WALNUT CREEK, Calif. – Gas prices saw a marginal dip in California, dropping two cents since last week to $5.84 for a gallon of gasoline. Despite the dip, drivers are paying $1.03 more than this time last year.
Nationwide, drivers are getting a bit of relief at the pump as the national average went down by 6 cents since last week to $4.03. Currently, pump prices are the highest they’ve been during this time of year since 2022, when the national average on April 23 was $4.11.
“Crude oil prices have come down below $100/barrel, helping drive down the cost of gasoline for consumers,” said AAA Mountain West Group spokesperson Doug Johnson. “Whether this downward trend will persist remains in question with the continued instability along the Strait of Hormuz.”
Fuel Prices Around the State:
- San Francisco: $5.99
- Oakland: $5.88
- San Jose: $5.81
- Sacramento: $5.75
- Fresno: $5.72
- Stockton: $5.64
Contra Costa County
- April 24. 2026 – $
- April 17, 2026 – $5.94
- April 9, 2026 – $5.99
- April 3, 2026 – $5.94
- March 27, 2026 – $5.88
- 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
California average gas prices
| Regular | Mid-Grade | Premium | Diesel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Avg. | $5.884 | $6.120 | $6.302 | $7.484 |
| Yesterday Avg. | $5.847 | $6.086 | $6.270 | $7.487 |
| Week Ago Avg. | $5.856 | $6.094 | $6.280 | $7.600 |
| Month Ago Avg. | $5.822 | $6.047 | $6.241 | $7.018 |
| Year Ago Avg. | $4.807 | $5.023 | $5.197 | $4.998 |
AAA Shares Tips to Help Drivers Save on Gas
- Take Advantage Of Fuel Rewards: AAA members can save at the pump over Spring Break by signing up for Shell Fuel Rewards®. Members who register now through April 30 will get 35¢/gallon off their first fill at participating Shell stations, and all AAA Fuel Rewards members will save 10¢/gallon during that time period, which is an additional 5¢/gallon compared to the standard Fuel Rewards discount.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand decreased last week from 9.08 million b/d to 9.05 million. Total domestic gasoline supply decreased from 232.9 million barrels to 228.4 million. Gasoline production in-creased last week, averaging 10.1 million barrels per day.
Oil Market Dynamics
At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, WTI rose $3.29 to settle at $92.96 a barrel. The EIA reports crude oil inventories increased by 1.9 million barrels from the previous week. At 465.7 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 3% above 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 went down by one cent this past week to 40 cents. In California the average is 43 cents.
State Stats
Gas
The nation’s top 10 most expensive gasoline markets are California ($5.84), Hawaii ($5.65), Washington ($5.39), Oregon ($4.99), Nevada ($4.96), Alaska ($4.66), Arizona ($4.61), Idaho ($4.32), Washington, DC ($4.28), and Illinois ($4.27).
The nation’s top 10 least expensive gasoline markets are Oklahoma ($3.40), Kansas ($3.47), Iowa ($3.50), Georgia ($3.56), Arkansas ($3.56), North Dakota ($3.60), Texas ($3.60), Missouri ($3.61), Nebraska ($3.63), and Minnesota ($3.63).
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), Louisiana (47 cents), South Carolina (45 cents), Arkansas (44 cents), New Hampshire (43 cents), Idaho (43 cents), California (43 cents), and Alabama (43 cents).
The nation’s top 10 least expensive states for public charging per kilowatt hour are Kansas (25 cents), Maryland (30 cents), Missouri (30 cents), Nebraska (30 cents), Utah (32 cents), Iowa (34 cents), South Dakota (35 cents), Vermont (35 cents), Delaware (36 cents), and Colorado (36 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 one of the most trusted membership organizations, 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
- April 17, 2026 – AAA: Drivers See Small Break as Gas Prices Tick Lower
- April 10: California Pump Prices Climbing as Crude Oil Remains High
- April 3, 2026 – For the First Time in Four Years, National Average Exceeds $4/Gallon
- March 27, 2026 – California Gas Prices Jump One Dollar Twenty One Cents in One Month
- March 20 – California Gas Prices Continue to Climb
- 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