Gas Prices Spike Before Memorial Day

Sorry, this video is no longer available

More than 33 million people will be hitting the road this weekend across the country for Memorial Day. Just like clockwork, gas is going up.

Gas prices have been on a steady hike since the beginning of the year, climbing by about 40 cents a gallon in both North Dakota and Minnesota. But although gas is more expensive now, people in our area are not complaining.

Drivers are swiping their cards, pumping gas, and hitting the road for Memorial Day weekend.

“Prices aren’t too bad. I mean they’ve been rising a little bit lately but overall I don’t think they’re too bad,” says John Rodgers.

John Rodgers is in the air force and is stationed in Minot. He moved here from California where average gas prices are $3.80 a gallon, which if you can believe is low compared to usual prices.

“California is highway robbery. Last time I went to California it was like $4 or four something,” Rodgers says.

In North Dakota it’s more than a dollar less at $2.54 a gallon according to AAA.

“Overall, we’re $0.18 less than the national average here in North Dakota,” says AAA Spokesman Gene LaDoucer.

But this is the start of road-trip season and gas prices are nearing their peak.

“That’s a price that we pretty much expect to see through the Memorial Day weekend a lot of times after the Memorial Day weekend we will see a little easing in prices,” says LaDoucer.

And for some, these higher than normal prices are affecting travel plans, a little.

“We’re heading out to Duluth this weekend and we have to take a pick-up because we’re hauling stuff so we’re kind of backing off on some of the things that we’re going to do in Duluth,” says Shayla Olson of Fargo.

This time last year, North Dakota’s average price per gallon was more than a dollar higher than it is this year. And drivers are happy to see that change.

“I’m just happy I live where the gas is low guess,” Olson says.

Triple A officials say that after Memorial Day, prices should go back down and drivers shouldn’t see any more significant hikes.