Gas prices increase ahead of Spring break

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – A slight spike in those gas prices could put a damper on spring travel plans.

Gas prices have increased by $0.10 ahead of Spring break, making the current average price in Texas $2.94.

AAA says as travel increases and supply remains the same, that price could get above $3.00 per gallon.

“You know this is a pretty typical pattern we see this time of year right before spring break. You have a lot of road trips in March, a lot of people traveling or start to travel, so that puts more pressure on demand for fuel, and then you see gas prices start to trickle up,” said Texas AAA spokesperson, Daniel Armbruster.

AAA says March and April are typical months where gas prices rise. With milder temperatures comes more road trips, and that means an increase in demand.

Bryan resident Armando Rodriguez says he’s not surprised gas prices increase during this time.

“Because people want to get out, get out of Bryan/College Station and spend time with their family,” said Rodriguez.

AAA says the nation’s average gas price is $3.40 and if you’re traveling to states in the West such as California or Oregon, those prices can reach almost $5 per gallon. Gas prices in the upper Midwest and South hover between $2.90 and $3.20. If you want to look at national gas prices, click here.

Even though there has been an increase in gas prices in the last month, there are ways you can reduce your costs.

“One thing that you can do is calculate your average fuel cost and you can do that on AAA’s gas price calculator,” said Armbruster.

If you are traveling for Spring break, you should prioritize planning, pack smart, and use travel apps to your advantage. Especially staying on top of your car’s maintenance.

“You know if you’re taking a road trip, vehicle maintenance is so important to avoid a roadside emergency we know that very well at AAA. So the top emergencies we see usually over Spring break are going to be flat tires, dead batteries, and vehicle lockouts,” said Armbruster.

AAA also says another problem they see when people travel over Spring break is cars running out of gas. They recommend filling up with gas ahead of time to avoid any emergencies.

AAA says the cost of gas could go up even more when the weather gets warmer when suppliers make the switch to summer-blend gasoline.