As the spring and summer travel season draws near, the days of lower prices at the pump are coming to an end. 

According to AAA Alabama, refineries are beginning to transition to summer fuel blends and a refinery in California if offline, which are putting upward pressure on gas prices. 

Nationally, the average price of regular gas currently is $3.16 this week, up by 20-cents from last week. 

The good news for Alabamians is that the state is ranked nationally among the top 10 in lowest average price per gallon last week. The nation’s top 10 least expensive gasoline markets were Mississippi at $2.68, Texas  at $2.74, Oklahoma at $2.75, Louisiana at $2.76, Kentucky at $2.79, Alabama and Tennessee at $2.82, Kansas and  Arkansas at $2.84 and Missouri rounding out the top 10 at $2.85.

California had the highest prices in the nation with an average of $4.79 per gallon for regular.  Gas was more than $4 per gallon for regular in Hawaii ($4.55) and Washington ($4.10).

Midway through this week, prices in Alabama have dropped to an average of $2.79 per gallon across the state, which is well below the $3.16 national average. 

Locally, gas prices in Pike County remained well above the state average of $2.79 per gallon of regular. Reported prices on GasBuddy.com in Troy ranged from $2.82 to $2.89 per gallon. In Ozark, prices ranged from $2.72 to $2.79; Luverne ranged from $2.79 to $2.80; Union Springs were $2.89; Dothan ranged from $2.59 to $2.72; and Montgomery ranged from $2.54 to $2.65