"At the Chevron just off the I-15, prices are just under $5.50 a gallon. While it isn't as high as the prices he pays from his residence in California, it's still a lot to fill up his tank.
"It’s supposed to be $30," he says pointing to his car. "Now it's $80, $85 dollars."
It's also pricey for Erin Fletcher, visiting from Provo, Utah.
"I only needed half a tank today but I paid $37. That would have filled my tank up you know before these gas prices hit," she said. "I’m a single mom so it’s definitely, very expensive.”
Right now, a gallon of regular stands at an average cost of $5.18 statewide, about a dollar more than the national average cost of $4.18. That's a bit cheaper than what we saw a week ago after the Biden Administration decided to dip into the nation's petroleum stockpile. Since then, AAA says gas prices have dipped around 6 cents.
"Six cents might sound like a little bit–might sound like a lot, but it’s significant when we haven’t seen anything go down," said John Treanor with AAA.
Still, gas remains high compared to the average price of just $3.30 a gallon a year ago. The painful prices are smack dab in the middle of spring break, a roughly two-month season harkening more tourists to the strip. Fueled by a multitude of factors, including a war in Ukraine, gas prices are at some of the highest prices seen in years.
"We see a whole bunch of people who use spring break and that time as an opportunity to travel," said UNLV Assistant Professor Amanda Belarmino. She adds that as conventions begin to bounce back continuing to fill our hotels during the weekdays remains very important at this time.
But will gas prices cause some tourists to put the breaks on their plans?
John Treanor with AAA says a survey from the company says no.
"The majority of drivers said if gas hit $4 a gallon, they were going to change what they do on a normal basis," he said. "But when it came to trips when it came to traveling, they were going to go no matter the cost."
But that doesn't mean, points out belarmino that they wouldn't cut costs elsewhere.
"So while they’re still traveling are they paying less for their rooms? Are they gaming less? Are they eating at less expensive restaurants? Those are the things that remain to be seen,” she said, noting we likely won't know the full impact of this for at least a few weeks.
For Chris and Rosemary from Chino California, the price to get here was still worth it, they say, because of a clear strategy to save money.
"It’s cheaper at Sam’s Club or Costco," said Rosemary. "That’s the place to fill up.”" - KNSV-TV