US Gas Price Tracker
Track and compare petrol prices across US states and regions. Shows historical price trends and predicts future cost changes.
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⚡ Fuel Efficiency Tips
- • Drive at steady speeds (55-65 mph is optimal)
- • Remove excess weight from your vehicle
- • Check tire pressure monthly
- • Use premium gas only if required
- • Avoid excessive idling
- • Keep up with regular maintenance
- • Use cruise control on highways
- • Combine multiple trips into one
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⛽ Gas Price Information
Gas prices shown here are estimates. For current prices in your area:
How US Gas Prices Are Set
Retail gas price = crude oil cost (typically 50-60% of price) + refining cost (15-20%) + distribution and marketing (10-15%) + taxes (15-25%). Federal tax: 18.4 cents/gallon (24.4 cents on diesel). State taxes range from 9 cents (Alaska) to 60+ cents (California). Local taxes add a few cents in some cities.
Crude oil prices (Brent or West Texas Intermediate) drive most weekly variation. A $10/barrel move in oil typically translates to a 25 cent change in retail gas. Refining capacity issues (Gulf hurricanes, planned maintenance) can spike regional prices independently. Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day usually has summer-driving-season premium.
State and Regional Variation
California consistently has the highest US gas prices: $4.50-5.50/gallon typically due to high state taxes plus a unique low-volatility fuel formulation that limits supply options. Hawaii also high due to import logistics. Lowest: Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Louisiana - typically $2.80-3.30/gallon. Most US states sit in the $3.00-3.80 range.
City-to-city variation within a state: typically 20-50 cents. Rural areas often pay 10-30 cents more than nearby cities (less competition, longer supply chains). Major airports often charge 50 cents+ more for convenience. Apps like GasBuddy show real-time prices and let you find the cheapest within driving distance.
When to Fill Up
Tuesday and Wednesday mornings typically have the lowest gas prices in any week (data from GasBuddy, AAA). Weekend evenings have the highest. Monthly: prices typically lowest in early to mid-month, with end-of-month sometimes higher when stations clear inventory. Annually: November through January often the lowest, May through August the highest.
Discount programs: Costco, Sam's Club, BJ's club gas typically 10-25 cents below regular stations. Grocery store fuel rewards (Kroger, Safeway, Giant) often 20-30 cents off based on grocery purchases. Credit card cash back on gas (Costco Anywhere card 4%, others 3-5%) adds another 10-20 cents/gallon savings.
Predicting Price Movements
Crude oil futures (CL on commodity exchanges) provide some forward-looking signal. WTI crude moving from $80 to $90 typically pushes retail gas up 25-30 cents over the following 2-4 weeks. Hurricane season disruptions to Gulf refineries (June-November) can cause regional spikes within days.
Geopolitical events (OPEC decisions, Middle East conflicts, sanctions) affect crude oil prices and thus retail gas. The 2022 spike to over $5/gallon nationally was driven by the Russia-Ukraine war. Long-term price pressure: declining US conventional reserves balanced by shale and import alternatives. The [US Gas Cost Calculator](/us-gas-cost-calculator) handles per-mile and trip cost math.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the price change daily?
Wholesale gasoline prices (the price stations pay for delivered fuel) move with crude oil markets daily. Stations typically update retail prices once per day, sometimes more during volatile periods. Competitive pressure within a city forces stations to track each other closely.
Are gas station prices regulated?
Mostly no. Stations set their own prices based on wholesale cost plus margin. Some states have minimum-markup laws to prevent predatory pricing. Maximum prices generally not regulated except during declared emergencies (hurricanes), when anti-gouging laws kick in.
What's behind a sudden 30-cent jump?
Common causes: refinery outage (planned or emergency), pipeline shutdown, hurricane in the Gulf, geopolitical event, OPEC production cut announcement. Local single-station spikes can also reflect a station running out of fuel and waiting for delivery. Check 2-3 stations to see if it's a station-specific or regional issue.
Will gas ever go back to $2/gallon?
Possible but unlikely in the next 5-10 years. The US average was around $2 from 2015-2020 but inflation-adjusted, that's about $2.50-2.70 today. Significant crude oil price declines (under $50/barrel) or major demand destruction could push prices below $3, but $2.00 nominally would require an oil price crash.
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