Gas Prices and Summer Vacation Planning

Above, the ranch location used in the opening scenes of True Grit
(1969) is 11 miles west of Ridgway, Colorado. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

What is in store for us this year in regard to gasoline prices?

From WANE 15:

“2023 is not going to be a cakewalk for motorists. It could be expensive,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “The national average could breach $4 per gallon as early as May – and that’s something that could last through much of the summer driving season. Basically, curveballs are coming from every direction. Extreme amounts of volatility remain possible, but should become slightly more muted in the year ahead. I don’t think we’ve ever seen such an amount of volatility as we saw this year, and that will be a trend that likely continues to lead to wider uncertainty over fuel prices going into 2023.” 

Above, about to order lunch at the True Grit Café surrounded by John Wayne memorabilia in Ridgway.

If gasoline prices are going to be around $4.00/gallon, it looks like I'll be taking a summer vacation camping trip in the RV closer to home as I did last year.

Originally, I was planning to go to the Black Hills region of eastern Wyoming and western South Dakota last summer. But due to the high gas prices, I decided to vacation closer to home in Durango, Colorado and Navajo Lake in New Mexico. Doing so saved me some money.

Above, the Ouray KOA Kampground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

What I am thinking about doing for a summer vacation trip this year is to go to the Ouray/Ridgway, Colorado area. It is a beautiful area with True Grit (1969) movie locations in Ouray (the Court House), Ridgway and the Ross family ranch 11 miles west of Ridgway. It is only a few hours drive from home. There are plenty of campgrounds in the area as the below map indicates. I stayed last year at the Ouray KOA when I went to see the John Wayne Cancer Foundation's "Grit Series" marathons. 

Above, campgrounds in the Ouray/Ridgway, Colorado area.

To reach Ouray and Ridgway, one has to drive north from Durango and Silverton on the "Million Dollar Highway". It is a nice drive, if one doesn't mind winding roads. 

Above, a view of Silverton on the way to Ouray. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

But, we have a few months to see how things go with gasoline prices. Hopefully, they will be better than last year's prices. Knock on wood!