Back on May 4, gas prices surged 40 cents in one day, moving well past the $4-per-gallon mark in Sioux City, and have remained there.
As the Memorial Day weekend arrives, national prices are the highest since 2022, so the estimated 38 million expected holiday drivers will be paying a lot more than a year ago.
The weekly fuel report from the Iowa Department of Agriculture shows the average price for self-serve unleaded in Iowa was $4.28 per gallon on May 20, which is up 9 cents from last week.
The Iowa price is up by $1.34 per gallon compared to one year ago. The average national average is now $4.56.
Gas prices hit $3 per gallon mark in Iowa the first week in March, and have trended upwards in fast fashion over the three months since.
The prices spiked as the war in Iran resulted in the Strait of Hormuz being greatly blocked from shipping oil from Mideast nations..
Iowa State Patrol is reminding people their trip could be slowed by construction in numerous places. Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of the summer season.
