No pipelines, no refineries: the invisible costs keeping Florida gas prices high

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK)— Sticker shock is hitting Florida drivers hard as gas prices soar to $4.18 a gallon, making it one of the most expensive states in the country to fill up.

The Congressional Joint Economic Committee says Florida drivers have spent nearly $700 million more on gas over the past month.

The ongoing war in Iran, logistical bottlenecks and increased global competition are all driving up costs.

The high price of gas didn't keep Janet O'Rourke from taking a vacation, but she says it certainly maxed out her budget.

"We had planned this trip over a year ago and didn't expect to be paying as much as we are with the gas," O'Rourke said.

Florida is currently among the 10 most expensive states in the country to fill up, according to the fuel monitoring website GasBuddy. Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis with GasBuddy, says Florida doesn't have any refineries.

“(Florida) relies on gasoline coming in via barge to many of Florida's ports,” De Haan said.

Those ports rely on barges coming into the state, but De Haan says those barges can just as easily go elsewhere. That means Florida drivers are now competing with others.

"Unfortunately, due to the nature of the situation, you're competing at a higher level to secure that gasoline, because other customers overseas are also looking for things like gasoline, diesel and jet fuel," De Haan said.

Florida does not have any current interstate crude oil pipelines. Every drop of gas in the state is brought in through ships and barges.

With diesel prices reaching a record high in Florida earlier this month, De Haan says he doesn't see a sizeable drop in price coming anytime soon.

"So, while you and I are looking at the price of gasoline thinking, ‘my goodness’, it's more problematic that Florida has now reached a new all-time record high for diesel and that is likely to reignite inflation across much of the country," De Haan said.

O'Rourke says she's noticed that firsthand, choosing to forego certain expenses to stay on the road.

 "Unfortunately, when you have to pay for gas you have to make decisions about what you would like to do. Maybe not visit as many restaurants," O'Rourke said.

Texas drivers have been hit the hardest in the nation, according to the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee, paying more than $1 billion more in gas in the last month.