GAITHERSBURG, Md. (July 1, 2015) - More Americans are strapping on their hiking boots and reconnecting with nature this Independence Day, thanks to some of the cheapest gas prices since 2009. GasBuddy, a community-based price comparison app that helps users find cheap gas, shares the top 10 states with the largest savings compared to last year, making them ideal places to take a last-minute road trip to reconnect with nature.
"The 4th of July weekend is our busiest weekend of the year," said Ken Kosky, promotions director at Indiana Dunes Tourism, a top-rated state park by USA Today. "The low gas prices have played a huge role in the increased amount of visitors we've experienced. We are showing an increase of 6 percent so far this year, so an increase of 5-10 percent for the holiday is anticipated. We expect more people flocking to the Indiana Dunes this holiday weekend to enjoy the miles of sandy beaches and the great hiking trails."
According to a recent GasBuddy summer travel survey, there is no better way to celebrate the Independence Day than by experiencing the natural beauties of this country; over a quarter of respondents said their ideal summer vacation spot is a state or national park.
"The average national savings is 89 cents per gallon from last year and some states are saving even more," said Patrick DeHaan, GasBuddy's senior petroleum analyst. "With gas prices the lowest they've been in years, this is the time to visit a place that is a little off the beaten path."
GasBuddy compiled a list of the states with the biggest drop in prices over this time last year, alongside suggestions of some of the best national/state parks in those regions:
The Great Lakes
Great Lakes States captured four spots on the list overall, including three of the top four as having the biggest savings. This region of the country also happens to be the home of some of the most beautiful state parks.
- Indiana Dunes State Park, IN
- Devils Lake State Park, WI
- Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, MI
The Northeast
The most historic region of the country, residents in the Northeast have also seen some big drops as well, particular Connecticut at $1.01/gal less, New York at 97 cents/gal lower, and Vermont at 96 cents/gallon below 2014. Besides visiting some of the historic sites that played a role in the country's independence (re: Washington DC, Boston, Philadelphia), residents who are looking to escape the city can visit our suggestions:
- Franconia Notch State Park, NH
- Adirondack Park, NY
- Burton Island State Park, VT
The South
Two southern states making the list are Kentucky and West Virginia with an average savings of $1.00/gallon over last year. Being centrally located, residents in these states can take advantage of the Great Lakes region, or head further south. Those who choose to stay in the region can visit some of our suggestions:
- Fall Creek Falls State Park, TN
- Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, WV
- Montgomery Bell State Park, TN
The (Way) West
Although all states are experiencing cheaper gas than last year, the only state West of the Mississippi that made the list is Hawaii at $1.02/gal lower. The Aloha State has some of the world's most beautiful natural wonders; below are our top choices to truly soak it all in:
- Koke'e SP & Waimea Canyon State Park
- Iao Valley State Park
- Diamond Head State Monument
To prepare for the trip, road trippers can save even more money using GasBuddy's "Trip Cost Calculator." By entering in the make and model of the car, then the start and end points, the Trip Cost Calculator will tell you the cheapest stations to fill up on your route, plus how much the entire trip will cost you in gas money.