Memorial Day 2015 Gas Prices Climb: Use Patch Tool to Find Cheap Gas

As Maryland drivers plan to set off on the first serious road trip of summer, gas prices are surging at the pump due in part of a global rally in the price of crude oil, the auto club AAA said.

In its weekly report, AAA says the national average price for a gallon of unleaded was $2.70, compared with $2.66 a week ago. Still, prices are nearly a dollar lower than a year ago.

Motorists in Maryland are paying less than the national average – about $2.64 a gallon – about 3 cents more a gallon than a week ago, and 30 cents more than a month ago.

AAA MidAtlantic said Maryland’s cheapest gas was $2.55 in the Salisbury area, while gas was going for about $2.63 a gallon in the Baltimore area.

“As is often the case, gas prices are a product of crude oil prices, which have been trending higher since mid-March due to slowing U.S. production, a weakening U.S. dollar and the expected demand increase in China,” said Ragina Cooper Averella, manager of public and government affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “Despite recent increases, gas prices are not expected to change too much before the Memorial Day holiday weekend, which would result in the cheapest Memorial Day gas prices in five years.”

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The auto club said that while consumers in every state and Washington, DC, have been affected by more expensive crude, refinery problems in some areas have meant more dramatic increases.

Use the gas widget below to find the cheapest gas in your area, or wherever you’re traveling this weekend. Just enter the location.

Patch Editor Beth Dalbey contributed to this story.