California Gas Prices

What drivers in California are paying this week

California stations averaged $5.888 per gallon for regular gasoline in the week ending Oct 26, 2026. The statewide average fell $0.140 from the previous week and sits $1.619 higher than the national average of $4.269. Four weeks ago the state average was $6.189, and a year ago it was $4.358.

California consistently has the most expensive gasoline in the contiguous United States. The state stacks the highest combined fuel taxes and fees in the country on top of a supply chain that is physically isolated from the rest of the nation.

Why California gas prices land where they do

• State excise tax, sales tax, and the cap-and-trade program all add to the pump price.
• The state requires its own reformulated gasoline blend, which cannot be replaced with imports from other states.
• Refinery outages in California move prices far more than in other markets because replacement supply must come by tanker.

These are structural factors, not daily noise. They explain why California tends to sit in the same part of the national price range week after week, even when the national average moves. For the general mechanics behind these forces, see our guide on how gas prices are set.

Metro prices in California

We track weekly metro averages for these California markets:

• Los Angeles gas prices — currently $5.883 per gallon.
• San Francisco gas prices — currently $5.856 per gallon.

How California compares

California has no bordering state with a published weekly average, so the most useful comparison is the national average of $4.269 and the West Coast (PADD 5) benchmark of $5.417. The state currently sits $1.619 higher than the national figure.

Ways to spend less on gas in California

1. Membership warehouses such as Costco, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s usually price 10 to 30 cents below nearby branded stations.
2. Stations a few miles off the interstate are often cheaper than the first exit, because they pay less for land and rely on local traffic.
3. Apps that show station-level prices are worth using for the last mile — our numbers give you the regional baseline, they give you the address.
4. Keeping tires at the recommended pressure and removing roof racks can recover 3 to 6 percent of fuel economy, which is worth 10 to 20 cents a gallon at current prices.

Want a number instead of a rule of thumb? The commute cost calculator turns your own miles and MPG into a weekly and annual fuel bill, using the current California price as the default.

How we source California prices

Every figure on this page comes from the U.S. Energy Information Administration's weekly retail gasoline survey, which reports average retail prices in dollars per gallon including taxes. We rebuild the page every week after the survey is released, so the date on the price panel always matches the data behind it. We do not estimate missing state numbers; where the EIA does not publish a statewide series, we label the regional benchmark instead. Full details are in our methodology and data sources pages.

The bottom line for California drivers

At $5.888 per gallon, a 12-gallon fill-up costs about $70.66 in California, compared with $51.23 at the national average. Over a 15,000-mile year at 28 MPG, the state price implies roughly $3154 in fuel — a useful baseline before you start shopping for a cheaper station.