WALNUT CREEK, Calif. – Labor Day weekend travelers are facing the highest gas prices ever for this time of year. Statewide, Californians are paying an average of $5.78 per gallon, an increase of 15 cents from a week ago. The national average is $4.14, up 4 cents from last week.

“Continued volatility in the Strait of Hormuz has pushed crude oil prices in the $90 per barrel range. After a record-setting August, this Labor Day weekend is on track to also set a record at the pump,” said Doug Johnson, AAA Mountain West Group spokesperson. “The national average has never been above $4 per gallon on Labor Day.”

The current Labor Day record is $3.82, set on September 3, 2012. Even though gasoline demand decreases this time of year, typically bringing down gas prices, this year is different due to the high cost of crude oil.

Fuel Prices Around the State:

San Francisco: $5.91
Oakland: $5.79
San Jose: $5.74
Sacramento: $5.70
Fresno: $5.73
Stockton: $5.64
Modesto: $5.57

Contra Costa Gas Prices

Sept. 4, 2026 – $5.80
Aug. 28, 2026 – $5.63
Aug. 20, 2026 – $5.56
Aug. 14, 2026 – $5.54
Aug. 7, 2026 – $5.58
July 24, 2026 – $5.58
July 10, 2026 – $5.44
July 3, 2026 – $5.45
June 25, 2026 – $5.57
June 18, 2026 – $5.71
May 29, 2026 – $6.17
May 8, 2026 – $6.22
April 9, 2026 – $5.99
March 20, 2026 – $5.70
March 12, 2026 – $5.49
March 6, 2026 – $4.95
Feb 13, 2026 – $4.70
Jan 30, 2026 – $4.39
Jan 9, 2026 – $4.23
Dec. 19, 2025 – $4.31

California average gas prices

	Regular	Mid-Grade	Premium	Diesel
Current Avg.	$5.8078	$6.0342	$6.2253	$7.7094
Yesterday Avg.	$5.7820	$6.0096	$6.1986	$7.6034
Week Ago Avg.	$5.6469	$5.8809	$6.0726	$7.2196
Month Ago Avg.	$5.6482	$5.8813	$6.0722	$6.9179
Year Ago Avg.	$4.6054	$4.8390	$5.0188	$5.1381

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand decreased last week from 9.04 million barrels per day to 8.92 million. Total domestic gasoline supply decreased from 206.8 million barrels to 205.7 million. Gasoline production stayed the same as last week, averaging 9.8 million barrels per day.

At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, WTI rose 79 cents to settle at $91.01 a barrel. The EIA reports that crude oil inventories decreased by 4.5 million barrels from the previous week. At 424.5 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are 1% 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 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 ($5.78), Washington ($5.47), Hawaii ($5.41), Oregon ($4.98), Alaska ($4.96), Nevada ($4.91), Idaho ($4.62), Arizona ($4.52), Utah ($4.42), and Montana ($4.38).

The nation’s top 10 least expensive gasoline markets are Indiana ($3.44), Texas ($3.69), Oklahoma ($3.71), Mississippi ($3.71), Louisiana ($3.75), Arkansas ($3.77), South Carolina ($3.78), Kansas ($3.78), Alabama ($3.79), and Wisconsin ($3.80).

Electric

The nation’s top 10 most expensive states for public charging per kilowatt hour are West Virginia (52 cents), Hawaii (51 cents), Alaska (49 cents), Louisiana (47 cents), California (47 cents), New Hampshire (47 cents), Illinois (45 cents), New Jersey (45 cents), Arkansas (44 cents), and North Dakota (44 cents).

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