You’re right to think prices are up at the gas pump when hitting the road for your Memorial Day weekend road trip but they’re a far cry from where they were a year ago. 

A gallon of regular unleaded was going for an average of $4.12 in the Tri-Cities on May 22, according to AAA. That’s a jump of roughly 9 cents from a week ago, but only about 8 cents higher than a month ago. 

Motorists were having to dig much deeper in their wallets at this time last year: a gallon of regular unleaded went for $4.43. 

It’s typical for gas prices to climb as the weather warms for summer travel. However, experts said prices are coming up slower than in the past, a result of lower crude oil prices in recent weeks.  

The average price of a gallon of regular unleaded in Washington state is $4.38, the third highest among all U.S. states. Benton County remains one of the lowest-priced counties in the state at $4.09 per gallon. Franklin County’s average price is $4.14. 

More than 39 million Americans are expected to hit the roads this Memorial Day, that’s about 1 million more travelers compared to last year, said AAA.