"The price of diesel usually fluctuates," she said. "But it seems to be staying the same. It usually changes from place to place, but it's the same price wherever you go."

King Coal Tours, of Kulpmont, is having a banner year, according to Jonathan Else, vice president.

"Business has never been better, but fuel prices are killing us," he said.

While trying to price tours fairly, he continued, the cost may be outpricing customers.

"Competition regulates our prices," he said. "People are sort of hunkering down, I think, because they're scared about what may happen."

"They may decide they can't afford the trip to Atlantic City or that Phillies game," he said.

Fortunately for King Coal, its retail vacation trips, such as weeklong tours to Yellowstone National Park or coastal Maine, are doing pretty well, Else said.

He said in June 2007, diesel fuel was about $2.89 a gallon, and today, the price ranges from $4.89 to $5.02 a gallon.

"We try to anticipate and plan for a rise in fuel costs, but who would have imagined it going up this much?"