WTI crude has risen $1.14/bbl over the past month. Retail gasoline typically follows crude moves with a 2–4 week lag as refined fuel works through the supply chain.
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Ranked by pump price. Click a region to view its dashboard.
| # | Region | Regular ↑ | vs others | vs last wk | Mid | Prem | Diesel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ↓ | Texas | $3.877 | +0.215 | $4.37 | $4.70 | — | |
| 2 | Gulf Coast (PADD 3) | $3.902 | +0.227 | $4.39 | $4.74 | $5.18 | |
| 3 | Minnesota | $4.073 | +0.326 | $4.45 | $4.88 | — | |
| 4 | Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C) | $4.113 | +0.296 | $4.58 | $4.93 | $5.33 | |
| 5 | East Coast (PADD 1) | $4.251 | +0.293 | $4.73 | $5.09 | $5.50 | |
| 6 | Florida | $4.288 | +0.405 | $4.74 | $5.06 | — | |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $4.343 | +0.337 | $4.84 | $5.22 | — | |
| 8 | Colorado | $4.346 | +0.416 | $4.73 | $5.08 | — | |
| 9 | Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) | $4.359 | +0.343 | $4.71 | $5.00 | $5.52 | |
| 10 | New England (PADD 1A) | $4.378 | +0.291 | $4.88 | $5.24 | $5.86 | |
| 11 | Midwest (PADD 2) | $4.399 | +0.515 | $4.88 | $5.42 | $5.74 | |
| 12 | New York | $4.399 | +0.297 | $4.86 | $5.29 | — | |
| 13 | Central Atlantic (PADD 1B) | $4.420 | +0.289 | $4.93 | $5.25 | $5.87 | |
| 14 | U.S. National Average | $4.452 | +0.329 | $5.03 | $5.40 | $5.64 | |
| 15 | Ohio | $4.776 | +0.905 | $5.32 | $5.87 | — | |
| 16 | West Coast excl. CA | $5.135 | +0.168 | $5.54 | $5.77 | $6.00 | |
| 17 | Washington | $5.529 | +0.230 | $5.87 | $6.06 | — | |
| 18 | West Coast (PADD 5) | $5.583 | +0.171 | $6.03 | $6.22 | $6.63 | |
| ↑ | Californiayou | $5.959 | +0.174 | $6.28 | $6.45 | $7.36 |
California's regular gasoline is averaging $5.785 per gallon as of Saturday, May 2, 2026, up $0.137 from last week. This price reflects the state's typical premium over the national average due to strict environmental regulations and limited refinery capacity. Early May demand patterns are pushing prices upward, though they remain within the seasonal range drivers in California have come to expect.
A typical 15-gallon fill-up in California now costs about $86.78, noticeably higher than most U.S. states due to the state's combination of excise taxes, cap-and-trade program costs, and regional fuel blend requirements. Diesel prices are particularly elevated at $7.228 per gallon, a $1.443 premium over regular gasoline that reflects separate supply constraints and agricultural demand in the state. This gap between regular and premium grades ($0.466) is typical for California's market structure.
California's gas prices are heavily influenced by the state's 51.1 cents-per-gallon excise tax (the second-highest in the nation) and the mandatory inclusion of summer-blend fuels with lower volatility compounds to reduce smog. The state has only five major refineries operating within its borders, creating a bottleneck that makes California dependent on limited regional supply and vulnerable to outages at any single facility. Additionally, environmental regulations requiring special fuel formulations prevent easy imports from other states, and the state's cap-and-trade carbon program adds roughly 10-15 cents per gallon to the final price.
WTI crude is trading at $95.43 per barrel while Brent (the international benchmark California refiners track) sits at $109.62, a $14.19 spread that reflects transportation and global market factors. California refiners typically respond to Brent prices with a 2-to-6 week lag, meaning the recent upward crude momentum is likely to continue trickling into pump prices over the next month. The current Brent level suggests refiners are paying significantly more for their feedstock, which gets passed along to drivers after accounting for refining costs and state-specific taxes.
💡 Money-Saving Tip: Download GasBuddy or use GetPumpRate to track hourly price fluctuations at individual stations, as California's fragmented market means prices can vary by 20-30 cents per gallon within the same zip code. Consider using loyalty programs at major chains like Shell or Chevron, which sometimes offer 5-10 cent discounts, or seek out stations selling E85 (85% ethanol blend) if your vehicle supports it, as these stations are occasionally 30-50 cents cheaper.
Brent crude's current $109.62 level suggests upward pressure on California pump prices will likely persist through May, with seasonal driving demand supporting higher prices into summer. Watch for refinery maintenance schedules (commonly announced in late spring) and any disruptions in imports from Asia-Pacific refineries, as either event could spike prices further; conversely, if crude retreats below $100 per barrel, expect California prices to follow within 4-6 weeks.
Regular gasoline in California currently averages $5.959 per gallon, up $0.174 from last week. Prices are sourced weekly from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) and reflect averages across retail stations in the region.