AAA Mid-Atlantic said a gallon of regular gasoline averaged $4 on Sunday.

The price in Maryland was slightly better at $3.90 a gallon. But as usual, the best deals were in Virginia, where the price averaged $3.86 a gallon.

AAA spokesman John Townsend said prices increased dramatically leading up to the holiday weekend. He said it was like a "slap in the face" to consumers at the start of the summer travel season.

Getu Habteyes is feeling it in Alexandria (web|news) . "It's about 40 cents more than I usually pay on gas." After spending Memorial Day on the back of his bike, Reggie France is feeling lighter. "Yeah, in the pockets. Yeah, haha."

Isaac Odom and his wife stayed close to home for the holiday instead of driving their gas-guzzler SUV on a trip. "We had a cookout, but that's about as far as we could get." Turning down two free nights in a beach hotel, Amela Svaline said the trip would mean tracking on the price hike at the pump. "It's nine of us with our guests. Too much car, too expensive."