Gas prices near 16-year low

If you plan to take a long drive this Labor Day weekend, you’re in luck. Gas prices are lower than they have been in over a decade.

The national average price for a gallon of gasoline rose to $2.23 on Thursday, up slightly from $2.22 a week ago, but still well below last year’s national average of $2.57.

The average could slide a few cents over the weekend, setting the average holiday price on track to become lower than it has been in 16 years, according to Gasbuddy.

The fuel price monitoring platform predicts a national average of $2.19 per gallon on Monday. That’s the lowest Labor Day price since 2004’s $1.82 per gallon average.

“With Hurricane Laura now behind us and many refineries returning to service, gas prices will begin to head lower just in time for the Labor Day weekend,” Gasbuddy said in a statement. “Gas prices are likely to continue falling as seasonal factors kick in, reducing demand.”

In the past decade, the lowest price for gas on Labor Day was in 2016 when an average gallon rang up at $2.20.

While the prices at the pump may be alluring, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises people who are sick or at risk for COVID-19 to stay home as much as possible with the coronavirus pandemic still in full effect.

“Travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19,” the CDC warns.

Road trippers may need to do extra planning and preparation to avoid crowded areas and remember to bring cleaning supplies to curb contagion. States have instituted different sets of guidelines surrounding social distancing and masks.

AAA offers an interactive map that shows how these restrictions could impact those planning trips.