Cars pass the Marathon gas station Friday in Elm Grove. Gas could cost $3 per gallon or more throughout the summer. Photo by Scott McCloskey

WHEELING — With just two weeks to go until Memorial Day weekend, gas prices are on pace to top $3 per gallon.

Still, industry experts say the Ohio Valley may have it easier than most.

Unleaded gasoline at 87 octane had reached a national average of $2.84 per gallon by Friday, according to AAA. The price of gas is expected to continue climbing through the summer before tapering off. Those increased prices mean the average West Virginian family may be spending nearly another $200 over the course of the summer, according to Chris Venture, executive director of Consumer Alliance Energy Midwest.

“When it comes to actually planning vacations, were anticipating the average family in West Virginia will be spending another $190, just during the summer driving season in costs,” he said. “Consider that everything they’re spending on energy, transportation fuel, electricity or natural gas, they already pay around $3,900 a year on energy, and this is going to push some of them up over that $4,000 mark.

“Just a few short years ago in 2011, when gas was nearing $4, it was not a good time if you were running a delivery business or doing anything you needed to drive your vehicle to,” he said.

Venture said gas is expected to remain above $3 for much of the summer because of decreased production by OPEC and unrest in the Middle East and Venezuela, where from where oil has been imported.

On the plus side, Venture said that because of the oil and natural gas production in the region, the Ohio Valley’s fuel costs may be among the cheapest in the nation.

“The one bright spot is, all the production were seeing in this country, the oil and natural gas production in West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania, for our region in particular, is helping keep prices below the national average,” he said. “Just in our little area in the Ohio Valley, we have some of the cheapest gas in the nation, although even then it’s not as low as it could be if we had access to more gas and energy supplies.”

For residents dismayed at the prospect of increased spending at the pump, Venture recommends planning errands in advance to streamline the process and minimize inefficient driving paths to lessen the gas burden, as well as making sure vehicles are light and well maintained.

“As the seasons change, it’s always good to make sure you’ve got the right amount of air in your tires, especially since we had such a horrible winter,” he said. “Make sure your tire pressure is correct, for those that drive pickup trucks, remove the bags of sand from the back that you use to keep traction on ice and snow, and make sure you don’t have excess stuff in the trunk bed.

“Instead of running multiple errands, see if you can go to the grocery store and the doctor in one trip, to try and be a little more fuel efficient and not travel as much,” said Venture.

Gas prices around this time last year averaged around $2.36 per gallon. Along the West Coast, gas already tops $3, with California and Hawaii averaging $3.63 per gallon, with Washington, Alaska, Nevada, and Oregon all being above $3. The next highest is Arizona, where gas averages at around $2.80. Pennsylvania’s gas averaged around $3.02 in the last week.

West Virginia’s average cost of $2.78 remains 6 cents below the national average, with south-central counties enjoying the lowest prices around $2.70 and the Eastern Panhandle the highest, as high as $2.94. South of Hancock County, the Ohio Valley also enjoys prices on the lower side of average for the state.