CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Gas prices across the Carolinas continue to climb higher and higher with the average price in North Carolina and South Carolina topping $4 per gallon.
The national average has risen to $4.38. The average price at the pump nationwide is $1.36 higher than it was one year ago, according to Trilby Lundberg of the Lundberg Survey.
In North Carolina, the current average price is $4.10, while South Carolina is slightly lower at $4.02. Average gasoline prices in Charlotte rose 16.8 cents per gallon in the last week, according to GasBuddy's survey of 665 stations in Charlotte.
Meanwhile, the price of diesel continues to surge to record highs. The average price for diesel in North Carolina is $5.44 per gallon. In South Carolina, it's $5.42. The price of diesel has risen 22.6 cents nationally in the past week and stands at $5.51, according to GasBuddy's survey.
Diesel users are feeling it at the pump.
“I have a 28-gallon tank and that cost $150 to fill up. If we are towing the RV it will last 4 hours and if we are not towing the RV then it can last several days," said Ryan Ray, who sold his Concord house to live full time in an RV with his wife and travel.
“Hopefully gas prices and diesel prices don’t continue to go up so we can continue to enjoy doing this,” he added.
Michael and Cindy Clarey, RV travelers, are also concerned about the rising diesel prices.
“We’ve been to Alaska we’ve been to Maine, we have been around the country twice. And we are looking forward to doing it again," Michael Clarey said.
"Maybe if we can afford the fuel,” he joked.
The couple making cuts where they can.
“I got a couple of notes ... get gas in this state and not in this state because of the taxes,” Cindy Clarey, who is seeing prices go up beyond the pump, said.
"I do see groceries going bananas," she said. "I'm the shopper and I also see the shortage in the stores."
“We do eat a lot more in the RV home than eating out," Michael Clarey added. "But that’s the benefit of having an RV it has a kitchen.”
The Clareys are shelling out some big bucks to travel from Florida to Michigan.
"$1500 bucks is what we are going to spend on fuel," Michael said. "So that is 700 dollar more than we normally would of spent,”
"Oil prices continued to climb after the EU signaled its desire to sanction Russian oil," Patrick De Haan, the head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said. "In addition, U.S. petroleum inventories saw yet another weekly decline as we near the start of summer driving season."
Diesel prices hit a record high and are at their largest-ever differential to gasoline prices on record.
"While motorists filling with gasoline have seen a slight rise in prices, diesel's surge will be a double whammy as diesel prices will soon be passed along to retail channels, further pushing up the cost of goods," De Haan said.
Despite the spike in prices, travelers said seeing the country makes it all worth it.
"We basically have everything you would have in a normal house in this RV," Ray said. "It's just in a smaller footprint. It's on wheels and we get to wake up to a different scenery outside of the window when we travel."
Michael Clarey said it's also about the convenience.
“You get up ... you make yourself breakfast, get outside and you get to relax," he added. "And you get on the road and travel for as many hours as you want and as far as you want.”
Tips to save money on gasoline
AAA recommends drivers try the following tips to try and save money on fuel:
- Slow down and drive the speed limit
- Avoid "jackrabbit" starts and hard accelerations
- Use cruise control on the highway to maintain a constant speed
- Minimize use of air conditioning
- Avoid extending idling to warm up your engine
- Maintain your car according to the manufacturer's recommendations
- Make sure your tires are properly iniflated
- When approaching a red light, take your foot off the gas early and allow your car to coast to a slower speed until it's time to brake.
Contact Jesse Pierre at jpierrepet@wcnc.com or follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.