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Lowest Fourth of July Gas Prices in Years

HALLSTEAD — The busy Fourth of July holiday travel period is here and for those hitting the road, gas prices are lower than they have been in five years. ...

HALLSTEAD -- The busy Fourth of July holiday travel period is here and for those hitting the road, gas prices are lower than they have been in five years.

AAA says there's a big difference this time when it comes to cheaper gas compared to back in 2010 and it will mean more drivers on the highways.

When it's time to pay at the pump this summer travel season, the pain is far less than we've seen in the last five years. With the current prices, you can save around $15 filling up your tank compared to the Fourth of July travel period last year.

"Can't complain, having a family car, it's kind of nice to fill up a lot cheaper than last year," said Kwami Darko of Maryland.

Darko and his vacationing family stopped to fill up off the Hallstead exit on Interstate 81 in Susquehanna County.

"Pretty much every summer we try to go somewhere. Last year it was Canada and this year we're just hopping around camping," said Darko, also noticing the lower prices.

AAA listed Fourth of July gas prices over the last five years:

Lowest Fourth of July Gas Prices in Years

It's nearly a dollar less than last year and quite a bit below the years before, too.

"I was thinking when I left that it was about a dollar, a dollar a gallon more at this time," said Tom Stewart of Virginia.

Stewart is heading from Virginia to New York State for a family reunion, loving this below-$3 a gallon summer.

"Paying more than $3 a gallon has been a pretty hard bite. It's a lot of money."

AAA says when prices were this low in 2010, the economy was a mess, and few people had money to travel. Now prices are low, the economy is better, and more people are hitting the road.

"I'm back and forth every weekend like a yo-yo."

Don Wesley is on the road all the time between Hallstead and his second home near Lansdale.

But even those not traveling are happy to be paying less.

"I think it's great. I hope it stays this way all summer. I hope it doesn't keep going up," said Ron Schoner of Hallstead.

AAA says the main reason for these low gas prices is the excess supply of oil. Experts say that's because of all the drilling and fracking producing oil here in the U.S.

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