By admin 
If you’re planning to hit the road for Labor Day weekend, be prepared to pay more at the pump.
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According to AAA, gas prices are on track to reach record highs for the Labor Day holiday, as crude oil costs continue to rise.
“Labor Day week travelers are facing the highest gas prices ever for this time of year,” AAA said in a Thursday, Sept. 3, news release.
Gas prices have climbed across the country as ongoing tensions involving the United States and Iran continue to create uncertainty in global oil markets.
Although gasoline demand typically declines after the busy summer driving season, AAA said, lower demand has not been enough to offset higher crude oil prices.
“After a record-setting August, this Labor Day weekend is on track to also set a record at the pump,” AAA said.
Here’s what California drivers should expect to pay Labor Day weekend in 2026:
What are current gas prices in California?
Gas prices have increased across much of the country over the past week, including in California, according to AAA.
“The national average is $4.14, up 4 cents from last week,” AAA said in the Thursday news release.
In California, the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline reached about $5.81 on Friday, Sept. 4.
That is roughly $1.67 more than the national average.
California gas prices have climbed about 16 cents per gallon over the past week, according to AAA.
Nationally, the current record for Labor Day is $3.82 per gallon — set on Sept. 3, 2012.
“The national average has never been above $4 per gallon on Labor Day,” AAA said.
California’s current prices still remain below the state’s all-time record high. In June 2022, the average price for regular gasoline reached about $6.44 per gallon.
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Diesel prices also reached a record high of $7.75 per gallon on April 9.
How much are gas prices in my area?
As of Friday, Sept. 4, these were the average per-gallon prices for regular gas at metropolitan areas around California:
- Bakersfield: $5.77 per gallon
- Chico-Paradise: $5.58
- El Centro: $5.59
- Fresno: $5.77
- Hanford-Corcoran: $5.72
- Los Angeles-Long Beach: $5.86
- Madera-Chowchila: $5.79
- Merced: $5.70
- Modesto: $5.60
- Napa: $5.97
- Oakland: $5.83
- Orange County: $5.84
- Redding: $5.60
- Riverside: $5.74
- Sacramento: $5.73
- Salinas: $5.95
- San Bernardino: $5.75
- San Diego: $5.92
- San Francisco: $5.95
- San Jose: $5.79
- San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles: $6.05
- San Rafael: $5.95
- Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc: $5.80
- Santa Cruz-Watsonville: $5.75
- Santa Rosa: $6.01
- Stockton-Lodi: $5.65
- Vallejo-Fairfield: $5.75
- Ventura: $5.77
- Visalia-Tulare-Porterville: $5.73
- Yolo: $5.67
- Yuba City: $5.50
Why are California gas prices rising?
Gasoline prices typically begin easing as summer driving winds down. This year, higher crude oil prices are keeping pressure on prices at the pump.
According to AAA, continued instability in the Strait of Hormuz is raising concerns about global oil supplies and contributing to higher crude prices.
The latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows crude oil prices remaining around $84 per barrel.
Other geopolitical developments are also affecting global fuel markets.
“The factors with the most immediate impact on where prices go from here remain the ongoing developments between the U.S. and Iran and continued Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries, both of which continue to exert outsized influence on global fuel markets,” Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said in an Aug. 31 news release.
He said “motorists should expect continued volatility in the weeks ahead.”
How can I find the cheapest gas stations near me?
If you’re looking to save money on your Labor Day road trip, comparing prices before filling up can help.
GasBuddy allows drivers to search for gas stations and compare fuel prices in their area.
You can use the GasBuddy website to find stations with the lowest reported prices near you before heading to the pump.
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