Calgary gas prices climbing ahead of May long weekend
Posted May 14, 2026 4:01 pm.
Calgary gas prices are climbing just as one of the year’s busiest travel weekends approaches, leaving many residents rethinking their plans.
Average prices in the city hit 189.1 cents per litre on Thursday, according to GasBuddy, up sharply from less than 170 cents earlier in the week.
The jump is being driven by global pressures, refinery strain, and increased demand heading into the long weekend.
Calgary drivers say the spike is already reshaping how they live and travel. Courtney, who had planned a getaway, says the rising cost has forced her family to scale back.
“It’s kind of ridiculous, instead of taking our camper, we’re taking our tent,” she said. “We’re really reducing what we’re doing, even in everyday life, we’re not ordering, we’re not doing anything that requires fuel because we don’t want to pay the extra.”
Last year’s May long weekend saw regular gas hovering near 130 cents per litre. Drivers are now paying almost 60 cents more for every litre.
For many, it’s pushing their budgets to the breaking point.
Trevor drives for work and says he’s only buying the bare minimum.
“I’m just putting in what I need to put in right now,” he said. “It’s too high.”
Experts point to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, refinery pressures, and volatile global oil markets as key factors behind the surge. And while some drivers are cutting back, others say they simply can’t.
“We still need to take the kids to school, we still need to get to work,” Scott said. “Summer vacation might look a little bit different, but right now, our day-to-day can’t really change.”
With the unofficial start of summer just days away, drivers are keeping a close eye on prices and hoping relief arrives sooner rather than later.
The CityNews gas prices page tells you the average cost at the pumps in Calgary and the lowest price near you.
