Americans hitting the road this year are feeling the sting of record-high fuel prices, and many say they are hoping President Donald Trump's energy policies will help bring relief in the months ahead.

To see how dramatically costs have changed, two sisters recreated the same cross-country road trip they first made in 2023, carefully saving every gas receipt along the way. While their original journey from California to New York cost $578.99 in fuel, their return trip in 2026 was noticeably more expensive as gasoline prices surged nationwide.

The trip unfolded as the national average price for regular gasoline climbed to $4.14 per gallon, the highest ever recorded for the Labor Day period, while diesel prices also reached record levels. The increase followed rising global oil prices amid the conflict in the Middle East, making travel significantly more expensive for families and businesses alike.

Throughout their 16-state journey, the sisters spoke with drivers who described how rising fuel costs were affecting their daily lives. Many said they were limiting travel, cutting back on spending or only buying enough gas to get where they needed to go.

One driver in Maryland said she believed President Trump would eventually succeed in lowering fuel prices once tensions surrounding the conflict with Iran eased, reflecting the optimism shared by some motorists they met along the way.

Despite finding occasional pockets of cheaper gasoline, particularly in Texas, prices remained well above what the sisters had paid during their first trip. California proved the most expensive stop, with gasoline topping $6 per gallon at several stations.

By the end of the nearly 5,000-mile journey, the sisters had spent $642.38 on fuel—about $63 more than their 2023 trip, even though they drove more than 600 fewer miles. According to AAA estimates, covering the same distance as their original route would have pushed their fuel costs close to $750.

Their experience underscores how higher energy prices continue to affect Americans across the country, with many drivers hoping fuel costs will ease in the months ahead as economic and geopolitical conditions evolve.