$4.47 Gas Is Already Reshaping Holiday Travel Plans

Gasoline prices typically ease as autumn arrives, but 2026 is shaping up differently, according to TheStreet. The national average sat at about $4.47 a gallon on September 18, up 4% over the prior week and roughly 57% higher year to date.

Diesel has climbed even further, hitting a record $6.4776 on September 18, up 6.5% in a week and 79% for the year, surpassing its previous 2022 peak, per AAA and GasBuddy data cited by the outlet.

TheStreet points to the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran as the driver behind the disruption to global energy markets. US Energy Information Administration data also show gasoline demand in July and August was down about 1% from a year earlier, with some families reportedly swapping long vacation trips for shorter ones.

With little relief expected in the typical September-to-December price decline, which has averaged around 10% in recent years, the outlet suggests holiday travel plans could shift as a result.