Kou Vue of Fresno pumps gas at a Shell gas station on McKinley and Peach avenues in Fresno. Regular gasoline cost about $6.39 per gallon on average as of Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. CRAIG KOHLRUSS Fresno Bee file
Gas prices in California just climbed to their highest point so far in 2026, according to AAA.
According to AAA, California had the most expensive fuel in the nation as of Monday, Sept. 28.
That’s bad news for Fresno drivers.
“Typically, the start of autumn brings lower gas prices, but lingering volatility in the Strait of Hormuz and the high cost of crude oil are driving up pump prices,” AAA said in a Thursday, Sept. 24, news release.
Here’s what drivers can expect to pay in Fresno County — and where to find the cheapest gas stations:
Peter Zamarripa of Fresno pumps gas at US Gas and Food on Clinton Avenue near Highway 99 in Fresno in 2019. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com What are current gas prices in California?
Prices for regular gasoline across the United States reached an average $4.48 per gallon on Monday, Sept. 28, according to AAA.
That makes this the most expensive September on record, AAA said.
The previous per-gallon record for September — $3.83 per — was set in 2023.
In June 2022, the national average reached an all-time high of about $5.02 per gallon.
Diesel prices also rose, with the national average reaching a record $6.53 per gallon on Sept. 22, according to AAA.
The average price of regular gasoline in California hit about $6.36 per gallon on Monday, about $1.89 more than the national average.
California’s average has risen roughly 20 cents in the past week, from $6.17 per gallon, according to AAA.
Gas prices are about $1.72 higher than they were a year ago, when the state average was $4.65 per gallon.
Gas cost less than $4 at an Arco station in Fresno on Dec. 19, 2025. Less than a year later, gas is averaging $6.39 per gallon in the Fresno area. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com How do Fresno gas prices compare?
As of Monday, Sept. 28, the average price of a gallon of regular gas in the Fresno metropolitan area was about $6.39 per gallon, according to AAA.
That’s about 21 cents more than a week ago, and 81 cents higher than a month earlier.
A year ago, regular gas averaged about $4.60 per gallon in Fresno — nearly $1.80 lower than the current average.
Fresno recorded its highest average price for diesel on Sept. 23 at $8.50 per gallon.
Fresno is among the California metropolitan areas with the most expensive gas. CRAIG KOHLRUSS Fresno Bee file Which California metro areas have the most expensive gas?
As of Monday, Sept. 28, Fresno was among the 10 metro areas with the most expensive gas in California, according to AAA.
Here’s where gas cost the most:
Santa Rosa: $6.59 per gallon.San Rafael: $6.57San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles: $6.56San Francisco: $6.56Salinas: $6.51Napa: $6.50Oakland: $6.42Los Angeles-Long Beach: $6.41Fresno: $6.39San Diego: $6.39Which California cities have the lowest gas prices?
According to AAA, these 10 metro areas had the cheapest gas prices on average as of Monday, with costs as low as $6.06 for a gallon of regular gasoline:
Yuba City: $6.06 per gallonEl Centro: $6.07Chico-Paradise: $6.13Modesto: $6.15Redding: $6.17Merced: $6.21Stockton-Lodi: $6.22Yolo: $6.28Sacramento: $6.29Bakersfield: $6.29 
Could California gas prices get even higher?
Fuel prices could remain volatile in the coming weeks.
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said some parts of the country could see declines if oil prices drop below $100 per barrel.
“Diesel in the Great Lakes should also begin easing, though that relief may take several more days to materialize,” De Haan said. “With oil holding below $100 per barrel, many Americans may see modest declines ahead for gasoline and slight drops for diesel, but the West Coast faces continued pressure with further increases possible.”
Where to find cheapest gas prices in Fresno County
GasBuddy is a price-tracking website designed to help motorists find the cheapest gas prices in their areas.
As of Monday, Sept. 28, several Fresno County gas stations were offering prices below the local average of $6.39.
According to GasBuddy, these were 10 of the cheapest gas stations in Fresno County based on the cash price for a gallon of regular gasoline:
Diamond Gas & Mart, 225 North H St., Fresno — $5.67 per gallonWalmart, 14037 West Whitesbridge Ave., Kerman — $5.69Fastrip, 850 Academy Ave., Sanger — $5.77FUEL UP!, 4994 East Ashlan Ave., Fresno — $5.79Berri Brothers, 4201 East Shields Ave., Fresno — $5.79FUEL UP!, 1021 East Shaw Ave., Fresno — $5.79Valero, 3531 South Academy Ave., Sanger — $5.79Sinclair, 1014 East Bullard Ave., Fresno — $5.85EZ Trip, 2171 West Shaw Ave., Fresno — $5.87Foods Co, 3053 East Shields Ave., Fresno — $5.89
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This story was originally published September 28, 2026 at 3:09 PM.
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Gagandeep Singh is a service journalism reporter for The Fresno Bee. He holds a master’s degree in politics and global affairs from Columbia University. Prior to working at The Bee, he worked as a freelancer for CalMatters, BBC News and the Los Angeles Times. He focuses on migration, education, criminal justice and the South Asian diaspora in California.