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Today’s Highest Gas Prices By State

California had the highest regular-gas average on August 8, 2026, followed by Hawaii and Washington. See the full top-10 ranking and compare the prices with the national average.
From TheFinanceBase Team4 min to read
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As of August 8, 2026, California had the highest regular-gas average in the United States at $5.5972 per gallon, or about $5.60 when rounded to the nearest cent. Hawaii ranked second at $5.4581, while Washington was the only other state above $5 per gallon.

The figures below come from AAA’s statewide averages for regular gasoline. They are not the price at one specific station, and prices can vary substantially by city, county, brand, and station.

10 states with the highest gas prices

AAA’s state averages are listed to four decimal places. For everyday budgeting, the prices are also shown rounded to the nearest cent.

Rank State AAA average Rounded price
1 California $5.5972 $5.60
2 Hawaii $5.4581 $5.46
3 Washington $5.1272 $5.13
4 Alaska $4.7677 $4.77
5 Nevada $4.7605 $4.76
6 Oregon $4.6599 $4.66
7 Idaho $4.3520 $4.35
8 Arizona $4.3404 $4.34
9 Utah $4.3214 $4.32
10 Montana $4.2365 $4.24

How much higher are these prices than the national average?

AAA’s national regular-gas average was $4.0224 per gallon on August 8. Every state in the top 10 was above that figure.

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  • California: about $1.57 more per gallon than the national average.
  • Hawaii: about $1.44 more.
  • Washington: about $1.10 more.
  • Montana: about 21 cents more.

The difference is meaningful for drivers who fill a large tank. A 15-gallon fill-up at California’s statewide average would cost approximately $83.96, compared with about $60.34 at the national average—a difference of roughly $23.62 for one fill-up.

California, Hawaii and Washington stand apart

California was the clear leader, averaging $5.5972 per gallon. Its price was about 14 cents higher than Hawaii’s and nearly 47 cents higher than Washington’s.

Hawaii’s second-place position reflects the importance of comparing state averages carefully with local prices. An island-wide or statewide average does not tell you what every neighborhood station charges, and station-to-station differences can matter when the overall price level is already high.

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Washington was the third state—and the only state besides California and Hawaii—to average more than $5 per gallon. Alaska, Nevada and Oregon formed the next tier, all between $4.65 and $4.77 per gallon.

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Where the remaining states in the top 10 fall

Idaho, Arizona, Utah and Montana occupied ranks seven through 10. Their averages were relatively close: only about 12 cents separated Idaho from Montana.

These rankings are not a guide to the cheapest station in each state. They are useful for comparing broad statewide price levels, especially when estimating travel costs across several states or setting a household fuel budget.

The spread between the most and least expensive states

Indiana had the lowest state average on August 8, at $3.4990 per gallon. Compared with California’s $5.5972 average, the gap was $2.0982 per gallon, or about $2.10.

For a 15-gallon tank, that spread equals approximately $31.47 per fill-up. A driver who fills up four times a month could see a theoretical difference of about $125.88 monthly, assuming the same tank size and the two statewide averages. Actual savings depend on vehicle fuel economy, tank size, driving distance and local station prices.

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National gas-price trend around August 8

Comparison period National regular-gas average
August 8, 2026 $4.0224
Yesterday $4.0422
One week ago $4.1013
One month ago $3.7965
One year ago $3.1564

The national average was down from the previous day and the previous week, but it remained above the one-month and one-year figures shown by AAA. These comparisons describe the national average; an individual state can move differently.

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How to use the ranking when budgeting

  1. Use your actual fuel consumption. Divide your annual miles by your vehicle’s real-world miles per gallon to estimate gallons used.
  2. Multiply gallons by the relevant local price. For a road trip, use prices along the route rather than your home-state average.
  3. Separate regular from premium. The ranking above is for regular gasoline. A vehicle requiring premium fuel will have a different cost.
  4. Check station-level prices before filling up. State averages can hide significant local variation.

For example, a car driven 1,000 miles at 25 miles per gallon uses about 40 gallons. At California’s statewide average, that fuel would cost approximately $223.89. At the national average, it would cost about $160.90—a difference of nearly $63 for the same mileage.

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How AAA calculates the averages

AAA’s fuel-price website reports separate averages for regular, mid-grade, premium and diesel. This ranking uses only the regular category, so it should not be combined with another fuel type.

AAA says its data is updated daily by the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS). The averages are based on a daily survey of as many as 120,000 stations conducted with WEX. Because the data is refreshed, the order and prices can change after August 8.

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The District of Columbia is not included in the 50-state ranking. AAA reported a regular-gas average of $4.2197 there on the same date. Including it would place it between Montana and the other states outside the top 10, but it should be listed separately from states.

FAQ

Which state has the highest gas prices today?

California had the highest statewide average for regular gasoline on August 8, 2026, at $5.5972 per gallon, or about $5.60 rounded.

What are the three states with the highest gas prices?

California ranked first at $5.5972 per gallon, Hawaii ranked second at $5.4581, and Washington ranked third at $5.1272.

Are these prices for regular or premium gasoline?

The ranking uses AAA’s regular-gasoline statewide averages. Premium, mid-grade and diesel prices are reported separately and will produce different rankings.

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How often do these gas-price rankings change?

AAA’s fuel-price data is updated daily by OPIS. State averages and rankings can therefore change from one day to the next.

The Bottom Line

California had the highest regular-gas average on August 8, 2026, at $5.5972 per gallon, followed by Hawaii at $5.4581 and Washington at $5.1272. The national average was $4.0224, and the difference between California and the lowest-priced state, Indiana, was about $2.10 per gallon. Use these figures as statewide budgeting benchmarks, then check local station prices before filling up.

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