Gas prices shouldn’t hurt summer travel
Prices at the pump aren’t likely to sting vacationers this year
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Americans debating summer trips may have more motivation to hit
the road this year: Thanks in part to lower gas prices, it may cost them
less than it would have in recent years, travel experts say.
Getty Images
Fuel costs, long a major factor in determining how people might spend their free time, are likely to be less of a concern for many travelers this year. That is partly because gas prices sat at a national average of $3.59 a gallon in mid-May, compared with an average $3.96 a gallon for the same time in 2011, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration and TripAdvisor. The share of people worried that gas would impact their summer travel plans was only 13% in May, down significantly from 39% in 2011, according to the survey.
Of course, not all Americans are feeling relief at the pump. Gas prices climbed higher in May in parts of the West and Midwest as maintenance work at refineries and other unexpected issues limited local supply, says Michael Green, a spokesman for AAA. The average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gas rose more than 60 cents in May in North Dakota to an all-time high of $4.24, says Green. In Minnesota, the price of a gallon rose more than 80 cents to a high of $4.28. (Prices have since come down slightly in both states.)
But while many consumers assume gas prices rise during the summer when they’re driving more, gas prices actually typically peak in mid-spring, when many refineries are conducting maintenance, and then drop during the summer as refineries increase supply. They rise again when hurricane season starts in late summer and early fall, says Green.
Oil Prices Gushing While Other Commodities Fall
Christian Berthelsen explains why the price of oil, and ultimately the price of gas at the pump, hasn't kept in line with other commodities that have largely trended lower. Photo: APGreen says drivers can take steps to ease the pain of steeper gas prices, such as making sure their tires are properly inflated, packing light to lessen the load on the car (since heavier cars use more fuel), or packing their luggage inside the car, rather than putting them on the roof rack and creating a drag.
Lower prices for jet fuel may also be a factor in making some airfares cheaper this summer, according to travel analysts. Round trip flights to Denver from various other U.S. cities, for example, will cost an average of $294, down 14% from this time last year, based on prices available on travel-booking site Orbitz for travel between June and August. Flights to Honolulu from various cities are down 10% to an average $737 this summer.
And of course, unforeseen events could cause gas prices—and airfare—to climb higher, travel pros say. “If gas prices go up, then jet fuel will go up, which means airfare may go up,” says George Hobica, president of AirfareWatchdog.com. Other factors like demand and airline capacity could also push up flight prices even if gas prices stay flat, says Marita Hudson Thomas, a spokeswoman for Orbitz. The take-away: Book before temperatures—and airfares—rise.
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