MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Usually the price at the pump begins to climb as the summer vacation season nears.

This year the price increases have gotten a bit of a head start even as the price of wholesale oil has dropped.

The American Automobile Association reports pump prices began to climb after Iran threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz.

Coupled with U.S. demands as refineries shutdown for maintenance (and to switch blends) and the usual spring/summer spike, we could see a spike of 60-cents or more in the coming months.

In the last month the price at the pump in Florida has jumped nationwide about 17 cents to $3.60 on average for a gallon of regular unleaded. Last year at this time, that same gallon was running around $3.12.

In Miami-Dade and Ft. Lauderdale, drivers have seen the price at the pump jump about 20 cents in the last month to an average of $3.66 for a gallon of unleaded regular.

Last year at this time regular unleaded gas averaged $3.18 and $3.16 a gallon respectively for Miami and Ft. Lauderdale.

Check out the cheapest gas prices in your neighborhood at FloridaGasPrices.com.

Pensacola, where unleaded regular is averaging $3.47 a gallon, is the cheapest places in the state to fill up.

West Palm Beach is the most expensive place to top off the tank; regular unleaded is averaging $3.68 a gallon.