With summer just around the corner, many of us are staring down the barrel of a tough decision: to road trip or not to road trip? If you’re like me and have an F-350 Super Duty sitting in the driveway, that decision carries a bit more weight this year. I still love my truck—especially with the camper shell soon to be delivered—and I certainly don’t plan on letting global trends keep me entirely out of the wilderness this summer.
The Analyst’s View: A “Day of Reckoning” at the Pump?
Current forecasts for Summer 2026 are a mixed bag of geopolitical tension and cautious optimism. As of early May 2026, gas prices have locally already climbed past $4.50 a gallon for the first time since 2022. And we aren’t even into the summer driving season when prices like to climb towards the moon.
Energy analysts are keeping a laser focus on the Middle East, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint handling 20% of the world’s oil. Recent disruptions there have sent Brent crude prices surging toward wartime highs.
The High Road: Some analysts warn the national average could quickly hit $5.00 by Memorial Day, with $6.00 per gallon potentially on the table later this summer if tensions continue.
Extreme Forecasts: If major Iranian oil hubs are damaged, some analysts forecast that crude prices could push retail gas to even more unprecedented levels.
The “Feather” Effect: While there is always hope for stability, experts note that prices “go up like rockets and come down like a feather”. Even with a ceasefire, a “risk premium” is expected to keep prices elevated throughout the summer.
Rethinking the Long Haul
This year was the one I had hoped to take that big trip out the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and maybe Northern Wisconsin to see more of America and the National Forests in the Great Midwest. That said, the high gas prices are definitely having me reconsidering that cross-country trek. While they aren’t necessarily a total bank breaker, they do force some compromises. Instead of burning through the travel budget before I even hit the state line, I’m looking at a new strategy: shorter distance, longer duration.
Staying Parked and Living Lean
The beauty of the Super Duty setup is that once I reach the campsite, the truck stays parked. The solar will maintain the batteries and keep the lights on at camp. I plan to use my mountain bike to get around everywhere once I’m there. When you’re living in the wilderness, the real expenses are just food and beer—and I’d be buying groceries regardless of whether I stayed home or headed to the woods. By cooking my own food at camp, the overall trip cost remains manageable even with higher fuel prices for the initial drive. And I don’t have to worry about being high or drunk, when I’m not driving!
Closer-to-Home Alternatives
Living in this area, I am lucky to have so much . By staying local, I can spend more of the budget on the actual experience rather than just the transit. Here’s what’s on my radar:
Green Mountain National Forest: Perfect for finding a quiet spot to set up camp for a week, no permits or plans required! Propsect Mountain Road or even Somerset Airfield and Kelley Stand Road aren’t that far from home.
Southern Adirondacks: Great for long weekends without the multi-day drive with places like Mason Lake and Piseco-Powley still being reasonably close for a long weekend!
Schoharie County: Closer to home, Mine Kill State Park, Catskill Scenic Trail, Burnt Rossman Hills offers so much to do.
Taking the F-350 up into the mountains for a longer stay closer to home feels like a much better play than a multi-day jaunt across several states to head to Michigan with gas prices being so uncertain. Still it’s kind of a bummer but maybe next year will be better.
