Though Americans are staring at record-breaking prices at the gas pumps, they say they won’t be changing their Memorial Day weekend travel plans, even if it means their budgets are stretched to the limits.
“You just got to bite the bullet and just do it,” Philadelphia native Eric told Fox News Digital on his way to the Adirondacks for the holiday. “I’m still doing it.”
According to AAA estimates, nearly 35 million people will “just do it” this Memorial Day weekend, hitting the highways and paying, as of Friday’s national average, $4.59 per gallon for the privilege. Remarkably, the estimate of drivers on the road is up by 1.5 million travelers from 2021.
For Kathy from New Jersey, the higher prices will mean there will be some limits to her family’s excursions this long weekend.
“We’re only going down [to the Jersey Shore] for Memorial Day itself,” she said. “The rest of the weekend we’re staying around because the gas prices are making us stay home.”
“Spending extra money anywhere else is pretty much not gonna happen,” she added.
BPR’s best cartoons: What to trade for gas https://t.co/F2MCuRWwe6 pic.twitter.com/2NaefFbBQh
— BPR (@BIZPACReview) May 27, 2022
One couple told Fox News they were trying to split the price of gas among a group of drivers.
“We were trying to recruit people with us that we normally wouldn’t want to sit in a car with for eight hours,” said Kim, from Brooklyn. “I’m modifying my behavior because of it.”
Kim’s traveling companion, Andy, said that because he doesn’t drive every day, the eye-popping prices at the pump were “not as big a deal” to him, but for Edward, a New York raspberry farmer, the soaring prices mean he’s “got no choice” but to pony up the bucks to drive 350 miles — not for pleasure, but for work.
“The raspberries got to get watered and all that other stuff,” Edward explained. “I just got to save a lot more.”
While average Americans are doing their best to make the most out of their Memorial Day weekend, Republican politicians aren’t about to let citizens forget who is to blame for the budget-crushing prices.
Biden’s inflation and record gas prices have made Memorial Day Weekend one of the most expensive in history.
— GOP (@GOP) May 27, 2022
According to the GOP, “Biden’s inflation and record gas prices have made Memorial Day Weekend one of the most expensive in history.”
“[One] in 3 Americans say their Memorial Day plans were impacted by the high cost of gas — that’s the #BidenGasHike in action,” said GOP Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel.
“As you travel this Memorial Day weekend, think about how much more it’s costing you to fill up your car,” tweeted House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy. “Then remember that restricting the supply and raising the price of American energy is a premeditated part of the Democrats’ radical agenda.”
“As American families hit the roads this weekend for Memorial Day, gas prices have never been higher,” said Jake Evans, a Trump-endorsed Congressional candidate from Georgia. “$4.60 a gallon compared to the $1.96 under Trump. The Biden agenda must be defeated.”
And in Louisiana, said Senator John Kennedy, folks are paying nearly twice what they did at the pumps last year.
“Last Memorial Day weekend, Louisianians were paying $2.71 for a gallon of gas,” Kennedy tweeted. “Today, my state is forking out almost DOUBLE that to hit the road thanks to #Bidenflation.”
1 in 3 Americans say their Memorial Day plans were impacted by the high cost of gas – that’s the #BidenGasHike in action.
— Ronna McDaniel (@RonnaMcDaniel) May 27, 2022
As you travel this Memorial Day weekend, think about how much more it's costing you to fill up your car. Then remember that restricting the supply and raising the price of American energy is a premeditated part of the Democrats' radical agenda. pic.twitter.com/xvO4xRzzto
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) May 27, 2022
https://twitter.com/JakeEvansGA/status/1530269925679452162?s=20&t=aWAshjn6jlgmpq4Fwp2dlw
Last Memorial Day weekend, Louisianians were paying $2.71 for a gallon of gas.
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Today, my state is forking out almost DOUBLE that to hit the road thanks to #Bidenflation. https://t.co/yRAB2L1Nzk pic.twitter.com/NIdshv1MGQ— John Kennedy (@SenJohnKennedy) May 28, 2022
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