Gas prices are again putting pressure on Saline County drivers, with Kansas now sitting just under the $4-per-gallon mark for regular unleaded.

According to AAA, the average price for regular gasoline in Kansas was $3.942 per gallon as of Saturday, May 2. The national average was higher, at $4.433 per gallon.

While Kansas remains below the national average, the increase has been sharp. AAA listed the Kansas average at $3.509 one week earlier and $2.845 one year earlier.

That means regular gasoline in Kansas is now about $1.10 higher per gallon than it was at this time last year.

For a driver filling a 20-gallon tank, the difference is significant. At Saturday’s Kansas average, a 20-gallon fill-up costs about $78.84. At last year’s average, that same fill-up would have cost about $56.90.

That is nearly $22 more per fill-up.

For families, commuters, contractors, delivery drivers and rural residents who make frequent trips into Salina, the increase adds up quickly. A household filling two vehicles once per week could now be spending roughly $40 to $45 more each week compared to last year’s prices, depending on tank size and where they buy fuel.

Diesel prices are also adding pressure. AAA listed the Kansas diesel average at $5.045 per gallon on Saturday, compared to $3.273 one year earlier.

That increase matters beyond personal vehicles. Diesel is used heavily in trucking, construction, agriculture, delivery routes, public works equipment and service vehicles. Higher diesel prices can eventually show up in the cost of goods, service calls, freight, food and local business operations.

AAA reported this week that gas prices have moved higher nationally as oil prices climbed and fuel supplies tightened. The organization said the national average rose nearly 30 cents in one week and reached its highest level since late July 2022.

For Saline County, the immediate impact is simple: driving is more expensive than it was a week ago, much more expensive than it was a year ago, and close enough to $4 per gallon that many residents are likely adjusting trips, budgets and business expenses.

As summer travel, school activities, sports tournaments, construction work and farm operations continue, fuel prices will remain one of the most visible daily costs for Saline County residents.