NJ gas prices are dropping at the pump. Here's why

We're in peak summer travel season , and dropping gas prices across the Mid-Atlantic region may help prolong your warm-weather getaway plans.

New Jersey gas prices are typically on the lower side of averages across the country, but now they are dropping even lower, just in time for summer getaways.

If you are heading to the Jersey shore, you may want to fill up your gas tank while there. Gas prices in Ocean County and south and west are averaging lower than most of the northern counties, according to AAA . The exception there is Cape May County — among the highest in the state.

Here's how much gas costs right now across the Mid-Atlantic region, and the reasons why costs are going down.

How much is gas in New Jersey?

As of the week of July 25 and according to AAA's realtime gas price index, the average costs for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in New Jersey is $3.413. The average cost of gas in June in New Jersey was $3.368, and the year-ago average was $3.566.

How much is gas in New York?

As of the week of July 25 and also according to AAA's realtime gas price index, the average cost for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in New York is $3.614, which is up from the June average of $3.580, but lower than the year-ago average of $3.719.

How much is gas in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania has the highest gas prices of all the Mid-Atlantic states, with an average of $3.636 per gallon . That is more than June's average of $3.268, but less than the year-ago average of $3.734.

How much is gas in Delaware?

As of the week of July 25 and according to AAA's realtime gas price index, the average costs for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in Delaware is $3.409. The average cost of gas in June in Delaware was $3.446, and the year-ago average was $3.573.

Why are gas prices going down?

AAA offered a blunt assessment of why gas prices are plummeting, pinning lower costs on a drop in demand and people staying off the road during a nearly summer-long heat wave .

"The arrival of summer used to signal the start of a robust driving season, but that has not been the case recently,” said AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross in press release issued by AAA . “We know that a record number of travelers were forecast to hit the highways for the July Fourth holiday, but since then, they appear to be staying off the road, and the recent scorching heat is possibly to blame."

Maria Francis and Damon Williams are Pennsylvania-based journalists reporting on trending topics across the Mid-Atlantic region.

This article originally appeared on USATNetwork: NJ gas prices are dropping at the pump. Here's why