Gas prices rise in Grant Co., WA and nationally
May 19—MOSES LAKE — Gas prices across the nation rose, impacting both Grant County and Washington state, according to the American Automobile Association. However, gas prices are still lower than last year at this time, which is good for travelers this upcoming Memorial Day weekend.
Last week, Grant County was sitting at $4.28 per gallon for the second week in a row, but as of Monday, gas prices had risen $0.02 per gallon, bringing the average gas price in the county up to $4.30, according to AAA. This is the same price consumers saw during the week of April 28.
This week, Adams County saw a decrease in gas prices from $4.20 to $4.18 this week, according to AAA. Two weeks ago, gas was averaging $4.17, lower than currently.
Both Grant and Adams counties remain around the median of gas prices across the state, according to AAA. Wahkiakum County remained the most expensive for the second week in a row at $4.80, which is a $0.05 increase from the previous week. Asotin County also remained the cheapest at $3.84, which is a $0.07 increase from last week.
Washington state's average prices have increased for the second week in a row, averaging $4.35, a $0.07 increase from the previous week. The current price is around $0.03 higher than a month ago and $0.26 cheaper than a year ago, according to AAA.
Washington remains one of the most expensive states to purchase gas, with only California at $4.91 and Hawaii at $4.49 having higher prices in the nation.
Nationally, the gas prices have gone up $0.04, sitting at an average of $3.18, according to AAA. As of a month ago, prices have increased $0.03. However, as of a year ago, prices are down $0.41 from an average of $3.59.
According to AAA, the seasonal increase in gas prices usually starts earlier in the spring, but lower crude oil prices this year have kept that from happening. However, prices are starting to settle into a more traditional pattern.
Memorial Day weekend
Despite this upward trend in prices, drivers are still paying less compared to last year, which is good news for the 45.1 million Americans expected to travel domestically for Memorial Day weekend, according to AAA.
This year's domestic travel forecast is an increase of 1.4 million travelers compared to last year and it sets a new Memorial Day weekend record, according to AAA. The previous record was set back in 2005 with 44 million people.
AAA is projecting around 39.4 million people to travel by car over Memorial Day weekend. That's an additional one million travelers compared to the previous year. AAA said that 87% of travelers choose road trips over other forms of travel for Memorial Day weekend.
Grant County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman wants to remind people to be safe on the roads this weekend, which includes wearing your seatbelt and making sure children are in car seats. He also wants to remind people to avoid risky behavior such as texting and driving, speeding and driving under the influence.
"Be ready for your road trips and summer travel. Even a well-maintained vehicle can break down, so it's good practice to put together an emergency roadside kit to carry with you," Foreman said. "A cell phone tops the list of suggested emergency kit contents since it allows you to call for help when and where you need it."
Other items Foreman recommends include: a first aid kit, with a tourniquet; flashlight, flares and a white flag; jumper cables; tire pressure gauge; jack and ground mat for changing a tire; work gloves and a change of clothes; basic repair tools and some duct tape; water and paper towels for cleaning up; nonperishable food; drinking water; medicines; extra windshield wiper fluid; maps and emergency blankets, towels and coats.
Foreman also recommends people plan their route ahead of time, including looking at weather, road conditions and traffic. The Washington State Department of Transportation has a website that tracks real-time traffic data, which can be found at WSDOT.com/travel/real-time. WSDOT also has an app that people can download onto their phones from Google Play or the App Store.
"Don't rush through your trip," Foreman said. "Allow plenty of time to get to your destination safely. And always familiarize yourself with directions and maps before you go, even if you use a GPS, and let others know your route and anticipated arrival time."
INREX, which uses data from connected devices and mobility insights, anticipates the most congestion for Seattle to be around 5:15 p.m. Monday on Interstate 90 from Ellensburg to Seattle. There will be a 79% increase in traffic compared to a normal travel day.
Airports will also be bracing for another busy weekend with AAA projecting around 3.61 million air passengers, a nearly 2% increase from last year. This weekend is not anticipated to set an air travel record; however, it will likely surpass pre-pandemic levels by 12%.
For other means of travel — train, bus and cruise — there will be an anticipated 8.5% increase over last year. This category is now surpassing pre-pandemic numbers but doesn't reach the record numbers of the early 2000s, when more people were choosing trains and buses post-Sept. 11, 2001.
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