National Average Gas Prices Hit Four-Year High as Memorial Day Weekend Approaches
The national average gasoline price reached $4.55 per gallon on May 22, 2026, as Americans prepare for one of the busiest travel weekends of the year amid Middle East tensions.
Pump Prices Surge
The national average for a gallon of gasoline is $4.55, as America heads into one of the busiest travel weekends of the year. Gas prices have surged to a 4-year high, as tensions in the Middle East continue, with gasoline in California over $6 a gallon.
Iran Conflict Impact
Oil prices have been extremely volatile in the past two weeks, often moving based on news that changes investor expectations about the potential duration of the crisis, with the situation highly uncertain and not yet suggesting a high likelihood that the Strait of Hormuz will soon be safely reopened, leading investors to expect relatively high inflation.
Travel Season Timing
A record 45 million Americans are expected to travel for Memorial Day weekend, according to AAA.