AAA Weekly Fuel Report
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (September 24, 2026) - The average for a gallon of regular gasoline in California continues trending upward, jumping 15 cents in the past week to $6.23. Compared to last month, the state average has risen by 61 cents – and it’s now $1.58 higher than last year. Nationwide pump prices continue to climb with the average for a gallon of regular gasoline up nearly 5 cents from last week. At $4.48 per gallon, this is the highest the national average has ever been for this time of year.
“Typically, the start of autumn brings lower gas prices, but lingering volatility in the Strait of Hormuz and the high cost of crude oil are driving up pump prices,” said Doug Johnson, spokesperson for AAA Mountain West Group. “This month is on track to set a new September record nationally. So far, the national average for this month is $4.30, higher than the previous September record of $3.83 set in 2023.”
Fuel Prices Around the State:
San Francisco: $6.40
Oakland: $6.28
San Jose: $6.23
Sacramento: $6.17
Fresno: $6.24
Stockton: $6.10
Modesto: $6.04
AAA Shares Tips to Help Drivers Save on Gas
- Save on gas. Use the AAA Mobile App to find the cheapest gas stations along your route, plan your trip, request roadside assistance, and more. AAA Members can save 30¢ per gallon on your first fill-up at participating stations when you join Shell® Fuel Rewards®. All AAA Shell Fuel Rewards® Members save 5¢ per gallon on their fill-ups of up to 20 gallons at participating stations with complimentary Gold Status. Terms and conditions apply. Visit AAA.com/Shell for full details.
- Avoid Speeding: Fuel economy peaks at around 50 mph on most cars, then drops off as speeds increase. Driving the recommended speed limit can increase fuel economy between 7 and 14 percent.
- Regular vs. Premium: Pay close attention to the words “recommended” and “required.” If regular gas is recommended for your vehicle, that’s all you need. Choosing premium when your car doesn’t require it will only cost you money and doesn’t improve fuel economy.
- Remove unnecessary weight from your vehicle (e.g., trunk, cargo area, etc. ) as weight increases the amount of effort it takes to move the vehicle.
- Avoid Excessive Idling: When idling, car engines use up to one-half gallons of fuel per hour. Warm engines take about 10 seconds worth of fuel to restart. Shut off your engine when stopped for more than a minute and if it's safe to do so.
- Check Tire Pressure and Align Tires: Maintaining proper tire pressurereduces your tire's friction with the road. Less friction means less energy is needed to move, resulting in using less gas. Proper inflation can improve gas mileage by 0.6 percent on average.
Oil Market Dynamics
According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand increased last week from 8.79 million barrels per day to 8.84 million. Total domestic gasoline supply decreased from 207.7 million barrels to 206 million. Gasoline production decreased slightly from 9.64 million barrels to 9.59 million.
At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, WTI rose $1.64 to settle at $92.16 per barrel. The EIA reports that U.S. crude oil inventories increased 3 million barrels to 426.4 million barrels, 2% above the five-year average.
EV Charging
The national average per kilowatt hour of electricity at a public EV charging station stayed the same this past week at 42 cents. In California, the average per kilowatt hour of electricity is 47 cents.
State Stats
Gas
The nation’s top 10 most expensive gasoline markets are California ($6.23), Hawaii ($5.57), Washington ($5.54), Nevada ($5.36), Oregon ($5.09), Alaska ($5.06), Idaho ($5.00), Utah ($4.98), Illinois ($4.85), and Michigan ($4.80).
The nation's top 10 least expensive gasoline markets are Texas ($3.95), Indiana ($3.96), Mississippi ($3.99), Louisiana ($4.03), South Carolina ($4.04), Tennessee ($4.06), Arkansas ($4.06), Alabama ($4.08), Georgia ($4.10), and Oklahoma ($4.11).
Electric
The nation’s top 10 most expensive states for public charging per kilowatt hourare Hawaii (53 cents), West Virginia (52 cents), Alaska (48 cents), Louisiana (47 cents), California (47 cents), New Hampshire (46 cents), New Jersey (45 cents), North Dakota (44 cents), Arkansas (44 cents), and Arizona (44 cents).
The nation’s top 10 least expensive states for public charging per kilowatt hourare Kansas (31 cents), Missouri (33 cents), Iowa (33 cents), Nebraska (34 cents), Maryland (35 cents), South Dakota (35 cents), Utah (35 cents), Vermont (36 cents), Minnesota (37 cents), and Delaware (38 cents).
Drivers can find current gas and electric charging prices along their route using the AAA Mobile App, now available on CarPlay. Find current fuel prices at GasPrices.AAA.com. Find local news releases at mwg.aaa.com/news/press-release.
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About AAA Mountain West Group
For over a century, AAA Mountain West Group (MWG) has served as a mission-driven, member-centric organization. Guided by its mission of People Helping People and powered by 5,400 dedicated team members, MWG delivers exceptional roadside assistance, auto repair, travel planning, financial and insurance services, home security, and exclusive member discounts. With a vision focused on creating Members for Life, MWG guides Members through every stage of their journey, serving more than 6.9 million people throughout Alaska, Arizona, Nevada, Northern California, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming. Recognized by Forbes as one of the Most Trusted Companies in America, AAA has grown into one of the largest and most trusted membership organizations in North America. To learn more about AAA MWG, visit mwg.aaa.com.
