The national average price for regular gas decreased slightly on Friday to $4.153 per gallon, according to AAA, bucking the weekslong trend of rising gas prices since February. The one-cent decline in costs marked the first time that gas prices had dropped since the announcement of the two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran.
Since setting a five-year low at $2.79 per gallon on Jan. 12, gas prices have steadily climbed over the weeks. Initially, severe winter weather across the country was blamed for the gradual price hike, as snowstorms in January and February disrupted oil refinery operations and production, affecting pricing. However, gas prices began to soar as Operation Epic Fury commenced. 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.
Despite Friday’s drop in the national average pricing, gas costs are still more expensive today than at the beginning of the week, when regular gas cost $4.12 per gallon. Gas prices rose a little over six cents per gallon from a week ago. And compared to a month ago, gas prices are approximately 62 cents per gallon higher. Fuel costs are also significantly more expensive than a year ago, when a gallon of regular gas was only $3.222, according to AAA.
The military conflict with Iran, including Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the subsequent increase in gas prices, has made it a hotly contested topic in the nation’s political discourse, similar to how high gas prices were a frequent point of concern during former President Joe Biden’s term. Friday’s price of $4.153 per gallon remains a record high for either of Trump’s terms. Affordable gas prices and fuel costs had typically been a staple of President Donald Trump’s terms, up to and including January 2026.
Current fuel costs don’t resemble the affordable prices of the Trump administration but more closely resemble those reached under former President Joe Biden. While the recent increase in gas costs has not reached the record highs of June 2022, when the national average was over $5 per gallon, if gas prices continue to rise at the current pace, a new national record high could be set shortly. This is especially true given the traditional hike in gas prices that occurs through Memorial Day Weekend, which is only 45 days away.
Regardless of the fluctuation of national highs and lows, fuel costs do vary depending on the section of the country. The lowest prices are typically found among the Midwestern states, while the most expensive gas prices in the nation are in the states along the Pacific coast and in the western part of the country.
California remains the state with the highest statewide average gas price in the country at $5.916 per gallon. Hawaii is next at $5.634 per gallon. This is followed by Washington state at $5.401. Oregon is next at $5.009, followed by Nevada at $5.003.
Oklahoma has the nation’s lowest gas prices, at $3.479 per gallon. Kansas is next at $3.498 per gallon. North Dakota is next with a statewide average of $3.608, followed by Nebraska at $3.642. This is followed by Arkansas, which has a statewide average of $3.655 per gallon.
Click here 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 $4.289 on Friday. This was a slight decrease from Thursday’s pricing of $4.293. A week ago, gas in the district was just $4.236, while a month ago, fuel costs were much lower in Washington, D.C., at $3.563 per gallon.
Maryland
Gas prices in Maryland also dropped on Friday to $4.162 per gallon. This was a marginal decrease from Thursday’s cost of $4.199. Friday’s pricing was much higher than a week ago, when the statewide average in Maryland was $4.066 per gallon. As in every state, gas prices in Maryland were significantly lower a month ago, when the state’s average price was $3.503 per gallon.
Delaware
Gas prices in Delaware were lower than the national average on Friday, at $4.033 per gallon. This was a 2-cent decrease from Thursday, when the average gas price in the First State was $4.055. A week ago, gas in Delaware was 14 cents less expensive than on Friday, with a statewide average of $3.892. A month ago, the average price for a gallon of regular gas in Delaware was only $3.376.
Virginia
The average price for a gallon of regular gas in Virginia on Friday is $4.046, lower than the national average and less than the price in Washington, D.C. Fuel costs in Virginia were approximately two cents cheaper than on Thursday, when the price was $4.064 per gallon. Like every other state, gas prices in Virginia increased from a week ago, when gas was only $4.03 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 $3.32.