The national average price for regular gas remained higher than a week ago on Monday, coming in at $4.097 per gallon, according to AAA. It was a small increase from this time last week, when the cost was $4.065. Fuel costs did drop very slightly from Monday, when the national average price was $4.099 per gallon.
With the national average close to $4.10 per gallon, gas prices across the nation have naturally risen. To put this into perspective, there are now 31 states in the country with a statewide average price for a gallon of regular gas exceeding $4.
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Gas prices in the U.S. have fluctuated quite a bit this summer, primarily due to the military conflict with Iran and geopolitical tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. Fuel costs have increased from the 2026 low of $2.79 per gallon in January to the current national average of $4.097. Earlier in the year, 43 states had a statewide average gas price below $3 per gallon. At one point, there were also 23 states with average fuel costs below $2.65 per gallon and 13 with averages less than $2.50 per gallon.
Fuel costs soared in the immediate weeks after Operation Epic Fury began on Feb. 28, reaching a record high for the year of over $4.50 per gallon in late winter. Interestingly, despite the increase in gas prices compared to the beginning of the year, over the last month, the national average price for a gallon of regular gas has remained steady, hovering between $4.05 and $4.11. This is significantly lower than the year’s high of $4.56, set in May. However, few will take solace in that fact with gas prices still being over $4 per gallon.
Gas prices vary by region, with states on the West Coast typically having the highest prices in the nation. For the last two years, the lowest gas prices have usually been found in states in the South or Midwest. Before military operations began in Iran, most of the states with the lowest gas prices in the country were along the Gulf of America region. That has since changed.
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Currently, California has the highest fuel costs in the country, with a statewide average of $5.623 per gallon. Next is Hawaii at $5.412 per gallon. This is followed by Washington state with an average fuel cost of $5.268 per gallon. Alaska is next at $4.832 per gallon, followed by Nevada at $4.819 per gallon.
Indiana has the lowest gas prices in the nation. The Hoosier State has a statewide average for regular gas of $3.49 per gallon on Tuesday, and Texas is at $3.62. South Carolina is next with an average of $3.64 per gallon, and then Mississippi at $3.656 per gallon. This is followed by Tennessee with an average of $3.659 per gallon.
