California Gas Prices: $6/Gallon Forecast for May 2026

Gas prices in California have surged, averaging over $6 per gallon as of April 29, 2026, according to reporting from KSBW. This marks the first time the state has reached this milestone in 2026, significantly exceeding the national average of $4.23 per gallon.

The Central Coast region is particularly affected, with Monterey County averaging $6.14 per gallon, San Benito County at $6.10, and Santa Cruz County hovering around $6.00, as reported by AAA. In the Salinas metropolitan area, the average price for a gallon of regular gas is $6.12, a 4.5-cent increase from the previous day, 13.3 cents from the previous week, and 18.3 cents from a month ago.

Despite the current high prices, the area’s highest recorded average price for regular unleaded remains $6.598, set on June 14, 2022. However, the current prices make the Salinas area the fifth most expensive place in the state to purchase gasoline.

Diesel prices are also elevated in the Salinas area, averaging $7.655 per gallon, which is 17.3 cents higher than the state average of $7.482 and just below the area’s record diesel average of $7.812, set on April 9, 2026.

California Leads Nation in Gas Prices

California consistently maintains the highest gas prices in the nation, exceeding prices in Hawaii by more than 30 cents, according to data from April 1, 2026, compiled by SmartAsset. The average cost of a gallon of regular gas in California is $5.89, representing a 21.4% increase compared to the same period last year.

Mid-grade fuel in California averages $6.13 per gallon, while premium costs $6.32. Diesel prices are significantly higher, averaging $7.52 per gallon.

National Trends and Price Increases

Nationwide, gas prices have increased nearly 30% recently, with every state experiencing double-digit increases, according to LendingTree. While California leads the nation in price, other states are also seeing substantial increases. Arizona and Florida have experienced price increases of just over 37% since last year.

Oklahoma currently has the least expensive gas in the country, at $3.27 per gallon, despite an 18.3% year-over-year increase. However, diesel prices have seen even more dramatic increases, with Arizona, South Carolina, Nevada, Texas, North Carolina, and Florida all experiencing increases of over 60% since last year.

The national average cost of a gallon of diesel has increased by 50.2% since last year, rising from $3.62 to $5.43.

Gas prices across California are nearing $6 a gallon, while the national average remains above $4.

Ricardo Tovar, Digital Content Manager at KSBW

The rising gas prices are attributed, in part, to military operations in the Middle East and subsequent pressure on the Strait of Hormuz, as noted by SmartAsset.