Travel
Easter Travel: High Demand Drives Up Gas Prices In Virginia, DC
If you're heading out to see family or friends this Easter, expect to pay the highest gas prices of the year.
By no means is Easter the busiest travel time compared to the summer holidays. Even so, AAA reports 158 million people are expected to travel for the holiday, sparking the most demand for gasoline since New Year's weekend. As a result, travelers will pay the highest gas prices in nearly 190 days.
National gas prices are $2.65 per gallon as of Thursday evening, 35 cents up from this time in 2017, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic. The increases were about the same in DC and its bordering states, bringing gas prices to $2.47 in Virginia, $2.67 in Maryland and $2.83 in DC.
The fact that Easter (April 1) overlaps with Passover (March 30-April 7) and the start of the tourism season contributes to the increased demand. But even after the holiday's over, AAA is predicting the national gas price average could average up to $2.70 this spring and summer.
Find out what's happening in Greater Alexandriafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"Some Washington metro area motorists and consumers alike are wondering about the uptick in pump prices ahead of Passover and Easter," said John B. Townsend II, AAA Mid-Atlantic’s manager of public and government affairs. "For one thing, the retail fuel market is starting to purge winter-blend gasoline to make room for summer-blend. For another, consumer demand, to a large extent, will dictate the prices we will pay at gas stations in the early weeks of spring."
Average gas prices by the numbers
Find out what's happening in Greater Alexandriafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
| 2/29/18 | Week Ago (3/22/18) | Month Ago (2/29/18) | Year Ago (3/29/17) | |
| Washington, D.C. | $2.83 | $2.78 | $2.74 | $2.47 |
| D.C. Metro | $2.64 | $2.58 | $2.51 | $2.29 |
| Maryland | $2.67 | $2.60 | $2.50 | $2.30 |
| Virginia | $2.47 | $2.39 | $2.35 | $2.10 |
| National | $2.65 | $2.58 | $2.53 | $2.30 |
Where to find the cheapest gas
While it's impossible to avoid the record-high gas prices, some places are better than others to fill up your tank. According to Gas Buddy's price map, much of DC and Northern Virginia is within the $2.64-$2.78 range for gas prices. Areas that are overall cheaper include Falls Church, Arlington, Fairfax City, Manassas and Prince William County.
If you're traveling to another part of Virginia, the good news is prices are lower virtually anywhere else outside the DC area. You can also search for the lowest gas prices in your zip code here.
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