Just in Time for Spring Break: Higher Gas Prices

Rising oil prices partly to blame for increase

The mad dash to get out of town is already under way, and drivers leaving on spring break are packing extra money for the trip.

But the extra gas isn't for extra fun: Gas prices are creeping back up.

Dan Ronan, of AAA Texas said gas is in the area of $2.65 per gallon in the Lone Star State. That's still about 13 cents less than the national average, but it's also highest it's been since October 2008.

"We're going through this time of the year when we transition to the summer blend gas," Ronan said. "That adds a nickel or a dime."

Oil prices are also up, to about $80 per barrel.

Gas prices started climbing three weeks ago, and drivers are beginning to notice.

Laura Hockenbrough spent $42 to fill her tank in Grapevine on Friday.

"That hurts the bank, $42 at least every week and a half, so that's a lot of money," she said.

Many people are cutting back on their driving. Some spring breakers are planning shorter trips closer to home.

"(I) used to just drive around just for the heck of it," said Kelsey Sacco, of Grapevine. "It was a lot funner back then, but now it's just a squeeze on the wallet, and you can't do it anymore."

Even with higher gas prices, AAA Texas expects more people to start traveling as summer approaches.

"We started to see that last toward the end of the year" Ronan said. "Christmas was pretty good, Thanksgiving was pretty good. We're hopeful that as the economy improves, we'll start to see that same trend."

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