Gas Prices Hit Records in 2026: State by State Breakdown

With gas prices in the U.S. hitting several-year highs as a result of military operations in the Middle East and subsequent pressure on the Strait of Hormuz, many households may be feeling the squeeze of the cost of their commute lately. As of April 1^st, the national average price of a regular gallon stands at $4.06. Many states have experienced a 33% year-over-year increase in the cost of a gallon of regular gas – and in some places it’s even higher. Commercial and public programs may be feeling similarly pinched, with diesel prices upwards of $6.00 per gallon in many states.

With this in mind, SmartAsset ranked the states by the price of a gallon of regular gas, and examined other gas price data over the past year.

Key Findings

Regular gas reaches $5.89 per gallon in California. California has the highest average gas price nationwide, after a 21.4% increase year over year. Mid-grade fuel will cost you $6.13 per gallon, while premium is averaging $6.32. Diesel is $7.52.
Gas prices increased most in Arizona; Florida. In both states, prices increased by just over 37% since one year ago. The cost of a regular gallon in Arizona is now $4.70, or sixth highest nationwide. In Florida, the cost is 10^th highest at $4.22 per gallon.
Oklahoma now has the least expensive gas. Despite a 18.3% year-over-year increase, the cost is lowest in Oklahoma at $3.27 per regular gallon. Exactly one year ago, the cost was lowest in Mississippi, at $2.69 per gallon.
Diesel costs increased by over 60% in these states. Those utilizing diesel face the most severe cost increases in Arizona (68.8% increase); South Carolina (62.6%); Nevada (62.5%); Texas (60.9%); North Carolina (60.9%); and Florida (60.7%). Nationwide, the average cost of a gallon of diesel increased 50.2% since last year, up from $3.62 to $5.43.

Gas Prices and Changes by State

States are ranked based on the average price of a gallon of regular gas statewide on April 1^st, 2026.

California

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $5.89
One-year change in regular price: 21.4%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $6.32
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $7.52
One-year change in diesel price: 49.7%

Hawaii

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $5.46
One-year change in regular price: 20.7%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $5.93
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $6.73
One-year change in diesel price: 27.3%

Washington

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $5.36
One-year change in regular price: 27.2%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $5.86
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $6.67
One-year change in diesel price: 49.7%

Oregon

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $4.96
One-year change in regular price: 29.0%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $5.46
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $6.13
One-year change in diesel price: 57.4%

Nevada

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $4.94
One-year change in regular price: 25.8%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $5.54
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $6.22
One-year change in diesel price: 62.5%

Arizona

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $4.70
One-year change in regular price: 37.8%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $5.39
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $6.04
One-year change in diesel price: 68.8%

Alaska

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $4.59
One-year change in regular price: 32.0%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $5.09
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $5.65
One-year change in diesel price: 57.9%

Idaho

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $4.27
One-year change in regular price: 26.9%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.82
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $5.51
One-year change in diesel price: 54.8%

Illinois

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $4.25
One-year change in regular price: 21.9%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $5.31
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $5.14
One-year change in diesel price: 43.1%

Florida

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $4.22
One-year change in regular price: 37.3%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.97
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $5.80
One-year change in diesel price: 60.7%

Utah

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $4.20
One-year change in regular price: 28.9%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.72
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $5.48
One-year change in diesel price: 58.0%

Maryland

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $4.05
One-year change in regular price: 26.4%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.95
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $5.83
One-year change in diesel price: 56.6%

Pennsylvania

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $4.04
One-year change in regular price: 22.3%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.85
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $5.93
One-year change in diesel price: 46.6%

New Jersey

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $4.02
One-year change in regular price: 35.4%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.80
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $5.83
One-year change in diesel price: 59.3%

Connecticut

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $4.00
One-year change in regular price: 31.1%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.93
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $5.88
One-year change in diesel price: 53.7%

New York

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.99
One-year change in regular price: 27.6%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.86
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $5.81
One-year change in diesel price: 47.2%

Virginia

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.97
One-year change in regular price: 32.2%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.80
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $5.66
One-year change in diesel price: 58.0%

Indiana

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.97
One-year change in regular price: 20.7%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $5.00
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $5.18
One-year change in diesel price: 42.0%

Vermont

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.96
One-year change in regular price: 27.2%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.90
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $5.77
One-year change in diesel price: 51.1%

West Virginia

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.91
One-year change in regular price: 30.3%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.78
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $5.38
One-year change in diesel price: 50.0%

North Carolina

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.90
One-year change in regular price: 35.0%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.73
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $5.65
One-year change in diesel price: 60.9%

Michigan

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.90
One-year change in regular price: 19.8%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $5.06
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $5.00
One-year change in diesel price: 41.6%

Maine

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.90
One-year change in regular price: 29.3%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.92
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $5.78
One-year change in diesel price: 46.8%

Rhode Island

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.89
One-year change in regular price: 31.3%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $5.00
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $5.75
One-year change in diesel price: 51.6%

Delaware

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.89
One-year change in regular price: 26.3%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.76
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $5.75
One-year change in diesel price: 57.7%

Kentucky

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.88
One-year change in regular price: 35.9%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.84
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $5.09
One-year change in diesel price: 54.8%

Colorado

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.85
One-year change in regular price: 25.0%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.58
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $4.90
One-year change in diesel price: 45.1%

Massachusetts

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.85
One-year change in regular price: 29.4%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.81
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $5.77
One-year change in diesel price: 50.7%

New Hampshire

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.85
One-year change in regular price: 33.0%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.83
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $5.71
One-year change in diesel price: 50.8%

Wyoming

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.84
One-year change in regular price: 21.6%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.44
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $4.99
One-year change in diesel price: 45.1%

New Mexico

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.84
One-year change in regular price: 27.4%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.58
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $5.26
One-year change in diesel price: 53.2%

Tennessee

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.82
One-year change in regular price: 36.6%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.67
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $5.33
One-year change in diesel price: 57.8%

South Carolina

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.80
One-year change in regular price: 34.9%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.63
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $5.48
One-year change in diesel price: 62.6%

Ohio

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.78
One-year change in regular price: 20.4%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.82
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $5.03
One-year change in diesel price: 43.3%

Texas

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.77
One-year change in regular price: 36.1%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.62
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $5.11
One-year change in diesel price: 60.9%

Alabama

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.77
One-year change in regular price: 34.8%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.61
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $5.32
One-year change in diesel price: 57.1%

Wisconsin

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.76
One-year change in regular price: 19.7%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.84
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $4.74
One-year change in diesel price: 42.1%

Montana

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.74
One-year change in regular price: 18.8%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.40
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $4.83
One-year change in diesel price: 41.8%

Louisiana

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.71
One-year change in regular price: 34.3%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.54
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $5.19
One-year change in diesel price: 59.7%

Mississippi

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.68
One-year change in regular price: 36.9%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.48
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $5.16
One-year change in diesel price: 59.8%

Georgia

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.68
One-year change in regular price: 23.1%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.56
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $5.23
One-year change in diesel price: 47.3%

Minnesota

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.52
One-year change in regular price: 10.6%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.46
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $4.87
One-year change in diesel price: 40.9%

South Dakota

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.50
One-year change in regular price: 11.9%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.13
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $4.61
One-year change in diesel price: 37.4%

Arkansas

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.49
One-year change in regular price: 23.5%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.28
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $4.92
One-year change in diesel price: 50.6%

Missouri

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.46
One-year change in regular price: 18.7%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.18
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $4.62
One-year change in diesel price: 42.3%

North Dakota

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.44
One-year change in regular price: 10.8%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.20
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $4.59
One-year change in diesel price: 33.2%

Iowa

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.43
One-year change in regular price: 10.6%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.27
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $4.85
One-year change in diesel price: 41.4%

Nebraska

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.41
One-year change in regular price: 11.4%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $4.03
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $4.62
One-year change in diesel price: 38.6%

Kansas

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.32
One-year change in regular price: 16.8%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $3.97
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $4.56
One-year change in diesel price: 39.2%

Oklahoma

Cost of regular gallon, 2026: $3.27
One-year change in regular price: 18.3%
Cost of premium gallon, 2026: $3.97
Cost of diesel gallon, 2026: $4.49
One-year change in diesel price: 42.6%

Data and Methodology

Data comes from AAA for April 1, 2026 and April 1, 2025. Prices reflect the average across each state for regular gasoline per gallon. Premium and diesel data is also reported.

Key Findings

Gas Prices and Changes by State

Data and Methodology

Questions about this study? Contact us at press@smartasset.com