Ohio
Ohio drivers paying some of the highest gas prices in the nation ahead of Memorial Day travel rush
CLEVELAND — Ohio drivers are paying some of the highest gas prices in the country just as millions of Americans prepare to travel for Memorial Day weekend.
According to AAA, Ohio now ranks 10th in the nation for gas prices, with the statewide average at approximately $4.72 a gallon as of Friday. Drivers in Ohio are paying noticeably more than those in neighboring states, including Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Michigan.
Experts say several factors are fueling the spike, including refinery disruptions in the Midwest and rising global oil prices tied to tensions in the Middle East.
AAA said Ohio is especially vulnerable when major Midwest refineries run into trouble.
One of the largest issues involves BP’s massive refinery in Whiting, Indiana, the Midwest’s largest and one of the largest in the country. The refinery can process about 440,000 barrels of oil per day and supplies fuel across the region, according to Reuters.
A major issue is the ongoing labor dispute.
Around 800 workers have been locked out since March while contract talks continue with no resolution.
The union has accused BP of using the lockout to pressure workers into accepting concessions on pay, job cuts, and contract terms. BP said negotiations can only continue while the lockout remains in place.
Jim Garrity with AAA said refinery disruptions like the one in Whiting can quickly tighten fuel supplies across the Midwest, causing prices in states like Ohio to rise faster than in other parts of the country.
“You’ve definitely seen some regional disruptions, and Ohio’s gas today is the 10th highest in the nation,” he says.
But refinery problems are only part of the equation.
Oil prices have also risen globally amid tensions involving Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes.
The timing is especially tough for drivers because Memorial Day weekend is traditionally one of the busiest travel holidays of the year and marks the unofficial start of the summer travel season.
Despite the higher prices, AAA projects more than 39 million Americans will travel by car this weekend, setting a new Memorial Day travel record.
“We’re not seeing it deter people from taking road trips,” Garrity said. “There’s an enthusiasm to get out there and take these trips.”
At local car dealerships, rising fuel prices are also changing consumer behavior.
Paul Qua with Classic Auto Group said interest in hybrids and electric vehicles has increased significantly in recent weeks, even among customers who normally prefer traditional gas-powered vehicles.
“That’s really the sweet spot in the car business right now,” Qua said.
AAA said meaningful relief at the pump will likely depend on refinery operations stabilizing and tensions in global oil markets easing.
But for now, millions of Americans are still expected to hit the road this Memorial Day weekend, even as Ohio drivers continue paying some of the highest gas prices in the country.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Low pressure is over the area today keeping things unsettled. It will shift east into Pennsylvania tomorrow.
Humid today with thunderstorms. The slow moving nature of the storms will produce locally very heavy rain. Afternoon temperatures 76 to 84 degrees.
Humid tonight with a few evening showers around.
Humid tomorrow with isolated showers. High temperatures around 80 degrees.
Mostly sunny and humid Wednesday.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
Pato O’Ward finally broke through for his first victory of the season at the Honda Indy 200, anchoring a historic day for Arrow McLaren at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Behind the wheel of the #5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, the 27-year-old secured his first podium of the year by winning. This victory was the team’s first-ever 1-2 finish in the IndyCar Series.
O’Ward entered the weekend with a remarkably consistent season, boasting six top-five finishes, but he had yet to crack the top three. That changed on Mid-Ohio’s 2.258-mile, 13-turn natural road course, where he put together a calm drive and controlled the field by leading 45 of the race’s 90 laps.
The decisive pass
The defining moment of the race occurred on Lap 42. O’Ward had been shadowing his teammate, Christian Lundgaard, all weekend as the duo virtually matched each other pace-for-pace. When Lundgaard made a costly slip in Turn 2, O’Ward didn’t hesitate.
“I was positioning myself to pounce on an opportunity whenever he would make a mistake,” O’Ward said. “So I was banking on that he was going to make one, and he did. That’s what ultimately gave me the opportunity, and I took full advantage of it. It’s always more fun to do it on track over a pit stop sequence or something.”
Pit work makes the difference
Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren
Photo by: Penske Entertainment
While O’Ward took care of business on the tarmac, he was quick to credit his crew for protecting the advantage after delivering flawless execution on Sunday.
“It’s great that the first podium of the year for me is a win,” O’Ward said. “We’ve had performances, and I think today was a textbook showing of execution. I want to give it to my guys in the pits; they were phenomenal. I know they’ve been working so hard because this year that has been a bit of a challenge, and I know they’re working so hard to give me the pit stops that they gave me today. I know they’ve been working hard for that.
“I really want to recognize that because they make or break my race. They truly allowed me to fight my way and keep my position today as we were fighting on track.
“Obviously the cars have been strong all weekend. It’s been a very strong weekend for all three cars. It was a matter of being perfect.”
O’Ward eyes late-season push
Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren
Photo by: Penske Entertainment
The victory injects a massive dose of momentum into O’Ward’s championship campaign as the series heads into the final stretch. Through 11 of 18 rounds, he now sits fifth in the championship standings, 94 points behind leader Alex Palou (404–310).
With strong historical tracks on the horizon, O’Ward believes a late-season title charge is entirely realistic if the team maintains this elite level of form.
“If we keep having weekends like today, certainly so,” O’Ward said. “That would be fantastic. Obviously Nashville has been a great place for me and the team. Portland we’ve been very strong, as well. Markham, we’ve had the best street course results that we’ve had in quite some time this year. I’m excited for Markham. I’m excited for Washington. That one is going to be crazy. Milwaukee, we’ve won there before.
“There’s plenty of opportunities left. I’m not changing my approach. It’s going to be the same as it’s been all year. I didn’t really change it this weekend, either.”
Ohio State will travel to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Oct. 31 to face USC in a much-anticipated matchup between the two blue bloods and first as Big Ten opponents.
The Buckeyes present the toughest offensive triplets — consisting of a starting quarterback, lead running back and a top pass catcher, the Trojans are set to face in 2026.
Ohio State Offensive Triplets
It’s a close debate between them and Oregon. The Ducks have the advantage at quarterback with Dante Moore, but the Buckeyes have the edge at running back and wide receiver.
Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin is the only returning Heisman finalist in college football. The Southern California native was excellent in his first season as the starter in Columbus.
Sayin threw for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns last season. His biggest superpower is his accuracy. When he gets in a rhythm, the Buckeyes redshirt sophomore signal-caller is surgical. Sayin’s 77.0 completion percentage set a new is a Big Ten Record. He enters this season high on NFL Draft boards but with something to prove as well after a disappointing two-game stretch to end last season.
Bo Jackson proved very early last season that he was the best running back on the Ohio State roster. He took over as the starter in September and was one of three true freshmen to top 1,000 rushing yards in 2025. The sophomore tailback is underrated pass-catcher out of the backfield and is just scratching the surface of the player he can be.
Jeremiah Smith would have been a top 10 pick two years after a sensational freshman season. For a school that has produced the likes of Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Garrett Wilson, just to name a few in recent memory, Smith tops all of them in an Ohio State uniform.
The 6-foot-3, 223-pound Smith is a two-time first team All-American. He’s an alien at the position. The junior receiver has his eyes on winning the Biletnikoff Award, after USC’s Makai Lemon brought home the hardware last year, and helping the Buckeyes get back to the national championship.
Ohio State hired former NFL head coach Matt Patricia to be their defensive coordinator and the results was No. 1 defense in the country. They dove back into the NFL ranks again this offseason and hired former head coach Arthur Smith to be their offensive coordinator.
New-Look Defense at USC
USC made a big splash this offseason with the hiring of defensive coordinator Gary Patterson. The former longtime TCU head coach built great defenses for two decades in Fort Worth and a big reason why he’s headed to the College Football Hall of Fame.
He is looking to build similar success in Los Angeles. Except now, Patterson has more talent and resources than he’s ever had in front of him. The question is he can maximize it in year one and build a unit that creates problems for its opponents.
Rutgers receiver KJ Duff will challenge the Trojans secondary in week 3 with his 6-foot-6 and 225-pound frame. And then USC will see the entire offensive package when Oregon rolls into town the following week. Matchups against Washington and Penn State in early October will also test the Trojans new-look defense before they host Ohio State in late October.
Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us on Facebook, and X for the latest news.
Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow
-
Milwaukee, WI31 seconds agoVice President JD Vance to visit Milwaukee on Wednesday
-
Atlanta, GA8 minutes agoMetro Atlanta to see scattered storms before temperatures climb back into the 90s
-
Minneapolis, MN10 minutes agoLongtime Star Tribune Columnist Retires After 36 Years
-
Indianapolis, IN15 minutes agoCrash on Indy’s East Side Kills a Man
-
Pittsburg, PA22 minutes agoThe Eastman aims to reinvigorate an East Allegheny space with new energy
-
Augusta, GA25 minutes agoCrews battle fire along Boy Scout Road
-
Washington, D.C30 minutes agoWhite supremacist group demonstrates on Capitol Hill ahead of America 250 celebrations
-
Cleveland, OH37 minutes agoRittman police officer among 4 dead in Wayne County
