LAS VEGAS (FOX5) -
Las Vegas drivers are seeing a surge in gas prices. Experts say they shouldn't be surprised about it.
"It's summer, people are traveling, the temperatures are very high and when there is a high demand for gas obviously the price goes up," said Cynthia Harris, spokesperson for AAA.
Over the past three weeks the price at the pumps has jumped nearly 30 cents a gallon in Las Vegas with the average price now at $3.70 a gallon.
That's still much cheaper than what motorists are paying in southern California. In Los Angeles according to AAA, prices are more than $4 a gallon.
But not everyone here is happy with our gas prices.
"They are bad real bad," said Dorothy Shaw, a longtime Las Vegas resident.
Others we talked to agree.
"I have to drive to work and to home otherwise I don't make any money and then I can't put gas in my car," said Amber Mooney who said she uses about a half a tank a day driving around Las Vegas.
The higher prices still won't deter people from taking their last road trip for the summer.
"We expect 3.2 percent more people to hit the roads this weekend compared to last year," Harris said.
We should see a break at the pumps within a few weeks as refineries switch from the high-priced summer blends to the cheaper winter blends.
"By mid-September or early October, typically gas prices fall," Harris said.
How far it will drop right now is anyone's guess.
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