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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- It has been a good year so far for Colorado drivers who are enjoying some of the lowest gas prices in the country.

Currently in Colorado Springs a gallon of regular unleaded is hovering right around $2.85.

Compare that to the national average of $3.29.

The extra cash putting a smile on a lot of people's faces, and lightening the mood at one local 7-Eleven/Sinclair station located at Academy and Constitution.

"You come to get some of my cheap Sinclair gasoline today," Joseph, a 7-Eleven employee, said to a group of customers Monday. "It is $2.83 a gallon...shhh."

Joesph's customers heard right, as a gallon of regular unleaded in Colorado is a dollar less than it was this time last year.

Drivers are of course loving it, some saving $5, $10, $15 and even $20 for a full tank.

"Huge difference in comparison to this time last year, last year was horrible," Colorado Springs resident Ben Trigg said. "We had two vehicles and one was a six cylinder, so yeah it was rough."

So why the decline in cost?

According to AAA Colorado, gas prices will be less expensive in 2013 because of increased domestic oil production, and lower demand.

Meanwhile others have their own ideas.

"I know you are a busy man Mr. Barack Obama, so I will let you go party at the inauguration, but again thanks for the low prices," Joseph said while pretending to talk to the president on the phone.

In all seriousness, the dip in price is great for local drivers.

Many of which said it was tough to fill-up when prices were hovering around $4.

"We have a new car and this is my first fill-up, so I am going to check the mileage when I get home," Colorado Springs resident Bill Vigna said.

"Last week when it was down to 60 cents, that was great," Trigg said.

"There was one day regular was down to $2.67, and we ran out of gas," Joseph said.