Mid-grade came in Monday at $2.82, premium at $3.16 and diesel at $3.06.

Those are all down from the average earlier in December, while less than what the average was around Thanksgiving travel.

Last Christmas’ average in Colorado was $2.97, and a record number of Americans were on the roads for Christmas.

This year, AAA projects 122.4 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home from Dec. 21 to Jan. 1. This is a 2.2% increase over 2024.

“Holiday celebrations look different for everyone, but a common thread is the desire to travel, whether it’s returning to your hometown or exploring new destinations,” said Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel.

Colorado’s gas average is slightly lower than the national average of $2.86, though there is a wide range of prices throughout counties in the state.

Pitkin County came in Monday with the state’s highest average at $4.13, while Pueblo was the lowest at $2.21 a gallon. That is a spread of $1.92.

WASHINGTON EXAMINER APPOINTS VETERAN JOURNALIST BOB CUSACK AS EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Nationally, Hawaii on Monday had the nation’s most expensive gas prices at $4.42, while Oklahoma has the cheapest at $2.29. California had the nation’s second-highest gas prices with $4.31 a gallon. 

Elyse Apel, a graduate of Hillsdale College, is a reporter for The Center Square covering Colorado and Michigan. Her writing has been published in a wide variety of national publications from the Washington Examiner to The American Spectator and The Daily Wire.