With fewer drivers taking long road trips, demand for gas this summer is dropping. And that could prove a boon for RVers hitting the road for pre-Labor Day travel. The latest round of data from the American Automobile Association (AAA) shows the average gallon of gas costs $3.50. That number is down compared year-to-year, as more drivers elect to stay home. But for RVers looking at pre-Labor Day travel, the gas price drop comes at the perfect time.
Gas Production, Demand Signal Lower Prices
What is behind this summer’s gas price drop? The AAA suggests that sweltering heat across the United States is to blame for the dropping cost of gas across the country. With the roads not as crowded, the overall demand for gas is lowering.
Data from the Energy Information Administration shows that gas demand dropped by 610,000 barrels per day. At the same time, domestic gas stocks rose by a modest amount. With lower demand and production reduced because of Hurricane Beryl, analysts believe that gas costs for RVs could start trailing further downward.
“The arrival of summer used to signal the start of a robust driving season, but that has not been the case recently,” says Andrew Gross with AAA. “We know that a record number of travelers were forecast to hit the highways for the July 4th holiday. But since then, they appear to be staying off the road, and the recent scorching heat is possibly to blame.”
Meanwhile, oil prices continue to remain in flux. Current U.S. crude oil inventories are currently sitting around 5 percent below the five-year average for this part of the year. West Texas Intermediate prices have dropped by around 5 percent during the month.
States with the Highest and Lowest Gas Prices
Across the nation, the South remains the cheapest place to fill up. Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Arkansas all have the lowest gas prices in the nation, with the average motorist paying less than $3.15 per gallon. In the continental United States, the Pacific West represents the high-end in gas prices. California, Washington State, Nevada, and Oregon are all the most expensive places to get gas. Drivers and RVers on the West Coast can expect to pay upwards of $3.98 per gallon.
For RVers planning on visiting America’s Largest RV Show this September, gas prices in Pennsylvania remain at $3.66 a gallon. But even with the Keystone State being on the high end of the gas price drop, the trip could save potential RV buyers money on their next RV. Walking inside actual models is an invaluable part of the research journey — whether you buy an RV onsite or trade your RV for a newer model later.
