Where you'll pay the most for gas around Tennessee, other states this Memorial Day weekend

(NEXSTAR/WKRN) — Memorial Day weekend is here, which means you may be hitting the roads -- or maybe the lake -- before embarking on your long weekend.

Regardless of where you're going -- the American Automobile Association (AAA) expects 38.4 million drivers to hit the roads this weekend -- a stop at the gas station is likely in your future. You could find yourself paying a hefty price at the pump, depending on where you're traveling.

In the week leading up to Thursday, May 23, the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline declined across most states. The national average increased 1 cent to $3.615 on Thursday, but it dipped a bit to $3.609 on Friday, May 24. New Mexico has seen the largest drop, going from $3.365 last week to $3.259 as of Friday, according to AAA's data.

There are some states, however, that have seen the reverse. In Indiana, prices are up nearly 15 cents over last week, while nearby Illinois saw prices increase almost 20 cents.

You'll find the highest average prices for a gallon of regular gas in these 10 states as of Friday, based on AAA's data:

1. California: $5.138
2. Hawaii: $4.792
3. Washington: $4.573
4. Oregon: $4.333
5. Nevada: $4.316
6. Alaska: $4.314
7. Illinois: $4.077
8. Arizona: $3.867
9. Idaho: $3.779
10. Pennsylvania: $3.776

You'll find more affordable gas in the southern Midwest and around the Gulf of Mexico. While no state has gas cheaper than $3 a gallon, on average, Mississippi isn't far off: as of Friday, the average price for regular fuel is $3.058.

The rest of the top 10 states with the cheapest gas are included below, ranked based on their average prices for regular fuel as of Friday:

1. Mississippi: $3.058
2. Arkansas: $3.094
3. Oklahoma: $3.123
4. Kansas: $3.132
5. Louisiana: $3.161
6. Texas: $3.166
7. Missouri: $3.196
8. Tennessee: $3.204
9. South Carolina: $3.204
10. Alabama: $3.235

When it comes to metro areas across the country, California cities, unsurprisingly, had the highest gas prices. AAA put Napa at the top of the list, with a gallon of regular gas going for an average of $5.49 on Friday. The cheapest gas was some 2,000 miles away in Brownsville-Harlingen, Texas, where an average gallon of gas will set you back about $2.938.

As for metro areas in the Volunteer State, AAA reported all of their average prices for regular gas as of Friday are under $3.28, with Nashville being the most expensive:

1. Nashville: $3.268
2. Cleveland: $3.263
3. Clarksville: $3.251
4. Jackson: $3.241
5. Morristown: $3.239
6. Johnson City: $3.197
7. Memphis: $3.18
8. Knoxville: $3.173
9. Kingsport-Bristol: $3.151
10. Chattanooga: $3.121

Compared to this time last year, average gas prices are up in most states, though only by a few cents. The nationwide price of gas is around $3.61 a gallon, about 5 cents higher than a year ago, according to AAA.

Earlier this week, in an effort to lower gas prices in the Northeast, the Biden administration released about 1 million barrels of reserve gasoline supplies. Gas prices usually rise in the summer as traveling ticks up, and can be impacted by environmental, cyclical, and global factors.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.