DALLAS — GasBuddy forecasts the national average price of gasoline will reach $4.48 per gallon by Memorial Day and could average $4.80 per gallon throughout the summer travel season, according to the company’s 2026 Summer Travel Survey and forecast released Wednesday.
The fuel savings platform said the projected increase compares with a national average of $3.14 per gallon during Memorial Day weekend last year. GasBuddy attributed the spike largely to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and resulting disruptions in global oil supply.
The company warned that gasoline prices could exceed $5 per gallon and potentially reach record highs if the shipping route remains closed for much of the summer.
Despite higher fuel costs, 56% of Americans surveyed said they still plan to drive more than two hours this summer, though that figure declined from 69% in 2025. Among travelers planning road trips, 38% expect to drive more than five hours to their destinations.
GasBuddy said rising fuel costs are increasingly shaping travel decisions. According to the survey, 67% of respondents said gas prices are directly affecting their driving plans, while 36% said they expect to take fewer road trips because of higher costs.
Cost was identified as the top travel consideration by 53% of respondents.
“This is the most volatile summer at the pump in years, and the Strait of Hormuz closure is at the center of it,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “Americans are going to pay billions more to get where they’re going this summer, and even after the Strait reopens, it could take a year or more for gas prices to fully recover.”
De Haan said some states are considering temporary gas tax suspensions while federal discussions on fuel price relief continue.
The survey also found that consumers are increasingly relying on fuel savings tools. About 83% of respondents said they plan to use GasBuddy to locate lower fuel prices, and most said they are willing to drive several miles out of their way to save money at the pump.
GasBuddy said refinery operations, hurricane season risks, OPEC production decisions and declining global fuel inventories could add further pressure to gasoline prices in the coming months.
The survey was conducted May 15-18 among a random group of GasBuddy users.