The national average price for regular gas rose to $2.984 per gallon on Sunday to begin March.
The new pricing marks a five-cent increase from a week ago and slightly over an 11-cent rise since the beginning of February, when gas was $2.87 per gallon. With the current military conflict between Iran and the United States and Tehran retaliating by closing the Strait of Hormuz to navigation, considered one of the world’s most important oil export routes, gas prices are expected to increase further. However, even before the current hostilities, fuel costs have been steadily rising, increasing nearly twenty cents since dropping to $2.79 per gallon on Jan. 12.
The recent increase in gas prices was attributed to severe winter weather across the country over the past month. Snowstorms in January and February disrupted oil refinery operations and production, affecting pricing.
“The winter storm that wreaked havoc on most of the nation has led to supply disruptions and pushed up the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline to $2.87,” according to AAA. “Below-freezing temperatures and lingering snow have disrupted some crude production and refinery operations, while gasoline demand increased pre-storm as drivers filled up their tanks ahead of the severe winter weather.”
Gas prices are still lower than a year ago, even amid the current surge, according to AAA. A year ago, the national average cost of a gallon of regular gas was $3.103.
The nearly 20-cent increase since January represents an anomaly in fuel costs since Trump has been president, in both terms. Affordable gas pricing has been a staple of both of his administrations, and the six weeks of fuel costs under $3 per gallon were a stark contrast to the expensive gas pricing during the Biden administration.
During Biden’s time in office, the price for regular gas in the U.S. averaged $3.555 per gallon, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. During this time, the highest yearly average for regular gasoline in U.S. history was recorded at $4.059 per gallon in 2022. The highest monthly average for a gallon of regular gas in U.S. history also occurred during Biden’s term, in June 2022, when the price was $5.032 per gallon.
The most affordable statewide average gas prices are in the South, while the most expensive fuel costs in the country are along the West Coast. Currently, 39 states have average prices below the $3-per-gallon threshold. Earlier in the winter, there were as many as 43 states.
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California has the most expensive gas prices in the country to begin March at $4.646 per gallon. The Golden State has had the highest fuel costs in the country for most of the last two years. However, earlier in 2026, and during some periods in the previous 24 months, Hawaii was the most expensive. Incidentally, Hawaii is currently the state with the second-highest gas prices at $4.394 per gallon.
Next is Washington state with an average of $4.366 per gallon, followed by Oregon at $3.921 and Nevada at $3.701.
Oklahoma has the nation’s least-expensive gas prices at $2.475 per gallon. Mississippi is next at $2.547. Kansas is next at $2.551, followed by Tennessee at $2.571, and Louisiana at $2.572 per gallon.
