Average gas prices decreased ahead of the Fourth of July weekend, by 4 cents in Western Pennsylvania to $3.556 per gallon and 3.8 cents nationwide to $3.14.

Just as rising geopolitical friction sent prices higher in June, easing Middle East tensions have allowed prices to drop leading up to the July 4th holiday.

While Brookville and DuBois to the south saw drops of 9.9 and 18.1 cents to $3.407 and $3.403, respectively, prices in Erie shed four-tenths of 1 cent, Bradford’s dropped 1.2 cents and Warren’s plummeted one-tenth of 1 cent, to $3.594, $3.632 and $3.661, respectively. AAA East Central provides regional pricing averages each week.

Statewide averages were unchanged this week, according to GasBuddy, at $3.38 per gallon — 13.4 cents more than last month but still 25.1 cents less than last year. The commonwealth’s stations varied by as much as $1.11 this week, from $2.88 to $3.99.

GasBuddy’s analysis of 11 million price reports covering more than 150,000 gas stations across the U.S. indicates this week’s average, $3.14 per gallon, is 1.1 cents more than the same period in May, but 32.1 cents less than the same period in 2024.

Also according to GasBuddy, diesel prices spiked nationwide in recent weeks, up 18.8 cents per gallon since mid-June at $3.676 Monday.

AAA representatives said in a press release that crude prices jumped temporarily following the U.S. air strikes against Iran but have resettled to near where they were prior to that action.

“The national average price of gasoline has resumed its decline, with falling prices driven by easing tensions in the Middle East — just weeks after those same tensions had pushed prices higher,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “For motorists planning to hit the road for Independence Day, gas prices are expected to continue falling nearly coast to coast in the lead-up to July 4. Relief could expand as the holiday weekend approaches, with the national average on track to hit its lowest July 4 level since 2021 when it was $3.15 per gallon, we project. As long as tensions in the Middle East remain contained and the U.S. avoids a major hurricane, we could see the national average fall below $3 per gallon later this summer.”

Motorists can find current gas prices nationwide, statewide and countywide at gasprices.aaa.com.

AAA, meanwhile, estimates an increase this year of 1.3 million road travelers over the Fourth of July holiday weekend from numbers reported in 2024. An estimated 72.2 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles from home between June 28 and July 6, approximately 61.6 million (an increase of 2.2% from 2024) by car — the highest volume on record, AAA officials noted.

The travel organization further reported that domestic roundtrip flights — based on prices travelers paid when booking their July 4th trips — are averaging $810 this year, 4% more than last year.

AAA reported some of its top domestic destinations this year include Orlando, Seattle and New York. Popular international spots include Vancouver, Canada; Rome, Italy; Barcelona, Spain; Dublin, Ireland; and Lisbon, Portugal.

Record-breaking numbers of Americans expected to travel this July 4th week combined with the holiday’s revelrous tone increases the risk of impaired drivers on the nation’s roads.

AAA urged everyone not to get behind the wheel after drinking and plan for a safe, sober ride home.