Nearly $9 for a gallon? See where gas prices are highest in California
In the three weeks since the United States launched airstrikes on Iran, gas prices across the country have skyrocketed — especially in California where at least one station has already surpassed the daunting $8 a gallon mark.
Statewide, the average price of a gallon of regular gas hit $5.58 on Wednesday, according to GasBuddy.com, marking the state’s most expensive gas average since October 2023.
It’s also up exactly a dollar from March 1, when gas averaged roughly $4.58 per gallon, GasBuddy data showed.
Diesel prices have also jumped significantly in that time period, going up nearly $1.50 since March 1 to an average of $6.50 per gallon as of Wednesday.
“Consumers continue to feel the sting of rising oil, gasoline and diesel costs as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East remain elevated, pushing gasoline prices to their highest levels in years while diesel could soon approach the $5-per-gallon mark nationally,” GasBuddy head of petroleum analysis Patrick De Haan said in a news release Monday.
According to GasBuddy, the national average of a gallon of regular gas has risen more than 80 cents in the past month to $3.68.
And that rising number is likely to continue.
“Until we see a meaningful resumption of oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, upward pressure on fuel prices is likely to persist,” De Haan said. “At the same time, seasonal forces are beginning to intensify as several regions complete the transition to summer gasoline, creating a double headwind that could continue driving pump prices higher in the weeks ahead.”
Where is most expensive gas in California?
Though the state’s average was $5.58 as of Wednesday, plenty of stations across California were selling gas at prices significantly higher than that.
According to GasBuddy data, four stations in the state had prices above $7 a gallon — with one charging nearly $9.
Those 10 most-expensive stations in California as of Wednesday were:
- Chevron, 901 N. Alameda St., Los Angeles: $8.71
- Chevron, 3600 Alameda De La Pulgas, Menlo Park: $7.29
- Chevron, 25635 Crucero Road, Ludlow: $7.29
- Shell, 125 Sharon Park Drive, Menlo Park: $7.19
- Chevron, 3304 14th St., Riverside: $6.69
- Chevron, 2321 West Broadway, Needles: $6.89
- Shell, 248 S. Airport Blvd., South San Francisco: $6.89
- Shell, 1101 N. Lawrence Expressway, Sunnyvale: $6.89
- Shell, 2718 S. Iowa Ave., Colton: $6.88
- Mobil, 10863 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles: $6.75
Other stations could be charging similar prices or more.
GasBuddy’s price data is reported by users, so some well-known more expensive stations did not have prices listed on the website as of Wednesday.
In San Luis Obispo County, The Tribune on Tuesday reported the station at Ragged Point Inn at a remote edge of the county along Highway 1 was selling gas at $7.69 per gallon, with prices ranging upward to $7.89 for more premium options.
Where is cheapest gas in California?
There were also several stations across California selling significantly less expensive gas than the state’s average.
Here are the 10 cheapest stations in California as of Wednesday, according to GasBuddy data.
- G&M, 2501 W. Olive Ave., Burbank: $4.29
- Chukchansi Crossing, 32025 CA-41, Coarsegold: $4.54
- Yokut Gas Station, 17051 Jersey Ave., Lemoore: $4.55
- Shell, 7280 Rosemead Blvd., San Gabriel: $4.59
- Speedway, 9280 Haven Ave., Rancho Cucamonga: $4.59
- Rabbit Traxx, 580 Patterson St., Cedarvill: $4.64
- Wintun Mini Mart, 3790 State Highway 45, Colusa: $4.68
- Fastrip, 692 S. San Jacinto Ave., San Jacinto: $4.69
- Walmart, 1801 S. San Jacinto Ave., San Jacinto: $4.69
- Morongo Travel Center, 48450 Morongo Trail, Cabazon: $4.69
This story was originally published March 19, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Nearly $9 for a gallon? See where gas prices are highest in California."
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