Bob Bryan, of Dallas, center, gasses up his vehicle with his boat in tow. Bryan was headed to Lawrence to visit friends and to fish at Perry Lake during Memorial Day weekend. It

Leaning against his Ford Contour, Beau Bruns watched as the numbers on the gasoline pump turned like those on a slot machine.

But Bruns knew he wouldn’t be a winner. Especially because he bought gas Tuesday when the average price of a gallon of unleaded gasoline in Lawrence reached $3.33 – a record high.

Bruns, of Topeka, spent $42.57 for 12.7 gallons to fill up his tank at Conoco in North Lawrence. The hefty price tag has prompted him to shop for a more fuel-efficient vehicle.

“I am out looking for a car now,” he said. “I’ve been doing a lot of research during the past couple of months.”

Bruns, who works in Lawrence, also is a member of the band Kennedy Luck Club. He said the band likes to tour during the summer, but will consider gasoline prices when deciding on where to play.

“We might not be able to afford it,” he said of the cost to fuel a van and trailer.

Unlike Bruns, Dennis Purinton, of Lake Perry, won’t let higher prices deter him from traveling. He said he would be vacationing in the British Virgin Islands this weekend and plans a trip to Minnesota this summer.

Purinton wasn’t sure if he would drive or fly to Minnesota, but said his decision would be based on time, not gasoline prices.

According to AAA on Friday, the average price for a gallon of unleaded gasoline in Kansas is $3.33, compared with $2.69 a year ago. In Lawrence, the average price is $3.29, compared with $2.68 a year ago.

Both are higher than the national average of $3.22, which is unusual.

Kansas takes hit

“The norm for Kansas is lower fuel prices than that of the national average,” said Tom Palace, executive director of the Kansas Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Stores Association.

Mother Nature has been part of the problem: Recent floods, tornadoes and fires have caused problems at refineries and in getting fuel distributed, analysts say.

“We are having supply problems here in Kansas. … We kind of have the perfect storm going on here and no pun intended with the devastation to Greensburg, but that tragedy has actually impacted a lot of terminals around us where people pick up fuel,” Palace said.

“The storm and tornado really had an impact, but on top of that we have a number of other factors that range from Houston, Texas, clear up to here.”

Flooding in areas such as Salina and Wathena have caused terminals to shut down.

“We have a fragile system right now,” Palace said. “Our infrastructure is so fragile. We haven’t built a new refinery in 31 years, and we are still working off of reduced refining capacity. It’s not only a problem in Kansas, but nationwide.”

Demand on the rise

Jim Hanni, executive vice president for AAA Kansas, said not only is there a supply problem but also demand has risen.

“Added to the strong demand worldwide for oil and refined gasoline is the fact that there is a certain amount of stocking up or hoarding going on right now, particularly by those who buy gasoline in bulk,” Hanni said.

That demand is going to grow. AAA estimates that 38.3 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more for the Memorial Day weekend this year, up 1.7 percent from last year. And 84 percent of those traveling will do so by motor vehicle.

Mary Jo Swoyer, of Winchester, said family members were driving from as close as Topeka and as far as Iowa to visit this weekend. Her granddaughter’s car will be used for the Iowa trip because it gets better gas mileage than a family SUV.

“It makes a difference,” she said.

Swoyer will take a vacation this summer in Portland, Ore., and plans to fly.

“I am always looking to get a deal,” she said about ticket prices. And so far air fares haven’t risen because of gas prices.

John Novotny, vice president of operations at Travellers Inc., said his agency hasn’t seen an increase in ticket prices out of Kansas City.

“We’re blessed with a lot of competition,” he said.

The AAA’s Leisure Travel Index shows fares this weekend are down 5 percent with the average fare at $166.

Cheaper alternatives

Novotny said such low prices have caused people to rethink how they’ll travel.

“I think the higher gasoline prices have caused people to evaluate other ways of getting somewhere they normally would drive,” he said.

So instead of driving, they might travel by plane, train or bus.

He said there has been an increase in the number of residents inquiring about Motorcoach trips to such destinations as Branson, Mo., and Nashville, Tenn.

“There has been an increased interest in trips that originate here locally,” he said. “These are places that people would normally drive but are now showing interest because everything is included.”

Another affordable option for a weekend or summer getaway: area lakes.

“My impression’s always been that there’s not a whole lot that can keep people away from the lake and going boating,” said Bryan Best, general manager of Lake Perry Yacht & Marina.

“It’s actually a cheaper option for people to get away and have a mini-vacation at the lake for the weekend versus traveling somewhere and spending money elsewhere – not only on gas to get there but whatever event they are going to do.”

He said boaters typically spend between $30 and $50 on gas for their boat per weekend, and admitted the prices might be tough for some to absorb.

“It’s got to have a little effect, especially if people are running tight on money,” he said. “They may skip boating for that weekend.”

But he doesn’t expect gasoline prices to affect business. Instead, his biggest worry is weather.

“It’s not looking real promising,” he said of the weekend forecast. “It kind of depends on Mother Nature at this point.”