Gas prices in Pennsylvania remain 16 cents higher than the national average of $4.06, putting many travelers in a tight spot.

LACKAWANNA COUNTY, Pa. — AAA says the national average for a gallon of regular gas went up 16 cents since last week.

The organization says instability along the Strait of Hormuz is contributing to the spike in prices.

Some travelers making their way through northeastern and central Pennsylvania have been feeling the effects.

If you’ve gotten gas recently, you’ve probably noticed the spike in the price per gallon.

Just after exit 202 on Interstate 81, plenty of travelers took a break at this rest stop in Greenfield Township, Lackawanna County.

Josh Feldman is traveling with his family from South Florida to Cooperstown, New York.

“We started at like $3.50 in South Florida, $3.60, so it’s just been going up every state we hit”, says Feldman.

The prices in PA reached higher than prices in any other state they passed through on their way to New York state.

“The lowest I think we’ve seen is like $4.40, $4.15,” he remarks.

Traveling from Colorado, Doug Slais is also heading to Cooperstown with his family.

They chose to fly into Philadelphia and then drive up to New York state.

He says he hasn’t noticed gas prices impacting him as he headed north on Interstate 81.

“Everything costs more, and I’m kind of used to that, and thankfully it’s not a big impact on our lives right now,” Slais explains.

According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of gas in PA right now is $4.22, up a dollar from last year when it was $3.22.

“I just topped off the tank in PA; it was around $4.09 in Saint Clair,” says Angela Runciman, a native of Pottsville.

She was heading to Binghamton, New York, when she stopped at the Greenfield Township rest stop.

“Driving up, there’s a variety of different prices ranging between $4.09, $4.29, and so forth,” she comments.

Runciman says she has definitely been feeling the impact of the rising prices.

She notes that “you do notice it in the wallet.”

The cost in Pennsylvania remains at $4.22, 16 cents higher than the national average.