(The Center Square) – This Fourth of July, Coloradans will find themselves paying some of the state’s lowest summer gas prices since 2021.
According to AAA’s Colorado average on Monday, the current average for regular unleaded is $3.12 a gallon. That’s a few cents lower than the national average of $3.19.
Mid-grade comes in at $3.51, premium at $3.83 and diesel at $3.40.
Prices are down more than 20 cents from the same time last year, although they’re slightly more expensive than the rates during the Christmas season.
This week will see a record number of Americans on the road.
AAA projects 72.2 million people will travel at least 50 miles or more from home over the Independence Day holiday period from June 28 to July 6. That is an increase of 1.7 million travelers compared to last year and 7 million more than in 2019.
“Following Memorial Day’s record forecast, AAA is seeing strong demand for road trips and air travel over Independence Day week,” said Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel. “With the holiday falling on a Friday, travelers have the option of making it a long weekend or taking the entire week to make memories with family and friends.”
As the holiday approaches, Colorado is seeing a wide range of gas prices among its counties. Pitkin came in Monday with the highest average at $4.65, while Freemont was the lowest at $2.81 a gallon. That is a spread of $1.84.
Nationally, California continues to have the most expensive gas at $4.59 a gallon. Mississippi has the cheapest at $2.72, according to AAA.
Elyse Apel is a reporter for The Center Square covering Colorado and Michigan. A graduate of Hillsdale College, Elyse’s writing has been published in a wide variety of national publications from the Washington Examiner to The American Spectator and The Daily Wire.
