
Gas receipts reveal rising costs on two cross-country road trips
Two sisters drove coast-to-coast on two road trips (2023 and 2026), logging mileage and fuel costs. The 2023 trip cost $578.99; the 2026 trip—nearly 4,964 miles—cost $642.38, highlighting how surging gas prices shaped budgeting across 16 states. National regular gas averaged about $4.14 per gallon and diesel about $5.85 during the trip, with California prices around $6/gal and other stops varying widely; anecdotes from gas stations underscore the day-to-day impact of higher fuel costs. The piece also notes that had they traveled earlier in geopolitically volatile times, costs could have been roughly $200–$300 cheaper, illustrating fuel-price volatility and its effect on long road trips.








