WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) – The average price of gas in the U.S. reached $4.15 per gallon this Labor Day, the most expensive Labor Day on record, according to AAA.
That surpassed the previous record of $3.82 per gallon set in 2012 by more than 30 cents.
In New York State, the average price was $4.32 per gallon on Monday.
Some drivers said they are getting used to the higher prices after a summer of elevated costs at the pump.
For newer drivers like Hayden Cottrell, high gas prices are all he has known.
“I’m just so used to it, like it’s just normal to see it above four, like, kinda close to five bucks now,” Cottrell said.
Cottrell said high prices no longer surprise him.
“I expect it, and it’s not too much of a surprise anymore,” he said.
He said he wishes he didn’t have to spend so much of his paycheck on gas.
“It sucks whenever I have to pay gas, and like, a solid 40, 50 bucks is just dumped into it,” Cottrell said.
Another driver, Wil Moss, said the prices are what they are.
“I gotta get from point A to point B no matter what. Kids gotta get places, bills gotta get paid, gas prices are gonna do the things they gonna do. We don’t complain, we don’t fight the price of milk, how do we fight the price of gas?” Moss said.
Moss said he tries to stay optimistic.
“They could always be worse,” Moss said.
He said he has kept a positive outlook this holiday weekend.
“There’s too much sadness and sorrow and negativity to run around frowning all the time. Smile, there’s plenty of things to be happy about, the sun’s shining,” Moss said.
Despite the higher prices, Labor Day travel is up 9% this year, with more than 45 million Americans traveling this weekend, according to data from AAA and the TSA.
Copyright 2026 WWNY. All rights reserved.