Drive slower, go electric, don't drive at all? The best options for saving gas

Energy Drive slower, go electric, don't drive at all? The best options for saving gas May 22, 202610:27 AM ET By  Camila Domonoske ,  Stephan Bisaha A customer pumps gas into his car at a Chevron station on May 4 in Los Angeles, Calif. Gas prices have surged to a 4-year high, as tensions in the Middle East continue. Gasoline in California is over $6 a gallon. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images North America hide caption toggle caption Justin Sullivan/Getty Images North America The national average for a gallon of gasoline is $4.55, according to AAA; that's a four-year high, unwelcome news for drivers as the U.S. heads into one of the busiest travel weekends of the year. AAA estimates a record 45 million Americans will travel this weekend, despite high prices for gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. Loading... Gasoline prices have been elevated since the start of the war in Iran, and there's no sign of relief on the horizon. High prices are angering voters and straining household budgets. Sponsor Message Consider This from NPR How much is the war hitting American's bottom line? In California, which has the highest gasoline prices in the nation, Gov. Gavin Newsom is openly feuding with the oil giant Chevron, discouraging Californians from filling up at its stations. Chevron and the state have been in a tense relationship for years; Chevron moved its headquarters out of California in 2024 after complaining about state and local regulations, and is currently buying oil shipped through an offshore pipeline that California has attempted to keep shut down. In the latest salvos, Chevron has posted placards at California gas stations blaming state policies for the high prices, while Newsom's office is telling Californians they can get cheaper gas at unbranded stations. Californians, if you’re hitting the road this holiday weekend, be sure to AVOID Chevron.Pro tip: unbranded gas comes from the same refineries, storage tanks, and pipelines, and it meets the same state standards...