California Gas Prices Today
Regular gasoline in California averages $6.10 per gallon as of the EIA week of 2026-10-12 — $1.77 above the national average of $4.33. Diesel averages $8.09 per gallon. California has the nation's highest state fuel taxes and fees (over 68¢ per gallon), requires a special low-emission CARB gasoline blend that few refineries outside the state can produce, and its cap-and-trade and low-carbon-fuel programs add further cents per gallon. With limited pipeline links to other regions, local refinery outages can spike prices fast.
California vs Region vs US (EIA week of 2026-10-12)
| Area | Regular ($/gal) | vs California |
|---|---|---|
| California | 6.10 | — |
| West Coast (region) | 5.64 | -0.46 |
| US average | 4.33 | -1.77 |
EIA weekly retail averages. Compare all published states, see gas prices by year, or read what actually sets pump prices.
All EIA-Published States This Week
| State | Regular ($/gal) | vs US avg |
|---|---|---|
| California | 6.10 | +1.77 |
| Washington | 5.38 | +1.05 |
| New York | 4.35 | +0.02 |
| Massachusetts | 4.26 | -0.07 |
| Minnesota | 4.18 | -0.15 |
| Colorado | 4.18 | -0.16 |
| Florida | 3.98 | -0.35 |
| Ohio | 3.87 | -0.46 |
| Texas | 3.78 | -0.55 |
EIA publishes weekly prices for these states; it does not survey all 50 individually.
What Sets the Price in California
| Factor | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State fuel taxes & fees | ≈68¢/gal on top of the 18.4¢ federal excise (≈86.4¢ combined) — Highest in the nation; excise indexed to inflation, plus cap-and-trade and LCFS program costs on top | Approximate, see gas tax by state |
| Required blend | CARB reformulated gasoline — a stricter recipe than the federal RFG used elsewhere | California Air Resources Board |
| Climate programs | Cap-and-trade allowances and the Low Carbon Fuel Standard both add per-gallon compliance cost | CARB program design |
| Supply links | Effectively a fuel island — no major pipelines carry gasoline in from the Gulf Coast, so shortfalls arrive by tanker | EIA West Coast market notes |
| Refining | A relatively small number of large in-state refineries make most of the CARB blend | EIA refinery capacity data |
Taxes are one of four components of the pump price — see the full breakdown of crude, refining, distribution and tax.
Why California Prices Move Differently
The fuel-island effect
- Because almost no outside refinery makes CARB gasoline, California cannot simply pull barrels from the Gulf Coast when supply tightens.
- Replacement cargoes come by ship from Asia or the US Gulf around Panama, which takes weeks — so an outage shows up at the pump before relief arrives.
- That is why California spikes are sharper and last longer than the national average, then fade once resupply lands.
What to watch
- Unplanned refinery outages, especially in the Bay Area and Los Angeles basin.
- The spring switch to summer blend, which tightens supply and typically lifts prices into the driving season.
- Annual excise indexing and any change to cap-and-trade or LCFS credit prices.
- Compare against the national and PADD averages to separate a California-specific move from a nationwide one.
California Gas Price FAQ
What is the average gas price in California right now?
Regular gasoline in California averages $6.10 per gallon (EIA, week of 2026-10-12) — $1.77 above the US average of $4.33. Diesel averages $8.09.
Why are California gas prices higher than the national average?
California has the nation's highest state fuel taxes and fees (over 68¢ per gallon), requires a special low-emission CARB gasoline blend that few refineries outside the state can produce, and its cap-and-trade and low-carbon-fuel programs add further cents per gallon. With limited pipeline links to other regions, local refinery outages can spike prices fast.
How often are these prices updated?
The EIA publishes state and regional retail prices every Monday; this page refreshes automatically when new data lands. EIA covers selected large states weekly — for daily crowd-sourced prices per county or station, AAA and GasBuddy complement this official weekly view.
Why is gas so much more expensive in California than in Texas?
Three stacked reasons. California levies the highest state fuel taxes and fees in the country, while Texas has among the lowest. California also mandates its own CARB gasoline blend that costs more to make, whereas Texas burns conventional or federal-blend gasoline. Finally Texas sits inside the Gulf Coast refining hub with abundant local supply, while California is an isolated market that must import replacement barrels by sea.
Will California gas prices come down?
The tax and climate-program share of the price is structural and does not fall with crude. What does move is the crude cost and the refining margin, so California prices ease when oil falls or when refineries return from maintenance — but the state keeps a persistent premium over the US average because the tax and blend costs remain.