National averages for gas prices across the US, including current cost per gallon, gas price charts, historical data and how the states compare on prices — updated weekly.
The US national average gas price is $4.02 as of Apr. 23, 2026, down from $4.05 last week. Over the past eight years, the price of gas has averaged $3.02 per gallon — or $1.00 a gallon less expensive than today.
Quick facts: The latest US gas prices at a glance (Apr. 23, 2026)
Key takeaways
National average: The current national average cost for gas is $4.02 (Apr. 23, 2026)
Previous week average: Previous week’s average cost for gas was $4.05 (Apr. 16, 2026)
Annual average: The annual average cost for gas in 2026 is $3.32
Most expensive week to buy gas in 2026: Apr. 09, 2026 saw the highest gas prices in 2026 at $4.12
Cheapest week to buy gas in 2026: Jan. 08, 2026 saw the lowest gas prices in 2026 at $2.81
Most expensive state to buy gas in 2026: The highest average gas price in 2026 was $5.93 in California (Apr. 09, 2026)
Cheapest state to buy gas in 2026: The lowest average gas price in 2026 was $2.25 in Oklahoma (Jan. 01, 2026)
Most expensive weekly national average since 2018: The highest weekly gas price was $4.99 per gallon the week of Jun. 16th, 2022
Cheapest weekly national average since 2018: The lowest weekly gas price was $1.84 per gallon on Apr. 16, 2020
Most expensive weekly state gas price since 2018: California at $6.43 per gallon on June 16th, 2022
Cheapest weekly state gas price since 2018: Wisconsin at $1.29 per gallon on (Apr. 16, 2020)
Why are gas prices so high in 2026? The impact of the conflict in Iran and gas prices
2026 has seen some of the highest gas prices in recent memory. Since the start of the conflict on Feb. 28, 2026 and the subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz, gas prices have been on an upward trajectory, peaking at $4.12 on Apr. 09, 2026 — roughly 39% higher than they were on Feb. 26, 2025 ($2.96).
Up until the start of the Iran conflict, gas prices were trending downward. In fact, the average price of gas in the US in the final week of February this year ($2.96) was close to 5% lower that it was in 2025 ($3.10). Flash forward 8 weeks into the conflict and now gas prices are up 36% (as of Apr. 23, 2026) compared to February 26, 2025 ($2.96) and up about 19% compared to the same period in 2025.
California has the most expensive gas in the US as of Apr. 23, 2026, with the highest gas prices in the US costing $5.85 a gallon. It’s followed by Hawaii ($5.65) and Washington ($5.39) as the next two most expensive states to buy gas.
Cheapest states to buy gas right now
At the other end of the spectrum, gas is at its cheapest in Oklahoma, costing just $3.40 as of Apr. 23, 2026. The next cheapest state to buy a gallon of gas is Kansas ($3.48) followed by Iowa ($3.51).
Cheapest gas station in each state
Casey’s Gas Station in Larned City, Kansas has the cheapest gas in the US at $2.53, followed by Freedom Gas Station in Vermillion, South Dakota ($2.59) and Sheetz Gas Station in Winston-Salem, North Carolina ($2.89) as of Apr. 27, 2026.
Are gas prices going up or down?
Gas prices are down on average for the US as a whole, with the price of gas falling in 32 out of the 51 states and district over the last week.
The national average gas price fell from $4.05 per gallon on Apr. 16, 2026 to $4.02 per gallon on Apr. 23, 2026 — a decrease of $0.03 per gallon or about -1%.
Week-on-week price increases were seen in states including Ohio (up $0.15), Oregon (up $0.07) and Alaska (up $0.03).
New Mexico saw gas prices fall $0.16. While Indiana saw drops of $0.14 and a drop of $0.12 in Iowa.
US gas prices: 2018 to 2026
Gas prices over the last half-decade or so have seen their ups and downs. In fact, gas prices were at their highest levels ever, hitting $4.76 a gallon in the week of Jun. 16, 2022 — a week in which those in California paid a whopping $6.43 a gallon.
Both prices are the highest figures in our dataset.
The current national average of $4.02 a gallon is higher than the average cost of gas since 2018: $1.00 a gallon.
This means what you’ll pay at the pump in 2026 is about $1.00 more expensive than the national six-year average.
US gas prices per gallon have wavered between a national average of $1.50 and $4.76 since 2018.
Americans saw the lowest annual average in 2020, when the average cost for a gallon of gas was $2.19. Fast-forward 6 years and gas is running an average of $3.32 so far in 2026.
The lowest weekly national average so far this year is $2.81 (Jan. 08, 2026) a gallon — which is lower than the six-year average of $3.02 a gallon.
It’s been an expensive half-decade for gas in the US. How expensive? Well, in 2022 alone, we’ve seen the 10 most expensive national average prices since 2018.
Lowest average gas prices in the US: 2018–2026
While 2022 was the year of expensive gas, 2020 played host to all 10 of the cheapest gas prices since 2018.
Are gas prices really that high?
One common talking point in the media, or in bars for that matter, it how expensive gas is now versus back in the good old days. While it’s true that gas is expensive, when you factor in inflation gas has always been expensive.
According to data collected from energy.gov(8) and the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)(9), the average cost for a gallon of gas in the US since 1929 is $1.12, but that doesn’t factor in the value of a dollor. If we account for inflation, the average cost of gas since 1929 is actually $3.45, which is about $0.57 less than the $4.02 we’re paying today.
Since 2018, gas prices during the summer months are typically 6.3% higher than presummer months and 7.5% higher than the post-summer months. When calculating these averages, the data for 2020 was discounted because of COVID lockdowns.
Gas prices are the top concern for American adults, with 86% saying they are concerned about the price of gas going forward, according to Finder’s Consumer Confidence Index. This is slightly ahead of house hold bills and groceries at 85%.
In fact, 25% of respondents are extremely concerned about the cost of gas, representing the highest percentage of extreme worry among those surveyed.
Cost to fill the 50 popular US vehicles with gas
To give an idea of how much you’ll pay to fill up your car, we ran the numbers on these 50 sought-after makes and models, according to Good Car Bad Car.
The most expensive model to fill up is the Toyota Tundra in 2026, costing you some $114.12 at the pump. In 2025, you could have topped off the tank with $128.15.
The most costly SUVs to fill up are the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Chevrolet Tahoe and Toyota 4Runner, with them costing $87.19, $85.06 and $81.52 to fill up at the gas station respectively.
The most expensive sedan at the pump is a Nissan Altima at $57.42. The cost to fill up a sedan ranges from the previously mentioned Nissan Altima at $57.42 and the way to Hyundai Elantra at $43.95.
Top 5 most expensive vehicles to fill up
As mentioned before, the Toyota Tundra comes in as the most expensive vehicle to fill up with gas in 2026 at $114.12, followed by the Ram Pickup costing $92.15 to get a full tank and the Ford Transit costing $88.60 to fill.
The 5 least expensive vehicles to fill up
At the other end of the spectrum are both the Nissan Kicks at a cost of $38.28 for a tank of gas, with the Honda Civic as the second cheapest car at $43.95.
How we got each vehicle’s fill-up cost
We based each model’s fuel tank capacity on based on the manufacturer’s official spec sheet, vehicle owner manuals and Fueleconomy.gov
Fuel cost calculator
While gas prices vary, at the current national average it’ll cost you $13.29 to drive 100 miles, if your car gets 25 miles to the gallon.
The US consumed roughly 136.53 billion gallons (or about 3.25 billion barrels) of gasoline in 2025, according to the The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)(7). This was a marked increase on 2020, when the pandemic saw massive drops in gas consumption, with April 2020 seeing a reduction of 40% compared to April 2019 before consumption rebounded later in the year(3). The release of the 2026 EIA data will be available on August 31, 2026.
How much can an electric vehicle save you at the pump?
You could save between $159.52 to $245.29 per month on fuel costs by choosing a fully electric vehicle over a gas-powered one. However, the exact amount you’ll spend on charging an electric car depends on where you charge it.
The cost of charging an electric vehicle
Charging at home may cost you in the ballpark of $45.98 per month, based on if you drive an average of 12,200 miles per year or 1,015 miles per month. We base the at-home cost on the US household average estimate of 17.45 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), according to the Energy Information Administration(5).
However, a DC fast charger at a public charging station might run closer to $131.76 per month, based on an average cost of $0.50 per kWh in 2026.
To fill up the average gas powered car, you’re looking at spending $109.28 as of Apr. 23, 2026, for a vehicle with a tank size of 14 gallons. Compared to getting a full charge for the five most popular EV, you’re looking at spending $14.69 if you charge at home or $42.10 at a charging station.
If you’re considering an electric vehicle, keep other electric vehicle costs and incentives in mind, such as installing an at-home battery charger or getting federal tax credits.
Popular EVs: Example costs of a one-time charge
Get an idea of how much you’ll pay each time you charge these popular electric models. Charging at home typically costs you two to three times less than charging at a DC fast charger at a public charging station.
Frequently asked questions
Retail gas prices are impacted by a number of factors including the cost of crude oil, refining costs and profits, distribution and marketing, and taxes. Crude oil prices fluctuate daily and are set on global markets, which is why global events impact what you'll pay in the US even if nothing changes locally. There are several taxes that impact the price of gas including the federal excise tax, plus state and sometimes local taxes. Other factors that can influence the price of gas include seasonality, regional supply and demand and refinery capacity.
State-level differences come from three main factors: taxes, fuel blend and proximity.
Taxes: State gas taxes range from under 10 cents per gallon in some states to more than 60 cents in California, which can have a huge impact on how much you'll pay at the pump Fuel blend requirements: States such as California have stricter air quality regulations that require special reformulated gasoline that produce less emissions, which costs more to produce. Proximity to refineries and pipelines: States closer to the Gulf Coast tend to see lower gas prices. Whereas states that have to import fuel by tanker or long pipeline pay more. More local competition and higher distribution costs all impact the price of gas.
Crude oil is the single biggest cost input for gasoline. As a rough rule, every $10 change in the price of a barrel of crude oil translates to roughly 25 cents at the pump over the following weeks. When crude is around $70 per barrel, national gas averages typically sit near $3.00–$3.30. When crude crosses $100 per barrel, averages tend to push above $4.
Two things happen every spring. First, demand rises as warmer weather brings more driving — road trips, commuting in better conditions, and the summer travel season. Second, refineries are required to switch to a more expensive summer-grade gasoline blend that evaporates less easily, reducing smog in hot weather. This switchover typically happens between April and June and adds several cents per gallon.
The difference is the octane rating, which measures a fuel's resistance to premature combustion. Regular is typically 87 octane, mid-grade is 89 and premium is 91 or 93. Higher-octane fuel costs more to produce and is priced roughly $0.30 to $0.60 per gallon more than regular gas. Most cars are designed to run on regular gas.
In most cases, yes. Charging at home on residential electricity is typically the cheapest option and can cost two to three times less per mile than buying gas. DC fast chargers at a public charging station cost roughly $0.50 per kWh.
Roughly 20% of the world's daily oil supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman. When shipping through the strait is threatened or disrupted, global oil traders price in the risk immediately, even before any physical shortage appears. Since crude oil is priced on a global market, a disruption anywhere impacts prices everywhere.
Apps and websites like AAA, GasBuddy and Google Maps show real-time prices at stations in your area. Membership warehouses like Costco and Sam's Club often have the lowest prices in a given area but require a membership. Some credit cards also offer bonus rewards on gas purchases, which can effectively reduce the price per gallon.
Finder's weekly state-level gas price data comes from the American Automobile Association (AAA), which publishes daily state and national averages. For historical data going back to 2017, Finder used archived AAA snapshots via the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine. Longer-term historical data since 1929 comes from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) and energy.gov. Prices are tracked weekly on Thursdays and represent the average retail price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline.
The American Automotive Association updates a daily list of state average gas prices in the US. Finder began tracking these prices on September 22, 2022, to compile a historical record of gas prices in the US. For historical gas price data, we used the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine to record each state’s prices on Thursdays since November 30, 2017.
Limitations: Our figures display what is available on the date in question for each month. AAA updates its average state prices daily, though there may be discrepancies between what was reached on that day and what was actually published.
The Finder Consumer Confidence Index is an ongoing quarterly survey that captures the perceptions of a nationally representative sample of 2,112 American adults and asked questions related to household finances. Results were collected October 4 to October 19, 2022.
Richard Laycock is Finder’s NYC-based lead editor & insights editor, spending the last decade data diving, writing and editing articles about all things personal finance. His musings can be found across the web including on NASDAQ, MoneyMag, Yahoo Finance and Travel Weekly. Richard studied Media at Macquarie University, including a semester abroad at The Missouri School of Journalism (MIZZOU).
See full bio
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