Gas prices are on the rise across California, with average costs surpassing $5 a gallon within the span of a week.
Doug Johnson, a spokesperson for AAA, previously told The Sacramento Bee that gas prices are rising “all over the map.”
What are current gas prices in California?
Here’s what to know:
How much is gas in California?
As of Thursday, March 12, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in California was about $5.37, according to AAA.
Just a week earlier, the average price was $4.81 per gallon.
That is more than a 50-cent difference within the span of seven days.
Around this time in 2025, California drivers were paying about $4.68 a gallon.
Although the U.S. Energy Information Administration had previously predicted that gas prices in 2026 would be about 6% lower than in 2025, Johnson said recent events have changed that outlook.
Gas prices rise above $5 per gallon at gas stations at the intersection of Auburn Boulevard and Greenback Lane in Citrus Heights on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com Iran war causes gas prices to rise across US
Gas prices across the country, including California, have increased in recent days due to conflict in the Middle East — and experts say they could keep rising as tensions with Iran escalate, according to AAA.
“The conflict in the Middle East has sent crude oil prices higher,” AAA said in a recent news release.
Crude oil is the main ingredient used to make gasoline and diesel, so when oil prices rise, drivers usually feel it at the pump.
Roughly half of what you pay at the pump comes from the cost of crude oil, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
“Crude oil prices play a major role in what drivers pay at the pump, and prices have surpassed the $100/barrel mark multiple times in recent days,” AAA said.
Crude oil briefly surged to about $119.50 per barrel on Monday, March 9, according to the Associated Press. Business Insider reports that prices have dropped to a little over $99, as of Thursday morning.
Even though the United States does not import oil from Iran, Johnson said, the conflict can still affect global supply.
What is causing California gas prices to rise?
While “a large majority” of the jump has been a result of the conflict in the Middle East, Johnson said, other factors are also pushing prices higher in California.
“Gasoline demand increases this time of year as the weather warms up and more drivers hit the road,” AAA said.
California refineries are beginning the annual switch to summer-blend gasoline, which is more expensive to produce.
The Golden State requires all gas stations to sell the seasonal fuel starting April 1, and the change typically leads to higher prices at the pump.
Refinery changes are also limiting supply on the West Coast.
Johnson said that Phillips 66 shut down in late 2025, and the Valero Benicia Refinery is set to close.
Gas prices rise above $5 per gallon at gas stations at the intersection of Auburn Boulevard and Greenback Lane in Citrus Heights on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com How much does gas cost in my California city?
As of Thursday, stations in several California cities were selling regular gas for less than the statewide average of $5.37 a gallon.
Northern California had some of the cheapest fuel costs, with a gallon of regular gas averaging $5.05 in Yuba City, $5.16 in Chico and $5.18 in Redding.
As of Thursday, these were the average prices per gallon for regular gas at metropolitan areas around California:
Bakersfield: $5.26 per gallonChico-Paradise: $5.16El Centro: $5.14Fresno: $5.32Hanford-Corcoran: $5.26Los Angeles-Long Beach: $5.41Madera-Chowchila: $5.36Merced: $5.28Modesto: $5.24Napa: $5.58Oakland: $5.47Orange County: $5.37Redding: $5.18Riverside: $5.29Sacramento: $5.33Salinas: $5.53San Bernardino: $5.29San Diego: $5.40San Francisco: $5.63San Jose: $5.44San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles: $5.54San Rafael: $5.64Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc: $5.25Santa Cruz-Watsonville: $5.34Santa Rosa: $5.57Stockton-Lodi: $5.26Vallejo-Fairfield: $5.36Ventura: $5.35Visalia-Tulare-Porterville: $5.36Yolo: $5.23Yuba City: $5.05Find cheapest gas stations in my area
GasBuddy is a price-tracking website designed to help motorists find the cheapest gas prices in their areas.
You can search for the most affordable gas stations in your area on the GasBuddy website.
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This story was originally published March 12, 2026 at 12:21 PM.
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Angela Rodriguez is a service journalism reporter for The Bee. She is a graduate of Sacramento State with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. During her time there, she worked on the State Hornet covering arts and entertainment.