More gasoline price shocks might hit US drivers this summer travel season

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Reuters

May 20, 2026 5:35 PM EDT Updated 11 hours ago


NEW YORK, May 21 (Reuters) - As millions of travelers hit the road for the U.S. Memorial Day holiday ​weekend, high gasoline prices fueled by ongoing supply disruptions from the war with Iran are set to add financial strain for motorists, kicking ‌off what is set to become a pricier summer travel season.

U.S. retail gasoline prices have jumped more than $1.50 per gallon, or about 45%, since late February, when the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran. Prices for crude oil used to make gasoline have also surged, along with prices for many goods, as the conflict has led to the effective closure of the ​Strait of Hormuz, a key trade conduit through which roughly 20% of the world's oil consumption flows.

President Donald Trump is facing mounting political pressure as ​households grapple with higher energy costs. Several states are already suspending gas taxes to ease the pain at the pump, and similar discussions about ⁠reducing the 18.4-cent federal gasoline tax are underway.



This Memorial Day weekend, a three-day weekend during which many Americans take to the road, will kick off the summer ​travel season. Even with higher gas prices, a record of 39.1 million people are expected to travel by car and 3.66 million by plane to their destinations, according ​to American Automobile Association (AAA) data.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/more-gasoline-price-shocks-might-hit-us-drivers-this-summer-travel-season-2026-05-20/

[ProudMNDemocrat]

1. One will not find the HUGE RV's on the highways this summer.

When my husband and I would take road trips, there were tons of RVs on the highways. They have gas tanks of at least 40 gallons. Imagine stopping to fill up those babies! Same with chartered coach buses as well.

I can only imagine what Diesel will cost per gallon come July 4th.

[Irish_Dem]

2. Tourist locations may see a drop in visitors this summer.

Revenue will be down.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

3. Trump did this!

Of course he did! Doing his damndest to ruin this economy and country all in one swoop.

[Irish_Dem]

4. Yes he is hell bent on taking a wrecking ball to the US.

[OldBaldy1701E]

5. Yeah. Like most of us could afford to even look at the car this summer.

The wealthy in this country are so out of touch and it is our fault for letting them get this way.

We pandered to them in the hopes of a few coins dropping out of their pockets because that is what we have been told we are supposed to do.

I hope no one goes anywhere. That is the live of disruption we need to force the issue.

We won't do that, but that is what it will take.

[cstanleytech]

6. Trea$on for a rea$on!!

💲💲💲💲💵💵💵💵💵💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💰💰💰💰💰💰💰

[AZLD4Candidate]

7. Staycations may happen more when gas gets to $6 a gallon during peak driving season.

[chouchou]

8. I'll have to admit that Trump made my purse and nerves Grate !

[twodogsbarking]

9. Maybe peanut oil will work.

[Ford_Prefect]

10. If we don't stop Bibi's war we'll fall off the resource cliff alongside the rest of the world.

[RainCaster]

11. IMO, gas will go up at least $2 by the end of summer

It won't come down for years. This is our new reality, created by the GOP.

[nuxvomica]

12. To the MAGA mindset, that chart makes Biden look bad

Gas prices rose under Biden because of what Putin did but they rise now because of what Trump did. To the MAGA mind, that makes Trump a more forceful leader, the alpha making the mess instead of the beta cleaning it up. Their calculus doesn't consider that we are fucked either way but at least Biden brought the prices down, a tougher job, but to MAGA not the job for the "tough guy".

[maxsolomon]

13. Yes, it MIGHT happen.

JFC, Reuters, it was $6.20 for regular at the Shell station I drove by yesterday.

The shock is here. It is going to get worse because President Narcissist doesn't know how to make peace with Iran.

[NickB79]

15. It's "only" $4.50 in Minnesota

I'm almost certain it will go over $5 in June.

[republianmushroom]

14. Peanuts, grin and bare it. USA! USA! USA!

[dalton99a]

16. Kick

[slightlv]

17. Hubby and i were

Saying yesterday that we thought we'd see $10/gal by the end of summer. Maybe then there'll be rioting at the Capitol for the right reasons.

Thing is, no matter what happens gas prices will still stay at a much higher level than they were b4 trump started his war of vanity. The millionaires aren't going to tune down their profits just because the crisis passed. Same with food prices. They look at it all like a cash cow, with us over a barrel. Some of us can stop driving to a large extent... but we all have to eat. It'll be Les Miserables live and for real here in the US.

[peppertree]

18. Whodunnit?