AAA: Little Relief for Drivers as National Average Dips then Rises Again

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. – While California gas prices have dropped two cents in the past week, the average for a regular gallon of gasoline in the Golden State is $6.14, which is up 26 cents from where it was a month ago and up $1.22 from a year ago.

After five straight days of declines earlier this week, the national average is once again on its way back up. Today’s national average is a couple cents lower than last week, but with crude oil prices hovering in the $100/barrel range, pump prices remain elevated.

“The national average is about where it was in 2022, the year gas prices hit record highs,” said AAA Mountain West Group spokesperson Doug Johnson. “Travelers are preparing to hit the road in record numbers next week, and drivers will be facing the highest Memorial Day gas prices in four years.”

Fuel Prices Around the State:

San Francisco: $6.30
Oakland: $6.20
San Jose: $6.13
Sacramento: $6.08
Fresno: $6.07
Stockton: $5.98

Contra Costa Gas Prices

May 13, 2026 – $6.23
May 8, 2026 – $6.22
April 24. 2026 – $5.95
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

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.
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.

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand decreased last week from 8.81 million b/d to 8.75 million. Total domestic gasoline supply decreased from 219.8 million barrels to 215.7 million. Gasoline production increased last week, averaging 9.8 million barrels per day.

Oil Market Dynamics

At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, WTI fell $1.16 to settle at $101.02 a barrel. The EIA reports crude oil inventories decreased by 4.3 million barrels from the previous week. At 452.9 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 0.3% 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, it’s 46 cents.
State Stats

Gas

The nation’s top 10 most expensive gasoline markets are California ($6.14), Washington ($5.77), Hawaii ($5.64), Oregon ($5.34), Alaska ($5.26), Nevada ($5.23), Illinois ($5.08), Michigan ($4.89), Arizona ($4.84), and Pennsylvania ($4.65).

The nation’s top 10 least expensive gasoline markets are Mississippi ($3.99), Louisiana ($4.00), Texas ($4.00), Georgia ($4.01), Oklahoma ($4.02), Arkansas ($4.06), Alabama ($4.07), Kansas ($4.09), Tennessee ($4.13), and Nebraska ($4.13).

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 (46 cents), New Hampshire (46 cents), California (46 cents), New Jersey (45 cents), Arkansas (44 cents), Illinois (44 cents), and South Carolina (44 cents).

The nation’s top 10 least expensive states for public charging per kilowatt hour are Kansas (29 cents), Missouri (32 cents), Utah (33 cents), Maryland (33 cents), Iowa (34 cents), Nebraska (34 cents), South Dakota (34 cents), Vermont (35 cents), Delaware (37 cents), and New Mexico (37 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.

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