Cool gasoline price heat map

Summer gas prices vary significantly across the US (Image: Gasbuddy.com)

Travelers who might be turned off by high airline ticket prices and summer travel hassles will be hitting the highways and byways in droves this summer.

According to the very helpful Gasbuddy.com site, those traveling by car in South Carolina, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and Oklahoma will found the lowest gas prices– about $2.50 per gallon.

But beware if you are driving or renting a car out west. California has the country’s most expensive gasoline right now at about $3.54 per gallon. In Alaska and Hawaii you’ll pay about $3.35 and in Chicagoland, Washington and Oregon, a gallon is going for about $3.00.

Low oil prices have helped fuel a turnaround in the economy overall and the airline industry in particular. We can see that in the steady stream of new flights and routes airlines announced on a nearly weekly basis.

The average price per gallon took a tumble late last year to a low about $2 per gallon and has been rising slowly since then.