ORLANDO, Fla. – If you’re planning to hit the road for the Fourth of July, be ready to pay more at the pump. Gas prices for Independence Day are at record-high levels — the highest since tracking began in 1967 — and in Central Florida, that squeeze is being felt by everyday drivers and the people many are relying on to get around: rideshare drivers.
More than 60 million people are expected to travel by car this holiday weekend, and Orlando is once again a major destination for fireworks, theme parks and packed events. With traffic and parking notoriously messy, many people are skipping driving themselves — and leaning on rideshares instead.
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But for the drivers behind the wheel, filling up has become a daily pain point.
“Before, you could drive around looking for passengers in the Disney and Universal area,” said Carlos Taveras. “Now you can’t. You have to park somewhere because you waste too much gas. Gas is very expensive.”
According to AAA, the average price on July 4 last year was $3.11 per gallon. This year, the statewide average is about $3.83 — and the Federal Reserve says that makes it the highest gas price ever recorded for the Fourth of July.
“It is the worst,” said Elias, who depends on rideshare driving as extra income. “But there is no choice… It’s like a second job. You have no choice.”
Elias said he typically fills up his car every day, but with gas prices so high, he’s having to be more selective about which rides he takes — focusing on trips that pay better.
“I only do the trips from the airport to Disney, Disney to the airport,” Elias said. “Because those are the trips that pay a little better.”
Click HERE for a check of gas prices around Central Florida.