WALNUT CREEK, Calif.  – Friday marks the official start of spring, and prices at the pump continue to climb across California with the statewide average rising 25 cents since last week to $5.61. That price is 96 cents higher than this time last year.

Meanwhile the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline rose by 28 cents since last week to $3.88.

“With the spring equinox ushering in warmer weather and people spending more time on the road, gas prices are trending upward alongside seasonal demand,” said AAA Mountain West Group spokesperson Doug Johnson. “Last week’s announcement by the U.S. to release 172 million barrels of oil from its strategic reserves over four months appears to have had no immediate impact on the oil market as the price of a barrel of crude continues to climb.”

Fuel Prices Around the State: 

• San Francisco: $5.78
• Oakland: $5.64
• San Jose: $5.63
• Sacramento: $5.52
• Fresno: $5.51
• Stockton: $5.45

Contra Costa County

• March 20, 2026 – $5.70
• March 12, 2026 – $5.49
• March 6, 2026 – $4.95
• March 5, 2026 –  $4.88
• Feb 27, 2026 – $4.75
• Feb 20, 2026 – $4.73
• Feb 13, 2026 – $4.70
• Feb 6, 2026 – $4.50
• Jan 30, 2026 – $4.39
• Jan 16, 2026 – $4.23
• Jan 9, 2026 – $4.23
• Dec. 19, 2025 –  $4.31

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand decreased last week from 9.24 million b/d to 8.72 million. Total domestic gasoline supply decreased from 249.5 million barrels to 244.0 million. Gasoline production decreased last week, averaging 9.4 million barrels per day.
AAA Shares Tips to Help Drivers Save on Gas

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 pressure reduces 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 

At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, WTI rose 11 cents to settle at $96.32 a barrel. The EIA reports crude oil inventories increased by 6.2 million barrels from the previous week. At 449.3 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 1% below the five year average for this time of year.

EV Charging 

The national average per kilowatt hour of electricity at a public EV charging station remained the same this past week at 41 cents. In California, the average cost is 45 cents.

State Stats 

Gas 

The nation’s top 10 most expensive gasoline markets are California ($5.61), Washington ($5.14), Hawaii ($5.07), Oregon ($4.70), Nevada ($4.66), Arizona ($4.43), Alaska ($4.42), Illinois ($4.04), Idaho ($3.98), and District of Columbia ($3.96).

The nation’s top 10 least expensive gasoline markets are Oklahoma ($3.24), Kansas ($3.24), Iowa ($3.34), Arkansas ($3.34), North Dakota ($3.35), South Dakota ($3.36), Nebraska ($3.37), Missouri ($3.38), Minnesota ($3.43), and Mississippi ($3.48).

Electric 

The nation’s top 10 most expensive states for public charging per kilowatt hour are West Virginia (53 cents), Hawaii (51 cents), Alaska (50 cents), New Hampshire (47 cents), Louisiana (47 cents), South Carolina (46 cents), California (45 cents), New Jersey (45 cents), Arkansas (44 cents), and Idaho (43 cents).

The nation’s top 10 least expensive states for public charging per kilowatt hour are Kansas (29 cents), Missouri (31 cents), Utah (33 cents), Maryland (33 cents), Nebraska (33 cents), Iowa (34 cents), Vermont (34 cents), South Dakota (34 cents), Delaware (36 cents), and Colorado (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.

About AAA Mountain West Group
AAA Mountain West Group is a membership and full-service leisure travel organization, proudly serving over 6.8 million Members across Alaska, Arizona, Montana, Nevada, Northern California, Utah, and Wyoming. Named one of Forbes’ Most Trusted Companies in America, AAA delivers unmatched expertise and value through roadside assistance and electric vehicle (EV) resources, along with comprehensive auto repair, travel, insurance, financial, and home security services. Powered by 5,300 dedicated Team Members, AAA is on a mission to revolutionize solutions that help our Members.

Previous

• March 13, 2026 – AAA: Rising Pump Prices, Higher Gas Demand as Spring Break Begins
• March 6, 2026 – AAA: Jump at the Pump as California Average Climbs 18 Cents
• Feb 27, 2026 – AAA: California Seeing Seasonal Shift Toward Rising Gas Prices
• Feb 20, 2026 – AAA: Pump Prices Holding Steady For Now
• Feb 13, 2026 – AAA: Gas Prices Tick Up Heading into Holiday Weekend