Lower Gas Prices Offer Holiday Travel Relief

July 2, 2026/Joe Ciccanti

As millions of drivers fill up and hit the road for the long Independence Day weekend, they’re getting a break at the pump. AAA reports that the national average is down nearly 50 cents from a month ago at $3.83 for a gallon of regular gasoline. While that number is higher than last year, it’s a relief from this past spring, when the national average peaked at $4.56 on May 21st. Crude oil prices have fallen to their lowest levels in months, dropping to the $60 a barrel range. Overall, gas prices remain the highest they’ve been in 4 years, but the downward trend since late May is welcome news during the busy summer driving season. The Delaware gas price average is $3.66 today, down 9 cents in the last week and 47 cents higher than one year ago. The South Jersey gas price average is $3.80 today, down 7 cents in the last week and up 69 cents compared to one year ago. The national average cost of electricity at public EV charging stations held steady this week at 41 cents per kilowatt hour, while in Delaware, the price remains at 38 cents per kWh.

Additional Information from AAA:

In Pennsylvania, the gas average is $3.97 today, down 8 cents in the last week and up 62 cents from one year ago. The Philadelphia 5-county gas price average is $3.91 per gallon, down 7 cents from last week and up 62 cents from one year ago. The South Jersey gas price average is $3.80 today, down 7 cents in the last week and up 69 cents compared to one year ago. The Delaware gas price average is $3.66 today, down 9 cents in the last week and 47 cents higher than one year ago.

 

The national average cost of electricity at public EV charging stations held steady this week at 41 cents per kilowatt hour.

 

CURRENT AND PAST GAS PRICE AVERAGES

Regular Unleaded Gasoline (*indicates record high)

 

07/02/26

Week Ago

Year Ago

National

$3.83

$3.91

$3.17

Pennsylvania

$3.97

$4.05

$3.35

Philadelphia

(5-county)

$3.91

$3.98

$3.29

South Jersey

$3.80

$3.87

$3.11

Delaware

$3.66

$3.75

$3.19

Crude Oil

$68.58 per barrel

(07/01/26)

$70.34 per barrel

(06/25/26)

$67.45 per barrel (07/02/25)

 

CURRENT EV COST AVERAGES

Per kWh of electricity at an L2 commercial charging station

 

07/02/26

Week Ago

National

$0.41

$0.42

Pennsylvania

$0.43

$0.42

Delaware

$0.38

$0.38

 

 

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand increased last week from 8.77 million b/d to 9.13 million. Total domestic gasoline supply decreased from 216.3 million barrels to 214 million. Gasoline production increased last week, averaging 10 million barrels per day.

 

At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, WTI fell 92 cents to settle at $68.58 a barrel. The EIA reports that crude oil inventories decreased by 3.8 million barrels from the previous week. At 408.4 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 7% below the five-year average for this time of year.

 

The Weekend

“Drivers in Pennsylvania and Delaware are getting some welcome relief at the pump just in time for the July 4th holiday,” said Jana Tidwell, spokesperson for AAA Club Alliance. “Gas prices have continued to drop week over week, giving the millions of area residents expected to drive this holiday weekend a little extra room in their travel budgets. The recent decline is welcome news as one of the busiest travel weekends of the year gets underway.”

 

AAA has a variety of resources to help motorists save on fuel:

 

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