Gas prices in the U.S. continue to rise due to the war in Iran, even after the official announcement of a ceasefire. The national average for a gallon of regular gas increased to $4.164 on Wednesday, a more than two-cents-per-gallon increase from 24 hours earlier. It’s the tenth straight day of increases at the pumps, continuing a trend of the highest fuel prices since 2022.
Since setting a five-year low for fuel costs at $2.79 per gallon on Jan. 12, gas prices have risen. Initially, severe winter weather nationwide was blamed for the gradual price hike in late January and early February. Snowstorms disrupted oil refinery operations and production, affecting pricing. However, gas prices began to soar with the commencement of Operation Epic Fury on Feb. 28. At the beginning of March, a gallon of regular gas increased to $2.984. By March 31, the national average price for regular gas rose to $4.018 per gallon.
Wednesday’s gas pricing was over 4 cents per gallon higher than on Monday. Over the last week, the national average increased by 10 cents per gallon. A month ago, a gallon of regular gas was $3.45. Fuel costs are also significantly higher than a year ago, when a gallon of regular gas was only $3.246, according to AAA.
The military conflict in Iran and the subsequent increase in fuel costs have made gas prices a hotly contested topic in the nation’s political discourse, as they were during former President Joe Biden’s term. Wednesday’s price of $4.164 per gallon is a record high for either of Trump’s terms, and prices keep increasing every day. Affordable gas prices and fuel costs had typically been a staple of Trump’s terms, up to and including January 2026, but that is no longer the case.
Current gas prices don’t resemble the cost-efficient, affordable fuel costs of the Trump administration but more closely resemble those reached under former President Joe Biden. Currently, prices are far from matching the highest price ever recorded in June 2022, when the national average was over $5 per gallon. However, if gas prices continue to rise at the current pace, a new national record high could be established shortly. This is especially true given the traditional hike in gas prices that occurs through Memorial Day Weekend, which is only 47 days away.
Despite their current high costs, gas prices vary by region of the country. The West Coast has the highest gas prices in the U.S., a trend that has persisted for years. Meanwhile, Midwestern states hold the distinction of having the nation’s lowest gas prices.
Oklahoma has the nation’s lowest gas prices, at $3.431 per gallon. Kansas is next at $3.442 per gallon. This is followed by North Dakota at $3.56 per gallon. Nebraska is next, with a statewide average of $3.602 per gallon, followed by Missouri at $3.618 per gallon.
California remains the state with the highest statewide average gas price in the country at $5.934 per gallon. Hawaii is next at $5.621 per gallon. This is followed by Washington state at $5.395. Nevada is next at $5.015, followed by Oregon at $5.013.
Click here to see the cost of gas in different states. Read below to see the average prices for a gallon of regular gas in and around Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Fuel prices in the nation’s capital are higher than the national average, with a cost of $4.296 on Wednesday. This was a slight increase from Monday’s pricing of $4.281. A week ago, gas in the district was just $4.197 while regular gas in Washington, D.C., was $3.461 per gallon a month ago.
Maryland
Similar to the national average, gas prices in Maryland increased on Wednesday to $4.197 per gallon, a big jump from Monday’s $4.088. Wednesday’s price was also higher than a week ago, when residents in the state paid $4.048 per gallon for regular gas. A month ago, the price of gas in Maryland was much lower at $3.485 per gallon and a year ago, fuel costs in the state were only at $3.275 per gallon.
Delaware
Gas prices in Delaware were lower than the national average and just now broke the $4-per-gallon threshold, at $4.047. This is a 13-cent increase from Monday, when gas was $3.914. A week ago, gas in the First State was $3.885 per gallon, and a month ago, fuel was just $3.365.
Virginia
The average price for a gallon of regular gas in Virginia on Wednesday is $4.076, lower than the national average and less than the price in Washington, D.C. Fuel costs are only two cents higher than Monday. Similar to every other state, prices in Virginia increased from a week ago when gas was only $3.972 per gallon. Moreover, following the trend in every other state, gas prices were also significantly lower in Virginia a month ago, when a gallon of regular gas was down to $3.284.