California has highest gas prices in the nation, AAA says. Here’s where to fuel up for less

California residents pay more for gas than anywhere else in the nation — and fuel prices are steadily rising, according to data from AAA.

As of Friday, the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in California was $4.84, the automobile association said.

That’s 5 cents more than the previous week, and an increase of almost 40 cents since January.

In contrast, the national average cost of a gallon of gas was $3.16 on Friday, AAA said.

Drivers of electric vehicles can expect to pay 35 cents on average per kilowatt hour of electricity at a public EV charging station, AAA said, compared to the national average of 34 cents.

How does California compare to other states? And why is gas so expensive right now?

Here’s what to know:

Does California have most expensive gas in US?

California had the highest average gas prices in the United States as of Friday, according to AAA.

“Drivers in the Golden State are continuing to pay more at the pump than in any other state,” the automobile association said in a Thursday, Feb. 20, news release.

Hawaii had the second highest fuel prices in the nation as of Friday, AAA said, and Washington state came in third place.

As of Friday, these were the 10 states and districts paying the most for gas:

1. California: $4.84 per gallon of regular gasoline
2. Hawaii: $4.55
3. Washington: $4.14
4. Nevada: $3.87
5. Oregon: $3.77
6. Alaska: $3.45
7. Arizona: $3.41
8. Pennsylvania: $3.36
9. Illinois: $3.27
10. Washington, D.C.: $3.25

Which US states have most affordable gas?

As of Friday, AAA said, the 10 states with the least expensive gasoline were:

1. Mississippi: $2.67 per gallon of regular gasoline
2. Louisiana: $2.75
3. Tennessee: $2.76
4. Texas: $2.76
5. Oklahoma: $2.78
6. Kentucky: $2.78
7. Alabama: $2.79
8. Arkansas: $2.82
9. Kansas: $2.83
10. Missouri: $2.84

Why are California gas prices so high?

Various factors feed into California’s sky-high gas prices, according to experts.

One cause of rising fuel costs is “ongoing repairs and maintenance at many California refineries, and production of summer blend gasoline,” AAA said in its Thursday release. “Bay Area refining capacity is now half of its 2019 levels.”

California’s high gas taxes also “(push) up the price of gasoline at the pump,” said Derek Stimel, associate economics professor at UC Davis.

“We also have very strict environmental regulations about the type of gas that we produce in the state so it’s expensive for refineries to produce,” Stimel told the Fresno Bee. “That adds to the cost and the price.”

A lack of new refinery capacity in California also affects “the supply of gasoline and the overall cost,” Stimel said.

“We’re very much a car culture in California. A driving culture,” he explained. “So the demand for gas ... is usually pretty high as well.”

Which California counties have cheapest, priciest gas?

As of Friday, the cheapest California county to fuel up your car was Imperial County near the southeast border of the state, according to AAA.

Regular gas cost $4.55 a gallon in Imperial County on Friday, the automobile association said.

Mono County in Central California had the priciest regular gas in the Golden State as of Friday, with an average of $5.81 per gallon, AAA said.

Where to find cheapest gas in Sacramento?

These were the top five places to find the most affordable gas in the city of Sacramento as of Friday, Feb. 21, according to gas price app GasBuddy:

• Quik Stop, 3700 Auburn Blvd. in Sacramento: $4.09 per gallon of regular gasoline
• Orbit, 4716 Auburn Blvd. in Sacramento: $4.19
• Fastrip, 8061 Florin Road in Sacramento: $4.21
• Aria Gas and Food Mart, 3500 Watt Ave. in Sacramento: $4.39
• Walmart, 8901 Gerber Road in Sacramento: $4.33

Who has most affordable gas in Modesto?

These were the top three places to find the most affordable gas in the Modesto area as of Friday, according to GasBuddy:

• Star Gas, West F St. in Oakdale: $4.19 per gallon of regular gasoline
• Sinclair, 2805 Earl St. in Modesto: $4.27
• Bonfare Market, 145 North Santa Cruz Ave. in Modesto: $4.29

What’s the best place to fuel up in Fresno?

These were the top five places to find the most affordable gas in the Fresno area as of Friday, according to GasBuddy:

• Fastrip Fuel and Vallee Foods, 2290 West Tahoe St. in Caruthers: $3.95 per gallon of regular gasoline
• EZ Trip, 2171 West Shaw Ave. in Fresno: $4.05
• Fuel UP!, 4994 East Ashlan Ave in Fresno: $4.15
• Walmart, 14037 West Whitesbridge Ave. in Kerman: $4.16
• Sinclair, 1014 East Bullard Ave. in Fresno: $4.17

Which stations have find cheapest gas in Merced?

These were the top five places to find the most affordable gas in the Merced area as of Friday, according to GasBuddy:

• Star Gas and Mart, 1970 East Childs Ave. in Merced: $3.99 per gallon of regular gasoline
• Delhi Gas and Food Mart, 9772 Stephens St. in Delhi: $4.19
• Quik Stop, 401 Joseph Gallo Court in Livingston: $4.25
• Delhi 5 Star, 15406 August Ave. in Delhi: $4.27
• Sinclair, 1063 East Pacheco Blvd. in Los Banos: $4.36

Where to find cheapest gas in SLO

These were the top four places to find the most affordable gas in the San Luis Obispo area as of Friday, according to GasBuddy:

• Costco, 1540 Froom Ranch Way in San Luis Obispo: $4.49 per gallon of regular gasoline
• Shell, 9155 San Gabriel Road in Atascadero: $4.53
• The Tote, 1798 Main St. in Morro Bay: $4.55
• Sinclair, 940 Morro Bay Blvd. in Morro Bay: $4.57

Fernanda Galan

The Fresno Bee

559-441-6005

Fernanda Galan covers Central Valley and California news as The Fresno Bee’s service journalism reporter. Before joining The Bee in 2024, she reported in Milwaukee, Arizona and Los Angeles. She is a graduate of Arizona State’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.