Drivers in the city and across the nation are being hit with record high prices at the pump.

Gas prices are the highest ever for this time of year and experts say they will only continue to rise.

The national average for a gallon of regular hit $3.57, up more than a quarter since January 1.

Prices in New York are even higher.

The current average in the city is $3.96, up 15 percent from a year ago.

One Gulf station off the Long Island Expressway in Queens had drivers paying $4.59 for a gallon of regular, while another Gulf in Forest Hills was much lower at $3.89.

Motorists who spoke with NY1 say they are not happy having to pay more to fill up the tank.

"It stinks because now with the tolls going up and the gas, it will probably cost me about 70 or 80 dollars to get it back up there," said one driver.

"It's definitely making it hard on commuters, you know. Today's economy, you know, everything is not the same as it used to be a couple years ago, a few months ago. These gas prices are really just killing everyone's wallets and bottom lines," noted another driver.

The price at the pump already has drivers looking ahead to summer driving season, when some have predicted gas could hit $5 a gallon.

"We had a trip actually planned to Florida, but with these gas prices we may have to cancel it," said one driver.

"I was thinking of a road trip to like Ocean City or something but, we'll see," said another driver.

The surge in prices follows an increase in the price of crude oil which is partly due to Iran's threats to close the Strait of Hormuz.