Average Gas Prices by State and Year
Table of Contents
Gas prices hit new highs in 2022 before falling throughout 2024 and 2025. They then spiked in early 2026 but have been dropping and are expected to continue to fall in 2027., Keep reading to learn more about historical gas prices, get a sense of how things have changed over time, and learn tips for finding cheap gas in your area.
Key Points
• As of August 2026, Indiana has the cheapest gas prices in the country.
• Gas prices are expected to drop in 2026 and 2027.
• Lower gas prices are typically found on Mondays and Sundays.
• Apps such as GasBuddy and AAA help users find cheaper gas stations.
• Costco and Sam’s Club offer discounts on gas to members.
Why Gas Prices Are Falling in 2026
As anyone who’s gone to the pump in the past couple of years knows, filling up isn’t as cheap as it used to be. Although gas prices were steadily decreasing from the mid-2022 peak, they remained stubbornly higher than before the pandemic. In 2026, gas prices spiked, reaching a peak of $4.48 in May, largely due to the rising demand for gasoline and the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Over the past few months, amid optimism that the Strait of Hormuz would resume normal operations, prices have been dropping, but they remain around 26% higher than they were last year.
Thankfully for drivers, gas prices are expected to continue to fall as inventories rebuild. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), prices at the pump will average around $3.40 per gallon in quarter four of 2026, and the annual average price of gas is expected to drop even more — to $3.10 per gallon — in 2027.
If fill-ups are putting a dent in your wallet, consider using a money tracker to monitor spending and create budgets.
Average Price by State for Regular Unleaded in August 2026
Data is courtesy of AAA.
| State | Unleaded Price in August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $3.61 |
| Alaska | $4.78 |
| Arizona | $4.32 |
| Arkansas | $3.62 |
| California | $5.59 |
| Colorado | $4.25 |
| Connecticut | $4.11 |
| Delaware | $3.97 |
| Florida | $3.90 |
| Georgia | $3.78 |
| Hawaii | $5.45 |
| Idaho | $4.37 |
| Illinois | $4.23 |
| Indiana | $3.48 |
| Iowa | $3.70 |
| Kansas | $3.72 |
| Kentucky | $3.56 |
| Louisiana | $3.56 |
| Maine | $4.04 |
| Maryland | $4.00 |
| Massachusetts | $4.04 |
| Michigan | $4.12 |
| Minnesota | $3.92 |
| Mississippi | $3.59 |
| Missouri | $3.68 |
| Montana | $4.23 |
| Nebraska | $3.87 |
| Nevada | $4.76 |
| New Hampshire | $3.99 |
| New Jersey | $4.01 |
| New Mexico | $3.95 |
| New York | $4.15 |
| North Carolina | $3.66 |
| North Dakota | $3.86 |
| Ohio | $3.91 |
| Oklahoma | $3.57 |
| Oregon | $4.67 |
| Pennsylvania | $4.10 |
| Rhode Island | $3.97 |
| South Carolina | $3.53 |
| South Dakota | $3.93 |
| Tennessee | $3.57 |
| Texas | $3.54 |
| Utah | $4.34 |
| Vermont | $4.12 |
| Virginia | $3.80 |
| Washington | $5.14 |
| West Virginia | $3.83 |
| Wisconsin | $3.84 |
| Wyoming | $4.19 |
Average Price by State for Premium in August 2026
Data is courtesy of AAA.
| State | Premium Price in August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $4.49 |
| Alaska | $5.25 |
| Arizona | $5.06 |
| Arkansas | $4.47 |
| California | $6.01 |
| Colorado | $5.00 |
| Connecticut | $5.12 |
| Delaware | $4.89 |
| Florida | $4.72 |
| Georgia | $4.68 |
| Hawaii | $5.96 |
| Idaho | $4.95 |
| Illinois | $5.33 |
| Indiana | $4.61 |
| Iowa | $4.55 |
| Kansas | $4.45 |
| Kentucky | $4.54 |
| Louisiana | $4.42 |
| Maine | $5.07 |
| Maryland | $4.96 |
| Massachusetts | $5.08 |
| Michigan | $5.34 |
| Minnesota | $4.86 |
| Mississippi | $4.43 |
| Missouri | $4.41 |
| Montana | $4.90 |
| Nebraska | $4.58 |
| Nevada | $5.36 |
| New Hampshire | $5.03 |
| New Jersey | $4.89 |
| New Mexico | $4.73 |
| New York | $5.09 |
| North Carolina | $4.52 |
| North Dakota | $4.61 |
| Ohio | $4.99 |
| Oklahoma | $4.28 |
| Oregon | $5.24 |
| Pennsylvania | $4.95 |
| Rhode Island | $5.11 |
| South Carolina | $4.38 |
| South Dakota | $4.68 |
| Tennessee | $4.44 |
| Texas | $4.40 |
| Utah | $4.87 |
| Vermont | $5.14 |
| Virginia | $4.69 |
| Washington | $5.66 |
| West Virginia | $4.71 |
| Wisconsin | $5.03 |
| Wyoming | $4.78 |
Average Price by State for Diesel Gas in August 2026
Data is courtesy of AAA.
| State | Diesel Price in August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $5.07 |
| Alaska | $5.45 |
| Arizona | $5.52 |
| Arkansas | $4.90 |
| California | $6.86 |
| Colorado | $5.46 |
| Connecticut | $5.50 |
| Delaware | $5.25 |
| Florida | $5.37 |
| Georgia | $5.30 |
| Hawaii | $6.99 |
| Idaho | $5.37 |
| Illinois | $5.27 |
| Indiana | $5.34 |
| Iowa | $4.99 |
| Kansas | $4.86 |
| Kentucky | $4.92 |
| Louisiana | $4.95 |
| Maine | $5.51 |
| Maryland | $5.40 |
| Massachusetts | $5.44 |
| Michigan | $5.32 |
| Minnesota | $5.07 |
| Mississippi | $4.96 |
| Missouri | $4.87 |
| Montana | $5.06 |
| Nebraska | $4.92 |
| Nevada | $5.69 |
| New Hampshire | $5.38 |
| New Jersey | $5.36 |
| New Mexico | $5.22 |
| New York | $5.60 |
| North Carolina | $5.22 |
| North Dakota | $4.96 |
| Ohio | $5.24 |
| Oklahoma | $4.75 |
| Oregon | $5.50 |
| Pennsylvania | $5.59 |
| Rhode Island | $5.33 |
| South Carolina | $5.09 |
| South Dakota | $4.89 |
| Tennessee | $4.99 |
| Texas | $4.90 |
| Utah | $5.38 |
| Vermont | $5.42 |
| Virginia | $5.29 |
| Washington | $6.15 |
| West Virginia | $5.07 |
| Wisconsin | $5.04 |
| Wyoming | $5.21 |
Average US Gas Price 1978 to 2025
Data is courtesy of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| Year | Average Gas Price |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $3.40 |
| 2024 | $3.58 |
| 2023 | $3.77 |
| 2022 | $4.19 |
| 2021 | $3.13 |
| 2020 | $2.24 |
| 2019 | $2.70 |
| 2018 | $2.79 |
| 2017 | $2.47 |
| 2016 | $2.20 |
| 2015 | $2.51 |
| 2014 | $3.43 |
| 2013 | $3.58 |
| 2012 | $3.70 |
| 2011 | $3.58 |
| 2010 | $2.84 |
| 2009 | $2.40 |
| 2008 | $3.32 |
| 2007 | $2.85 |
| 2006 | $2.64 |
| 2005 | $2.34 |
| 2004 | $1.92 |
| 2003 | $1.64 |
| 2002 | $1.44 |
| 2001 | $1.53 |
| 2000 | $1.56 |
| 1999 | $1.22 |
| 1998 | $1.12 |
| 1997 | $1.29 |
| 1996 | $1.29 |
| 1995 | $1.21 |
| 1994 | $1.17 |
| 1993 | $1.17 |
| 1992 | $1.19 |
| 1991 | $1.20 |
| 1990 | $1.22 |
| 1989 | $1.06 |
| 1988 | $0.96 |
| 1987 | $0.96 |
| 1986 | $0.93 |
| 1985 | $1.20 |
| 1984 | $1.20 |
| 1983 | $1.23 |
| 1982 | $1.28 |
| 1981 | $1.35 |
| 1980 | $1.22 |
| 1979 | $0.88 |
| 1978 | $0.65 |
Tips for Finding Cheap Gas Stations in Your State
Here are a few ways to find the cheapest gas in the nearby area and save money on your gas bill:
• Use an app such as GasBuddy to locate the lowest nearby price. The app lets drivers search by gas type, payment type, the brand of gas station, and other factors. The app also offers GasBack, which lets you earn free gas when shopping at certain brands, a paid subscription, and more.,,
• Check the AAA gas price monitoring website, which gets updated every day. Drivers can search by state and county to find the best prices.
• Look at the gas prices on Google Maps and Waze. When you search for gas stations within their maps, the price of gas at local stations will pop up. Although you can’t filter by price or automatically see the lowest price, it’s fairly easy to look around and find the cheapest option.
• Use Upside to compare gas prices near you and earn cash back every time you fill up your tank.,
• Get Costco or Sam’s Club membership to get discounts on gas as well as the ability to buy in bulk., It’s often the cheapest refilling option for club members.
• Fill up on a day of the week that tends to have lower prices. Generally, Monday is the cheapest, followed by Sunday, while Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday are the most expensive days.
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The Takeaway
Gas prices go up and down in response to a variety of global and domestic factors. But there are a few ways to source the best deals on gas and stay within your budget, including apps and membership-only retailers.
Take control of your finances with SoFi. With our financial insights and credit score monitoring tools, you can view all of your accounts in one convenient dashboard. From there, you can see your various balances, spending breakdowns, and credit score. Plus you can easily set up budgets and discover valuable financial insights — all at no cost.
FAQ
What was the price of gas in 1980?
In 1980, the average price of gas was $1.22. That is equivalent to $5.24 in 2026 dollars.
What year were gas prices the highest?
In June 2022, gas prices in the U.S. hit an all-time high of $4.93. The average gas price for 2022 was $4.19.
How much did gas cost in the 90s?
In the 1990s, gas cost between $1.12 and $1.29 per gallon. The average for the decade was $1.21, which is around $2.46 in today’s money.
What year were gas prices the lowest
Between 1978 and 2025, 1978 recorded the lowest gas prices, at $0.65 per gallon. That comes out to $3.47 in today’s prices.
When will the price of gas go down?
While gas prices spiked in early 2026, they have been going down and are expected to continue dropping in 2027. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, they will average around $3.40 per gallon in Q4 2026 and fall to about $3.10 per gallon the following year.
Photo credit: iStock/skodonnell
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