Filling up in California hurts right now. The state average for regular gas is $5.57 a gallon — up 17 cents in one week, and about $1.07 more than a year ago. The national average is $4.09.
Why prices jumped
- Oil got expensive. Trouble around the Strait of Hormuz — a key shipping route for oil — pushed crude oil to around $90 a barrel. Prices spiked nationwide in May, cooled after a US–Iran deal reopened the route, and are climbing again.
- California refineries are closing. Two big ones — in Los Angeles and in Benicia — have shut down or are winding down. Fewer refineries making California's special clean-air blend means tighter supply and higher prices. Researchers warn prices could go higher still if more close.
- State taxes and rules. California adds some of the highest gas taxes and fees in the country on top.
What it costs you
A typical driver going 12,000 miles a year in a 28-mpg car buys about 429 gallons. At California prices, that is about $634 more per year than the same driving at the national average — and about $459 more than last year in California itself.
What this means for you
- Prices differ a lot between stations, even on the same street. A gas price app can save 30–60 cents a gallon.
- Costco, Sam's Club and some grocery chains often sell below the average.
- If you commute far, see what the drive really costs with The Cost of the Commute — sometimes one work-from-home day pays for itself.
Where these facts come from: AAA gas price report via Contra Costa News, July 24, 2026, AAA — national gas price update, June 2026. Facts checked July 2026. Numbers can change after publication.