As Memorial Day weekend travel comes to a close, AAA says thousands of Georgia drivers are expected to crowd highways heading home, while gas prices continue putting pressure on family travel budgets.

The statewide average price for regular gasoline currently sits at $3.99 per gallon. AAA says that’s about one cent lower than last week, but still 41 cents higher than last month and more than a dollar above this time last year.

A standard 15-gallon fill-up now costs drivers nearly $60.

AAA is encouraging motorists to plan ahead, avoid peak traffic times when possible, and compare fuel prices before stopping along their routes.

Across Northwest Georgia and Northeast Alabama, local gas prices vary by county. Chattooga County currently averages $3.83 per gallon, while Walker County is averaging $3.91. Floyd County drivers are paying around $3.89, and Gordon County is averaging $3.95 per gallon.

Across the state line, DeKalb County, Alabama currently has some of the highest local prices in the region at $4.09 per gallon, while Cherokee County, Alabama averages around $3.95.

Statewide, the least expensive metro area in Georgia is currently the Catoosa-Dade-Walker market at $3.83 per gallon, while Macon has the state’s highest average at $4.07.

AAA says prices are expected to remain elevated as the busy summer travel season gets underway.