Gas price trends ahead of Fourth of July weekend travel

Salisbury, Md. – As travelers get ready to drive this holiday weekend, officials from the Delaware Department of Transportation and AAA share how gas prices might affect them.

Gas prices, according to DelDOT officials, are lower than in recent months but still higher than last year.

According to AAA data, as of Wednesday, some of the highest regular gas price averages on Delmarva are over $3.80, while the lowest is just over $3.60.

Morgan Dean, spokesperson at AAA, says high gas prices are certainly something drivers will keep in mind when budgeting their trips, noting that, at the state level, Marylanders are contending with gas that’s 49 cents more expensive than it was going into the Fourth of July last year.

“People want to travel, but they’re having to be much more focused and much more engaged in making sure that they can afford that trip, so focusing on how they’re going to balance that budget,” Dean said.

In Delaware, DelDOT officials say fuel prices are higher than last year, but because it’s gas tax is lower than surrounding states, it’s still cheaper than other areas, especially in Kent and Sussex Counties.

“But coming from some of these other states that have higher gas taxes, you can be saving $0.25 or more a gallon depending on where you’re traveling from,” DelDOT Director of Community Relations C.R. McLeod said.

He added that Delaware’s gas tax hasn’t been raised since the 1990’s. Meanwhile, Maryland’s gas tax rose slightly to six-tenths of a cent on Wednesday, making gasoline 46.60 cents per gallon compared to 46.00 cents in the previous fiscal year.

McLeod said he understands that many are feeling the squeeze from gas prices and says there are several low-cost or free transportation initiatives to get people to the beaches for the holidays.

“One of the other things that, as a department, you know, that we really try to promote is the use of our Dart Beach bus in eastern Sussex County that travels through our beach communities and even over to Georgetown,” he said.