High gas prices not deterring travel this Memorial Day Weekend

Williamsville, N.Y. (WBEN) - While many in Western New York and across the United States continue to feel the pain at the gas pumps, the high prices for fuel is not deterring many from still packing for a bit of a getaway this Memorial Day Weekend.

According to AAA's latest numbers, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline nationally is $4.56. In New York, consumers are paying $4.61 on average for a gallon of gasoline, while in the Buffalo-Niagara region, the average price is $4.60 per-gallon.

This isn't the first time, though, that prices at the pump have escalated rapidly ahead of a busy travel season.

"Looking back at 2022, the Russia-Ukraine conflict had kicked off that year and gas prices started to increase, and kept going up right into obviously peaking in June, and then they kind of settled down a little bit throughout the summer," said Elizabeth Carey from AAA of Western and Central New York.

The highest average on record for a gallon of gas at the pump in the Buffalo-Niagara region was $4.91, which was back in June of 2022. While the local region is still about 31 cents away from reaching that record, Carey has noticed people not shying away from hitting the roadways this weekend.

"One of the things we saw in 2022 was an increase in travel, despite those high gas prices, despite those $5 a gallon gas prices. People still went out, they still traveled," she noted. "We hit some record numbers that year, and things have continued to increase since then. A year ago, we were paying about $3.07, so it's about $1.53 more in Buffalo that we're paying this year compared to last year, and no one wants to pay that much for gasoline. But it's not enough to stop someone from taking that road trip. They can still make it economical and fit with their budget.

"People are prioritizing travel. They want to get out there, they want to take these trips. So we do expect it to be a very, very busy summer."

Carey admits it is really hard to predict what will happen with gas prices over the coming weeks.

"Obviously, people are very sensitive to how much they pay at the pump. They feel that pain at the pump," Carey said. "In a typical year - things haven't been typical so far this year - we see prices spike right around Memorial Day. By Fourth of July, they've kind of tapered off a little bit, and then they steady out for the rest of the summer. It's hard to say what will happen with gas prices this year, based on those oil prices, the demand, the situation in the Middle East. All of that's going to play a role in how much we're paying at the pump."

Carey adds many people used to pinpoint the $3 per-gallon mark as a threshold of whether to make a road trip or not on a weekend like Memorial Day. That, of course, has changed over the years.

"When we saw in 2022 gas prices getting up past $4 into that $5 mark, consumers were very upset and they started to change their habits," Carey said. "When prices get this high, people might say, 'You know what, I don't want to drive as much. I'm going to combine all my errands into one trip, or I'm going to ask to work from home one day. Or maybe I'll even shop for a more fuel-efficient vehicle.' So we start to see these consumer behaviors shift a little bit when prices are so high. That's when all of that kind of goes into place. Again, while travel is a priority, people might say, 'Maybe I'll ride my bike.' That's a great way to get around. We talk about the e-bikes, the e scooters, different ways to get around that might save some money."

So where are many in Western New York planning a road trip for the holiday weekend?

"People are heading over to New York City, they're going to Pennsylvania, Virginia, Tennessee, the Carolinas and Florida, of course," said Renee Pilley, AAA Senior Travel Advisor. "I know what you're all thinking: How are people doing this? Why are people doing this? Because the gas prices are high, inflation is high. People have put priority in travel over everything else. They're looking to make memories, to cherish time with their family members, and to take care of themselves, because it's been a long winter. We all know it. We've all survived it through here in Buffalo."

Carey adds the busiest the roadways will be is Thursday and Friday between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Monday afternoon will also be busy with people on the way back home from their getaway.

"If you're heading to a big city - New York City, D.C., Boston, Denver - they expect traffic to increase by 100% this weekend, and it's already busy in those cities. So if you're going, prepare for that," she added. "Make sure you're well-rested, you're not distracted behind the wheel, and never drive impaired."

And if you're looking to travel this summer, AAA advises to book sooner rather than later.

"We've seen the gas prices keep going up, we know the fuel prices are going to keep going up. So the earlier you book, the better price you're going to get," Pilley said. "Finding last-minute deals is going to be highly unlikely. Flexibility is the key to saving money, so look to travel on off-peak days, pick a hidden gem or closer to home, or opt to do an all-inclusive with lots of activities so you know right from the start what kind of budget you're playing for."