Gasoline prices hovered at their lowest level since 2021 heading into the July Fourth holiday. On Thursday, the national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline stood at $3.16 per gallon, according to AAA data.

Twenty states boast average gas prices below $3, spanning from New Mexico to Missouri to South Carolina. Mississippi, the state with the nation's lowest gas prices, offers drivers an average gallon for $2.71. More than 61 million people are expected to travel by car over the July 4 holiday, AAA forecasted.

New Jersey gas prices are cooling ahead of the July 4th weekend — when nationwide a record 72.2 million Americans are expected to travel domestically.