California gas prices fall but remain high for Fourth of July. What you’ll pay
If you’re planning a road trip for the Fourth of July weekend, you’ll still face high prices at the gas pump despite recent declines.
Independence Day falls on Saturday in 2026, setting up a long weekend for many travelers.
Nationally, Americans face the second-most expensive Independence Day on record behind the all-time high of $4.80 on July 4, 2022, according to price-tracking website GasBuddy.
The organization predicted the national average price will fall to $3.75 per gallon by the weekend, the company said.
“Six weeks of declines sounds like good news, and in some ways it is, but the context matters,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.
“The U.S.-Iran agreement gives markets hope, but it’s being tested, and any breakdown in those talks could reverse the recent relief quickly,” he said. “Drivers should use every tool available to find the lowest prices near them before filling up.”
How much can California drivers expect to pay for gas?
Here’s what to know:
What are current gas prices in California?
California drivers are paying the highest gas prices in the nation as the Fourth of July weekend approaches.
As of Monday, June 29, the average price for a gallon of regular gas in California was about $5.45, according to AAA.
That’s roughly $1.54 more than the current national per-gallon average of $3.91 for regular gas.
“Despite lower prices, demand could rise as a record number of Americans prepare to travel for Independence Day weekend, with 85% planning to drive to their destinations,” the association said.
How much does gas cost in my California city?
As of Monday, June 29, these were the average per-gallon prices for regular gas at metropolitan areas around California:
- Bakersfield: $5.67 per gallon
- Chico-Paradise: $5.37
- El Centro: $5.31
- Fresno: $5.37
- Hanford-Corcoran: $5.53
- Los Angeles-Long Beach: $5.46
- Madera-Chowchila: $5.54
- Merced: $5.63
- Modesto: $5.37
- Napa: $5.58
- Oakland: $5.52
- Orange County: $5.34
- Redding: $5.35
- Riverside: $5.29
- Sacramento: $5.47
- Salinas: $5.64
- San Bernardino: $5.32
- San Diego: $5.38
- San Francisco: $5.62
- San Jose: $5.48
- San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles: $5.71
- San Rafael: $5.54
- Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc: $5.62
- Santa Cruz-Watsonville: $5.63
- Santa Rosa: $5.59
- Stockton-Lodi: $5.30
- Vallejo-Fairfield: $5.42
- Ventura: $5.48
- Visalia-Tulare-Porterville: $5.46
- Yolo: $5.50
- Yuba City: $5.20
How to find cheapest gas
GasBuddy is 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.
Why is gas so expensive in California?
California gas prices have been steadily rising since late February as tensions in the Middle East increased and concerns about global oil supplies grew.
California hit its highest average gas price on record in June 2022, when regular gasoline reached $6.44 per gallon statewide.
This story was originally published June 29, 2026 at 12:22 PM.