High gas prices put a damper on Labor Day travel across Pennsylvania
Thousands of people are expected to flock to Pennsylvania's top travel destinations this Labor Day weekend, but for many drivers, getting there is coming at a steep price.
Gas prices have climbed to record levels for the holiday weekend, adding another expense for Pennsylvanians hitting the road for a final summer getaway.
The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in Pennsylvania is now about $4.29, while diesel prices have climbed to $6.04 a gallon, according to AAA.
For drivers like Paul Keefer, who was driving on the Pennsylvania Turnpike on his way to the King of Prussia area, the cost of filling up is changing how much he can do over the holiday weekend.
"It takes a lot out of what you want to do on the weekends, like the Labor Day holiday coming up," Keefer said. "You can't really do much because you're spending it all on the fuel to get to where you got to go."
The high prices are being felt by travelers across the state, including those stopping along the Pennsylvania Turnpike on their way to weekend events.
Some drivers were traveling to a car show in Pottstown, including John Garcia, who was making the trip from Wisconsin with a vintage Volkswagen.
While the trip is meant to be about enjoying his car and getting away for the weekend, Garcia said the cost of the journey is making that more difficult.
"They're supposed to be for fun, and you know, it's kind of hard to enjoy them when you have to spend all this money just to try to enjoy them now, so it's kind of biting into your enjoyment," Garcia said.
Despite the higher prices, AAA of Central Pennsylvania says gas costs aren't necessarily keeping people from traveling altogether. Instead, many drivers are adjusting their plans to make their money go further.
"Higher gas prices really aren't making people change their mind about traveling," said Doni Lee Fox of AAA of Central Pennsylvania. "What they're doing is they're just changing how they're traveling. So maybe they're not going as far, or they're choosing to stay in other places that will save some money."
That can mean taking shorter trips, spending less time on the road or cutting back on other expenses once travelers reach their destination.
For those already on the road this Labor Day weekend, the higher prices are simply another cost to absorb.
Garcia said he has been fortunate enough not to rely on savings or credit cards to pay for his trip, but the higher gas prices are still forcing him to make sacrifices.
"I'm definitely not doing some of the things I usually do," Garcia said. "I'm cutting corners in a couple different places just for my enjoyment. It never used to be like that."
