAA-approved shop online at AAA.com/Repair. AAA Texas branch offices throughout the state can be found by visiting www.AAA.com. Follow AAA Texas on Twitter: @AAATexas and Facebook: www.facebook.com/AAATexas. Find additional news from AAA Texas in our online newsroom at http://tx-aaa.iprsoftware.com/.
|
Area |
05/23/2019 |
Week Ago |
Week Ago Difference |
Year Ago |
Year Ago Difference |
Date |
Record Price |
|
National |
$2.84 |
$2.86 |
-0.02 |
$2.96 |
-0.12 |
07/17/08 |
$4.11 |
|
Texas |
$2.56 |
$2.58 |
-0.02 |
$2.76 |
-0.20 |
07/17/08 |
$3.98 |
|
Abilene |
$2.61 |
$2.62 |
-0.01 |
$2.90 |
-0.29 |
||
|
Amarillo |
$2.51 |
$2.52 |
-0.01 |
$2.69 |
-0.18 |
07/15/08 |
$4.01 |
|
Austin-San Marcos |
$2.51 |
$2.51 |
0 |
$2.73 |
-0.22 |
07/17/08 |
$3.97 |
|
Beaumont-Port Arthur |
$2.54 |
$2.54 |
0 |
$2.69 |
-0.15 |
07/16/08 |
$4.00 |
|
Brownsville-Harlingen |
$2.44 |
$2.48 |
-0.04 |
$2.71 |
-0.27 |
||
|
College Station-Bryan |
$2.56 |
$2.57 |
-0.01 |
$2.75 |
-0.19 |
||
|
Corpus Christi |
$2.46 |
$2.45 |
+0.01 |
$2.67 |
-0.21 |
07/15/08 |
$3.96 |
|
Dallas |
$2.60 |
$2.63 |
-0.03 |
$2.79 |
-0.19 |
07/16/08 |
$3.98 |
|
El Paso |
$2.66 |
$2.72 |
-0.06 |
$3.03 |
-0.37 |
07/17/08 |
$3.97 |
|
Fort Worth-Arlington |
$2.59 |
$2.62 |
-0.03 |
$2.79 |
-0.20 |
07/16/08 |
$3.97 |
|
Galveston-Texas City |
$2.61 |
$2.63 |
-0.02 |
$2.76 |
-0.15 |
07/14/08 |
$3.97 |
|
Houston |
$2.59 |
$2.61 |
-0.02 |
$2.75 |
-0.16 |
07/17/08 |
$3.96 |
|
Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood |
$2.50 |
$2.51 |
-0.01 |
$2.71 |
-0.21 |
||
|
Laredo |
$2.42 |
$2.46 |
-0.04 |
$2.72 |
-0.30 |
||
|
Longview |
$2.53 |
$2.54 |
-0.01 |
$2.71 |
-0.18 |
||
|
Lubbock |
$2.54 |
$2.54 |
0 |
$2.72 |
-0.18 |
||
|
McAllen |
$2.42 |
$2.45 |
-0.03 |
$2.71 |
-0.29 |
||
|
Midland |
$2.76 |
$2.76 |
0 |
$3.06 |
-0.30 |
||
|
Odessa |
$2.72 |
$2.73 |
-0.01 |
$3.02 |
-0.30 |
||
|
San Angelo |
$2.58 |
$2.56 |
+0.02 |
$2.80 |
-0.22 |
||
|
San Antonio |
$2.40 |
$2.41 |
-0.01 |
$2.68 |
-0.28 |
07/16/08 |
$3.96 |
|
Sherman-Denison |
$2.50 |
$2.50 |
0 |
$2.69 |
-0.19 |
||
|
Texarkana |
$2.50 |
$2.49 |
+0.01 |
$2.69 |
-0.19 |
07/16/08 |
$3.98 |
|
Tyler |
$2.45 |
$2.47 |
-0.02 |
$2.69 |
-0.24 |
||
|
Victoria |
$2.48 |
$2.48 |
0 |
$2.71 |
-0.23 |
||
|
Waco |
$2.49 |
$2.50 |
-0.01 |
$2.72 |
-0.23 |
||
|
Wichita Falls |
$2.55 |
$2.55 |
0 |
$2.65 |
-0.10 |