Memorial Day travel plans shift as Alaska gas prices near record highs

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – As Memorial Day weekend approaches, Anchorage residents and visitors are adjusting their travel plans as gas prices near record highs.

At Westchester Lagoon on Monday, Nancy Podgorski searched for spring shorebirds, something she plans to do this Memorial Day as well.

“This is just the best time of year to go birding in Anchorage,” Podgorski said.

Due to the cost of travel, Podgorski won’t make it back to Homer for the Shorebird Festival this year.

“It was disappointing to be honest because last year we went and it was so fun and it’s such a great activity and there’s lots of festivals around,” Podgorski said.

“The jump from $3.89 a gallon to $5.19, and who knows how much higher it’s going to go, that’s really significant for people that are retired on a teacher’s retirement budget,” Podgorski said. “It’s like … that’s the difference between eating ramen noodles and not eating ramen noodles.”

Alli, an Anchorage resident who recently moved from Maryland, is planning a Memorial Day visit to Denali before cutting back on travel.

“We are going to do a trip to Denali. So, it’s early in the season, but we’re so excited,” she said.

She said it’s her last trip for a while.

“The gas has been a shock and we’re feeling it,” she said. “I think after this trip, we’re probably going to stay local in Anchorage for the summertime.”

Tourists are also noticing the high fuel costs. Tony Broussard, visiting from Florida, said he was surprised by Alaska’s gas prices.

“I would have maybe thought, because I’m originally from Louisiana, and, you know, in oil production areas, you’d think would be a little… less,” Broussard said.

The Alaska average as of Monday is $5.29 per gallon, just under $2 higher than last year, according to AAA.

“I think the gas prices is definitely something that I will consider when we’re doing trips,” Alli said.

Despite the high costs, many plan to make the most of it.

“There’s plenty of things and hiking to do in the area, but definitely is painful to fill up my car,” Alli said.

“And you know, gas prices are $5.19 a gallon now we’re staying put. But when you’ve got a beautiful lake and we go birding all the time,” Podgorski said. “We have our binocs, our camera, we’re ready to go.”

“We’re just enjoying the day,” Broussard said.

With summer approaching, the question for many drivers isn’t just how much it costs to fill up. It’s how much longer it will stay this way.

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