ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — Gas prices are up nearly a dollar from last year’s Labor Day weekend, according to AAA. South Georgia has not seen the largest increases in the state, but drivers say they are still feeling the impact at the pump.

“They suck. They’re way too high,” one driver said.

Albany has the lowest metro prices in the state

According to AAA, Georgia’s average gas price is currently about $3.89 per gallon. In Albany, the average is lower, with prices sitting around $3.81 per gallon, making it the cheapest metro area in the state.

MORE FROM AAA: LABOR DAY ON TRACK TO SET RECORD AT THE PUMP

Alisha Kajzer, a driver, said the money spent on gas could have gone toward other expenses.

“That could have been groceries. That could have been somebody’s child’s daycare. That could have been a lot of things that people could have paid for as opposed to gas,” Kajzer said.

Prices up nearly a dollar from last year

Georgia drivers are paying nearly a dollar more per gallon for regular gas this Labor Day compared to last year’s average of $2.91.

Keifer Williams, who was in town for Dougherty High’s alumni weekend, said he considered the cost of gas before deciding whether to attend.

RELATED VIDEO: Why Labor Day gas prices are the highest in holiday’s history

“I grabbed my chest because it’s like extremely high nowadays and it just seemed like it just went up and it hasn’t gone back down. So it’s like you have to factor in and that can deter you from going anywhere at this point right now,” Williams said.

Filling a tank cost nearly $60

For people traveling this holiday weekend, the higher price can add up quickly. A 15-gallon tank at today’s Georgia average costs nearly $60 to fill. AAA says higher crude oil prices are helping push prices higher.

Despite the cost, local drivers say they are still making do.

“Got to get to work somehow, so I got to pay the prices,” one driver said.

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and X. For more south Georgia news, download the WALB News app and add WALB as a preferred source on Google.

Copyright 2026 WALB. All rights reserved.