MIAMI (CBS4) – The price at the pump continued to fall over the long Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Nationwide, gas prices have dropped about 20 cents in the last month from $3.78 to an average of 3.58 for a gallon of regular unleaded, according to GasBuddy.com.  In Florida, the price drop has also been about 20 cents in the last month to the current average of $3.50 a gallon, according to the American Automobile Association.

Last week the Department of Energy announced that it was going to open the government's strategic stockpiles for a non-disruption event.  This will be the first time since 2008 that a significant amount of oil will be taken from the strategic reserves because of an economic slowdown and high oil prices.

In Miami-Dade, drivers have seen the price at the pump nearly 20 cents in the last month.  Unleaded regular is averaging $3.65 a gallon; down from $3.83 a month ago. A year ago, the price of unleaded regular in the area averaged $2.77 a gallon.  Miami-Dade is the most expensive place to fill up in the state.

In Ft. Lauderdale drivers are paying about $3.62 on average for a gallon of regular unleaded compared to $3.81 a gallon a moth ago. Last year at this time regular unleaded averaged $2.74 a gallon.

Orlando gas stations have some of the cheapest prices in the state, unleaded regular is averaging $3.40 a gallon.

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