Westwood, MA, May 17, 2021 — Massachusetts’s average gas price is up five cents from last week ($2.86), averaging $2.91 per gallon. Today’s price is 18 cents higher than a month ago ($2.73), and 96 cents higher than May 17, 2020 ($1.95). Massachusetts’s average gas price is 13 cents lower than the national average.
AAA forecasts 34 million Americans to take a road trip 50 miles or more from home Memorial Day weekend to celebrate the unofficial kickoff to summer. That is a 52% increase compared to last summer, but nearly 9% below pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Regardless, motorists will be met with the most expensive gas prices since 2014.
“This is going to be an expensive summer for motorists. However, we do not expect it to deter travelers from hitting the road. AAA finds that despite the higher pump prices, Americans still take their road trips but just may not travel as far as originally planned or go to their planned destination and spend a little less,” said Mary Maguire, AAA Northeast Director of Public and Government Affairs.
AAA Northeast’s May 17 survey of fuel prices found the current national average to be 8 cents higher than last week ($2.96), averaging $3.04 a gallon. Today’s national average price is 17 cents higher than a month ago ($2.87), and $1.17 higher than this day last year ($1.87).
| Region | Current Price* | One Week Ago | One Month Ago | One Year Ago |
| Massachusetts | $2.91 | $2.86 | $2.73 | $1.95 |
| Rhode Island | $2.93 | $2.88 | $2.76 | $1.94 |
| Connecticut | $3.06 | $3.01 | $2.88 | $1.92 |
*Prices as of May 17, 2021
The AAA Gas Prices website is your resource for up-to-date fuel price information. Search average gas prices by Regular, Plus, Premium and Diesel on National and State levels, as well as Metro areas.