Will CA gas prices soar after Iran air strikes? Here’s what you’ll pay at the pump
Ongoing conflicts in the Middle East are driving up prices at California gasoline stations.
California drivers typically pay the highest fuel prices in the United States with the average cost of regular gasoline reaching $4.65 per gallon, as of Tuesday, June 24.
That is more than a dollar higher than the national average of $3.22.
While the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in California was about 20 cents less than a month ago, AAA reported that oil prices are being affected by global tensions.
“Ongoing tensions in the Middle East have added uncertainty to global and domestic gasoline markets,” AAA said in a news release on Sunday, June 22. “U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and Iran’s response prompted a modest rise in oil prices during early trading this week, though markets have since steadied.”
If you are commuting or traveling in California, here’s how much you can expect to pay at the pump:
How much will gas prices rise due to Middle East conflict?
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at fuel price website GasBuddy, said gas prices are rising faster than they have since the summer of 2024.
“Few pumps have been immune, with nearly all states seeing gas prices rise over the last week,” he told the Miami Herald.
He said average gas prices saw their biggest weekly increase since August 2023, when gas prices peaked at $5.13 per gallon.
“Now, with the U.S. launching attacks on Iran, oil prices are likely to continue trending higher,” De Haan said. “That said, I do not expect the apocalyptic spikes being circulated by some so-called influencers on social media — many of which are wildly inaccurate.”
Drivers can expect prices to keep rising over the next few days, with the national average price for a gallon of regular gas possibly going up seven to 15 cents, he said. The price for diesel could rise by 10 to 20 cents.
“These forecasts remain fluid and could shift quickly depending on global developments,” De Haan said.
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Current gas prices around California
As of Tuesday, June 24, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in California was about $4.65, according to AAA.
Around the same time in 2024, the statewide average was approximately $4.81.
These were the average prices per gallon for regular gas at metropolitan areas around California:
- Bakersfield: $4.58 per gallon
- Chico-Paradise: $4.60
- El Centro: $4.38
- Fresno: $4.71
- Hanford-Corcoran: $4.50
- Los Angeles-Long Beach: $4.64
- Madera-Chowchila: $4.68
- Merced: $4.52
- Modesto: $4.41
- Napa: $5.01
- Oakland: $4.76
- Orange County: $4.57
- Redding: $4.51
- Riverside: $4.47
- Sacramento: $4.65
- Salinas: $4.94
- San Bernardino: $4.50
- San Diego: $4.68
- San Francisco: $4.90
- San Jose: $4.74
- San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles: $4.92
- San Rafael: $4.79
- Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc: $4.61
- Santa Cruz-Watsonville: $4.93
- Santa Rosa: $4.92
- Stockton-Lodi: $4.57
- Vallejo-Fairfield: $4.74
- Ventura: $4.66
- Visalia-Tulare-Porterville: $4.67
- Yolo: $4.61
- Yuba City: $4.43
Where can I find cheapest gas prices in my area?
GasBuddy is a price-tracking website designed to help motorists find the cheapest gas prices in their areas.
You can search for the most affordable gas stations in your area on the GasBuddy website.
This story was originally published June 24, 2025 at 2:01 PM with the headline "Will CA gas prices soar after Iran air strikes? Here’s what you’ll pay at the pump."
