Oklahoma has sixth-lowest gas price in U.S.; no shortages, AAA says

The average price in the state is $2.78 a gallon.

The price was $2.87 per gallon Monday at Tulsa-area QuikTrips, according to Gasbuddy.com, a fuel price-tracking service.

State prices are, however, 15 cents higher than a month ago as travel rebounds from the pandemic and with it, increased demand for gas.

A year ago, during the height of stay-at-home orders in the state, prices plunged to $1.52 per gallon, AAA said.

The national gas price average is the most expensive in six years at $3.04 per gallon, according to AAA.

Gas prices were expected to flirt with $3 per gallon leading up to Memorial Day weekend, but last week’s shutdown of the Colonial Pipeline due to a ransomware attack caused prices to spike weeks ahead of the holiday.

Over the last week, the national average jumped eight cents. States like Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, where the gasoline supply was strained due to the pipeline shutdown, saw prices jump as much as 21 cents in a matter of days.

With the pipeline back in operation and supply being restored, gas prices in those states and the national average have stabilized since the end of last week, AAA said.

Oklahoma motorists are unaffected by the pipeline shutdown, AAA said.

“The Southeast will continue to experience tight supply this week as terminals and gas stations are refueled,” said AAA Oklahoma spokeswoman Leslie Gamble. “Over the weekend, gas prices started to stabilize, but are expected to fluctuate in the lead-up to Memorial Day weekend.”

AAA’s West South Central Region, of which Oklahoma is a part, will see more than 3.89 million people taking Memorial Day week trips, a 60% increase over the 2.43 million travelers in 2020, but still less than the region’s 4.55 million Memorial Day travelers in 2019, according to AAA.

The region includes Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas.

AAA forecasts 34 million Americans to take a road trip 50 miles or more from home from May 27 to May 31 for the unofficial kickoff to summer.

That is a 52% increase compared to last summer, but nearly 9% below pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Regardless, motorists will be met with the most expensive gas prices since 2014.

“This is going to be an expensive summer for motorists. However, we do not expect it to deter travelers from hitting the road. AAA finds that despite the higher pump prices, Americans still take their road trips but just may not travel as far as originally planned, or go to their planned destination and spend a little less,” Gamble said.

Motorists can find current gas prices along their route with the free AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. The app can also be used to map a route, find discounts, book a hotel and access AAA roadside assistance. Learn more at AAA.com/mobile.

Featured video