Highest And Lowest Gas Prices By State: California Keeps The Top Spot

The national average price for a gallon of regular gas sits just under the $3-mark. It’s at $2.92, according to the latest data gathered from AAA. That’s up from the $2.81 average in January, but still slightly down from the $3.08 average last November. These numbers also fail to reflect the significant price variation across states.  

California now takes the top spot, with a gallon of gas costing $4.59. That beats out Hawaii, which sits at $4.40. Prices in The Golden State are up significantly from a month ago—$4.59 versus $4.27. Washington is the state with the third-highest average price at $4.16, up from $3.84. 

At the opposite end of the spectrum, drivers across the central and southern US are paying the least for regular gas. Oklahoma continues to have the lowest average gas prices in the nation, at $2.29 per gallon, up nearly 15 cents from last month. Iowa and Kansas round out the top three states with the cheapest gas, averaging $2.45 and $2.46, respectively. Texas, meanwhile, sits at $2.51

The increase in the average price for a gallon of regular gas over the last month coincides with an increase in mid-grade and premium prices, too. US consumers are now paying $3.42 and $3.79 for those fuel types, up by more than 10 cents each. These trends offer a decent picture for consumers: Gas prices are stabilizing.

Here’s a closer look at how average gas prices break down by state (as of February 17, 2026):

Lowest Gas Prices By State

1. Oklahoma — $2.299
2. Iowa — $2.451
3. Arkansas — $2.461
4. Kansas – $2.467
5. Mississippi — $2.481
6. Louisiana — $2.501
7. Texas — $2.510
8. Missouri — $2.520
9. North Dakota — $2.529
10. Wisconsin — $2.559

Highest Gas Prices By State

1. California — $4.587
2. Hawaii — $4.403
3. Washington — $4.158
4. Oregon — $3.691
5. Nevada — $3.634
6. Alaska — $3.512
7. Arizona — $3.144
8. Pennsylvania — $3.113
9. Vermont — $3.000
10. Illinois — $2.998

Gas Price By State (Lowest to Highest)

1. Oklahoma — $2.299
2. Iowa — $2.451
3. Arkansas — $2.461
4. Kansas – $2.467
5. Mississippi — $2.481
6. Louisiana — $2.501
7. Texas — $2.510
8. Missouri — $2.520
9. North Dakota — $2.529
10. Wisconsin — $2.559
11. Tennessee — $2.563
12. Minnesota — $2.576
13. Nebraska — $2.578
14. South Dakota — $2.582
15. Kentucky – $2.594
16. South Carolina — $2.598
17. Alabama — $2.610
18. New Mexico — $2.633
19. Wyoming — $2.695
20. Georgia — $2.713
21. Ohio — $2.736
22. North Carolina — $2.741
23. Montana — $2.745
24. Colorado — $2.770
25. Indiana — $2.772
26. Utah — $2.776
27. Virginia — $2.823
28. Florida — $2.838
29. New Hampshire — $2.846
30. West Virgina — $2.854
31. Delaware — $2.868
32. Rhode Island — $2.875
33. Connecticut — $2.903
34. Massachusetts — $2.905
35. Maine — $2.910
36. New Jersey — $2.943
37. Maryland — $2.929
38. Michigan — $2.944
39. Idaho — $2.964
40. New York — $2.997
41. Illinois – $2.998
42. Vermont — $3.000
43. Pennsylvania — $3.113
44. Arizona — $3.144
45. Alaska — $3.512
46. Nevada — $3.634
47. Oregon — $3.691
48. Washington — $4.158
49. Hawaii — $4.403
50. California — $4.587

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