Gas jumps over $5 per gallon in SLO County for first time since summer. How much?
As the weather heats up, so do San Luis Obispo County gas prices.
According to GasBuddy.com, the average cost of a gallon of regular gas jumped to $5.01 per gallon on Saturday — the first time it has surpassed $5 since June 2024.
Local fuel prices began increasing March 28 — going from $4.77 to $4.80 in a day — and steadily continued their upward climb in the days following.
In total, local prices went up more than $0.24 in a little over a week, according to GasBuddy.
There is slightly good news: On Sunday, the average price dropped back below that $5 mark,coming in at $4.97 per gallon, according to GasBuddy data.
That was still above the statewide average of $4.87 per gallon as of Monday, data showed, as well as the national average of $3.21 per gallon.
Gas prices expected to drop nationally amid tariffs, market volatility
The increase mirrors the typical jump in gas prices as California heads into spring and summer, as well as overall national trends that caused the average price of gas across the United States to rise for three straight weeks as of Monday.
According to a news release from GasBuddy, the national average cost of gas rose $0.106 in the past week and was up $0.132 from a month ago.
That’s not expected to last long, according to Patrick de Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.
In the release, de Haan said oil prices “have plummeted amid growing concerns about the global economy” following the announcement of “ some of the most significant tariffs in over a century.”
“In addition to falling oil prices, the stock market has dropped sharply, and the risk of a recession has increased — raising the likelihood of reduced global energy and oil demand, which is sending prices lower,” he said. “As a result, motorists can expect gas prices to begin falling nearly coast-to-coast, with oil now at its lowest level since the early days of the (COVID-19) pandemic in 2021.”
De Haan added: “If tariffs aren’t scaled back soon, the national average could fall below $3 per gallon in the weeks ahead, with no clear indication of how long it might stay there as market volatility persists.”
Where to find cheapest gas in SLO County
Gas prices varied widely throughout San Luis Obispo County as of Monday, with the cost of a gallon of regular fuel approaching $6 per gallon at one spot.
According to GasBuddy’s price map, the Chevron at 340 Five Cities Drive in Pismo Beach had a posted price of $5.98 per gallon of regular gas on Monday— the highest in the county.
Meanwhile, the cheapest gas in San Luis Obispo County as of Monday was at Fastrip Fuel & Wayside Liquors, 710 Creston Road in Paso Robles. The gas station had a posted price of $4.45 per gallon of regular gas, according to GasBuddy.
The other cheapest spots in the county for gas, according to GasBuddy data, were:
- Costco, 1540 Froom Ranch Way, San Luis Obispo: $4.55
- Conserv Fuel, 254 Santa Rosa St., San Luis Obispo: $4.55
- One Stop Food, 703 Spring St., Paso Robles: $4.57
- San Paso Truck Stop, 81 Wellsona Road, Paso Robles: $4.59
- Vons, 550 W. Tefft St., Nipomo: $4.61
ARCO, 195 Niblick Road, Paso Robles: $4.63
- Speedway, 3 Santa Rosa St., San Luis Obispo: $4.65
- Conserv Fuel, 2211 Broad St., San Luis Obispo: $4.65
- Stop and Buy, 459 W. Tefft St., Nipomo: $4.68
This story was originally published April 7, 2025 at 12:54 PM.
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