Is California’s Energy Agenda Putting Your Summer Road Trip at Risk?

Summer in California has always meant freedom. Freedom to pack the car, hit the open road, and make memories with family and friends. For countless Latinos families, road trips are not just a vacation. They’re a multi-generational tradition that connects family and culture.

But today, that tradition is becoming a luxury that fewer working-class families can afford. As many Californians struggle with the state’s affordability crisis, energy policies are making road trip vacations harder to maintain.

Families Are Being Priced Off the Road

California has some of the highest gas prices in the country, driven in part by taxes, fees, and complex fuel regulations. For families already struggling with inflation, these added costs are cutting deep. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, the state’s lowest-income households now spend about 16% of their income just on gasoline. That leaves very little for summer travel, family outings, or spontaneous weekend getaways.

RV Travel is Being Left Behind

California’s environmental goals are important, but current policies are pushing traditional forms of family travel out of reach. Gas and diesel RVs—a staple of long-distance family vacations—are being phased out. Electric RVs, where they exist, are too expensive and impractical for most families. Charging stations remain scarce, especially in rural areas, parks, and popular getaway spots—putting long-distance travel out of reach for EV users too.

Fewer Trips, Fewer Memories

Every dollar at the pump is a dollar not spent on food, parks, or hotels. And when the cost of filling up becomes a major financial burden, families skip the trips that once brought them together. These aren’t just policy debates. These are real sacrifices. Lost weekends. Missed milestones. Traditions postponed indefinitely.

For many Latino families, road trips are more than recreation. They’re a way to visit loved ones, stay connected to roots, and share cultural experiences across generations. When travel becomes unaffordable, we lose more than miles—we lose moments.

Take Action

California’s climate goals aim for sustainability, but without balancing real-world impacts, they risk hurting the very people they intend to help.

Are you one of the many Californians struggling to keep family travel traditions alive? We want to hear from you. Share your story and help us push for fair and affordable energy policies.

Join us to raise your voice and demand change.