What are gas prices in California right now? See current costs in your city
Gas prices are on the rise across California, with average costs surpassing $5 a gallon within the span of a week.
Doug Johnson, a spokesperson for AAA, previously told The Sacramento Bee that gas prices are rising “all over the map.”
What are current gas prices in California?
Here’s what to know:
How much is gas in California?
As of Thursday, March 12, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in California was about $5.37, according to AAA.
Just a week earlier, the average price was $4.81 per gallon.
That is more than a 50-cent difference within the span of seven days.
Around this time in 2025, California drivers were paying about $4.68 a gallon.
Although the U.S. Energy Information Administration had previously predicted that gas prices in 2026 would be about 6% lower than in 2025, Johnson said recent events have changed that outlook.
Iran war causes gas prices to rise across US
Gas prices across the country, including California, have increased in recent days due to conflict in the Middle East — and experts say they could keep rising as tensions with Iran escalate, according to AAA.
“The conflict in the Middle East has sent crude oil prices higher,” AAA said in a recent news release.
Crude oil is the main ingredient used to make gasoline and diesel, so when oil prices rise, drivers usually feel it at the pump.
Roughly half of what you pay at the pump comes from the cost of crude oil, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
“Crude oil prices play a major role in what drivers pay at the pump, and prices have surpassed the $100/barrel mark multiple times in recent days,” AAA said.
Crude oil briefly surged to about $119.50 per barrel on Monday, March 9, according to the Associated Press. Business Insider reports that prices have dropped to a little over $99, as of Thursday morning.
Even though the United States does not import oil from Iran, Johnson said, the conflict can still affect global supply.
What is causing California gas prices to rise?
While “a large majority” of the jump has been a result of the conflict in the Middle East, Johnson said, other factors are also pushing prices higher in California.
“Gasoline demand increases this time of year as the weather warms up and more drivers hit the road,” AAA said.
California refineries are beginning the annual switch to summer-blend gasoline, which is more expensive to produce.
The Golden State requires all gas stations to sell the seasonal fuel starting April 1, and the change typically leads to higher prices at the pump.
Refinery changes are also limiting supply on the West Coast.
Johnson said that Phillips 66 shut down in late 2025, and the Valero Benicia Refinery is set to close.
How much does gas cost in my California city?
As of Thursday, stations in several California cities were selling regular gas for less than the statewide average of $5.37 a gallon.
Northern California had some of the cheapest fuel costs, with a gallon of regular gas averaging $5.05 in Yuba City, $5.16 in Chico and $5.18 in Redding.
As of Thursday, these were the average prices per gallon for regular gas at metropolitan areas around California:
- Bakersfield: $5.26 per gallon
- Chico-Paradise: $5.16
- El Centro: $5.14
- Fresno: $5.32
- Hanford-Corcoran: $5.26
- Los Angeles-Long Beach: $5.41
- Madera-Chowchila: $5.36
- Merced: $5.28
- Modesto: $5.24
- Napa: $5.58
- Oakland: $5.47
- Orange County: $5.37
- Redding: $5.18
- Riverside: $5.29
- Sacramento: $5.33
- Salinas: $5.53
- San Bernardino: $5.29
- San Diego: $5.40
- San Francisco: $5.63
- San Jose: $5.44
- San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles: $5.54
- San Rafael: $5.64
- Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc: $5.25
- Santa Cruz-Watsonville: $5.34
- Santa Rosa: $5.57
- Stockton-Lodi: $5.26
- Vallejo-Fairfield: $5.36
- Ventura: $5.35
- Visalia-Tulare-Porterville: $5.36
- Yolo: $5.23
- Yuba City: $5.05
Find cheapest gas stations in my area
GasBuddy is a price-tracking website designed to help motorists find the cheapest gas prices in their areas.
You can search for the most affordable gas stations in your area on the GasBuddy website.
This story was originally published March 12, 2026 at 12:21 PM.
