Gas prices are on the rise, in fact they are now at their highest here in Texas since the middle of Obama's final term in 2014. Right now the average price for regular unleaded fuel is $2.81 across Texas, and $2.88 in Smith and Gregg Counties, this according to the AAA Texas Weekend Gas Watch.

“The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded on average in the Lone Star State has increased by nearly 45% since the start of the year due to increased demand and higher crude oil prices as more people are traveling for leisure and business,” AAA Texas spokesperson Daniel Armbruster said in a press release. “Market analysts anticipate this upward trend could continue through the summer.”

Did you do any travelling over our long Independence Weekend? Well, you weren't alone. A surge in gas prices was expected after a Fourth of July weekend where there were a record number of travelers across The Lone Star State. Over 3 million Texans were expected to travel by car last weekend, which according to AAA Texas travel forecast data was the highest ever.

You can take some solace knowing that, as is normal, gas prices are still notably lower here in Texas than in other parts of the country. But as we head into August, be advised, AAA is anticipating gas prices to rise anywhere from 20-30 cents more as we wind down summer vacation, and get into those dreaded dog days of summer.

If you're doing any travel soon and are curious what the price of gas is where you're heading, check out this useful AAA Texas Weekend Gas Watch map.

LOOK: See how much gasoline cost the year you started driving

To find out more about how has the price of gas changed throughout the years, Stacker ran the numbers on the cost of a gallon of gasoline for each of the last 84 years. Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (released in April 2020), we analyzed the average price for a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline from 1976 to 2020 along with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for unleaded regular gasoline from 1937 to 1976, including the absolute and inflation-adjusted prices for each year.

Read on to explore the cost of gas over time and rediscover just how much a gallon was when you first started driving.

LOOK: Stunning vintage photos capture the beauty of America's national parks

Today these parks are located throughout the country in 25 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The land encompassing them was either purchased or donated, though much of it had been inhabited by native people for thousands of years before the founding of the United States. These areas are protected and revered as educational resources about the natural world, and as spaces for exploration.

Keep scrolling for 50 vintage photos that show the beauty of America's national parks.

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