San Francisco Bay Area has highest gas prices in U.S., just ahead of Memorial Day weekend

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San Francisco has the highest gas prices in the nation. In Emeryville, gas was $3.69 a gallon on May 24, 2018 just ahead of the Memorial Day weekend.

Just in time for Memorial Day, gas prices are up and 42 million people are expected on the road, according to the AAA, ahead of the long weekend to kick off the start of summer.

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The average price of regular-grade gasoline in the U.S. jumped 10 cents a gallon over the past two weeks to $3.00. The highest average price in the contiguous 48 states was $3.79 in the San Francisco Bay Area. On Thursday, one station in Emeryville, gas was $3.65.

The cost made some Bay Area residents throw in the towel on car travel.

"I'm going on a boat, a cruise," Chris Reid told KTVU early Thursday morning. "I’m letting boat people take care of that, I"m going to hang out on the water.”

Chris Reid waxed nostalgic for the olden days. "I remember when gas was like 99 cents a gallon," he said.

Industry analyst Trilby Lundberg of the Lundberg Survey said that the price has spiked 41 cents over the past three months.

Lundberg says the increase is largely driven by higher crude oil costs and the phasing-in of summer-grade gasoline, which is used to prevent smog.

The lowest gas price was $2.54 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 

 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.