Where should I fill up this week?
Pick your state on the gas price map to see this week’s gas and diesel prices, the cheapest day to fill up and the discounts I think are actually worth using.
Next update: Monday, Oct. 5 (EIA publishes new prices every Monday).
This week at the pump
My weekly gas price report: what changed in the latest EIA data, where prices moved and what I’d do about it. Written by Nathan Brooks.
- Gas Prices Slip Again, but October Is Still the Priciest on Record
The national average for regular fell to $4.33 a gallon, the third weekly drop in a row. Colorado bucked the trend, and drivers are still paying about $1.27 more than a year ago.
Weekly government data: EIA Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update ↗ · Forecast: EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook ↗
Fuel & oil market this week
Other grades at the pump, and crude oil, the number I watch most closely because it drives almost everything else.
Gas prices this year
Weekly U.S. average for regular gas. Prices fell to a July low, jumped in September and have been easing slowly since the Sept. 21 peak.
What’s in a gallon of gas?
Crude oil is the biggest part, so when oil gets more expensive, pump prices usually follow. EIA breakdown for May 2026 ($4.48/gal).
Gas stations near you
Type your ZIP code or city to see the closest gas stations on a map, with directions. Before you drive across town to save a few cents, check my quick math on when it’s worth it.
Use my location or see how to find the cheapest gas near you.
Gas price map by state
Average price of regular gas this week. Tap or click a state to see this week’s average price.
Good to know: the EIA publishes its own average for only 9 states. The other 41 states and D.C. show the average for their region, so neighboring states may share the same price.
EIA weekly averages, Sept. 21, 2026. California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Texas and Washington use state averages; other states use their region’s average.
Cheapest and most expensive states
Average price of regular gas from AAA, Oct. 2, 2026. AAA’s national average is $4.40. The gap between the cheapest and the most expensive state is more than $2.60 a gallon, and taxes explain only part of it.
Why these numbers differ slightly from the EIA prices above: AAA reports a daily average from station data, while the EIA surveys stations once a week, on Mondays. Both are reliable; they just measure on different days, so they can be a few cents apart.
✅ 10 cheapest
- Indiana$3.79
- Georgia$3.91
- Texas$3.94
- Louisiana$3.96
- Tennessee$3.96
- Mississippi$3.96
- South Carolina$3.97
- Arkansas$3.98
- Alabama$4.01
- Kentucky$4.03
⚠️ 10 most expensive
- California$6.40
- Hawaii$5.63
- Washington$5.49
- Nevada$5.49
- Oregon$5.04
- Alaska$5.03
- Idaho$4.96
- Utah$4.96
- Arizona$4.77
- Illinois$4.70
Save on every fill-up
Discounts most drivers never use. Many are free, and stacking a store program with a rewards app is the easiest saving I know of.
Limited-time deals · October 2026
Amazon Prime + bp earnify
Prime members who link Prime to the free earnify app save 20¢ a gallon every Friday at bp, Amoco, ampm and Thorntons (up to 35 gallons), starting Oct. 2 and running into early 2027. Other days: 10¢ off.
See earnify ↗7-Eleven & Speedway
The 7th-and-11th promotion for free 7Rewards and Speedy Rewards members ended on Oct. 11, its last date. I’ll list the next one here as soon as it’s announced.
See 7Rewards ↗Mobil Supreme+ race weekend
Exxon Mobil Rewards+ members earn 18¢ a gallon in points on Mobil Supreme+ premium during the Porsche Carrera Cup race weekend.
See Rewards+ ↗Black Friday: warehouse clubs and Walmart+ often discount memberships in November. I’ll add 2026 offers here as soon as they’re announced.
Everyday savings programs
Kroger Points (formerly Fuel Points)
for every 100 points, up to $1 off per gallon. You earn 1 point per $1 on most groceries (2x with Boost).
See the official program ↗Shell Fuel Rewards
Free to join, now in the Shell App. Savings grow with status: about 3¢ to start, 5¢ at Gold and 10¢ at Platinum.
See the official program ↗Costco, Sam’s Club & BJ’s
Members-only gas, usually cheaper than nearby stations. BJ’s says members save 20¢/gal on average. Memberships start at $60 (Sam’s Club) and $65 (Costco) a year. New Costco members currently get a $20 Shop Card with Gold Star.
Is a membership worth it for gas? →Walmart+
At participating Walmart, Murphy, Exxon, Mobil and Citgo stations when you pay with the Walmart app, plus member prices at Sam’s Club. Membership $98 a year.
See Walmart+ details ↗ExxonMobil Rewards+
In points on regular (6¢ on premium). Free app; up to 20¢ when stacked with other Exxon Mobil offers.
See the official program ↗bp earnify
Automatic at bp and Amoco with the free app, plus 1 point per $1 spent on fuel.
See the official program ↗Savings and fees checked Oct. 2, 2026. I recheck limited-time deals every two weeks. Programs change often, so confirm details on each official site. FuelPriceScout isn’t paid for these links.
Quick calculators
Answers in 10 seconds. No sign-up.
Propane prices: the heating season has started
The EIA’s weekly survey of home propane prices is back. In the first week of the season (Oct. 5, 2026), the U.S. average was $2.60 a gallon, about 18¢ more than a year earlier. My read: higher than last winter, but nothing like the jump drivers have seen at the gas pump. See every state on propane prices by state. And here’s what a whole propane winter will cost in each state.
Exchange tanks (Blue Rhino, AmeriGas) usually hold 15 lb, not 20. Refilling your own tank is often much cheaper per pound.
Many U-Haul, Tractor Supply and some gas stations refill tanks. Exchange cages are at grocery, hardware and gas stations.
Propane news this week
- Wholesale prices keep rising. Propane at Mont Belvieu, Texas, the main U.S. pricing hub, averaged about 90¢ a gallon in the week of Oct. 2, the fifth weekly increase in a row (EIA). Those moves usually reach home delivery prices a few weeks later.
- Storage is strong. U.S. propane inventories were 107.8 million barrels in the week ending Oct. 2, about 7% more than a year earlier (EIA). Supply isn’t the worry this fall.
- Winter outlook. The EIA’s Winter Fuels Outlook, released Oct. 6, expects propane-heated homes to spend less on average than last winter.
- My advice right now: compare two or three local quotes before you fill or sign a pre-buy, and order when your tank reads about 30%. More in my weekly propane update.
Photo: Unsplash
Quick answers
Why are gas prices so high right now?
Mainly because crude oil is expensive. Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the route for about one-fifth of the world’s oil, has been disrupted since the conflict involving Iran began in early 2026, and supply problems in other oil-producing regions have added to the squeeze. The EIA estimates that global oil inventories have fallen by about 400 million barrels this year. U.S. crude averaged over $100 a barrel in the week to Sept. 18, and some refinery problems added to the jump. AAA says September 2026 is on track to be the most expensive September on record. The EIA expects prices to ease in 2027 as oil flows recover. More on this week’s prices.
Why is diesel so much more expensive than gas?
Diesel and heating oil come from the same part of each barrel, and U.S. stocks of these fuels are very low this year. The EIA expects them to stay low through much of 2027, which keeps diesel prices high.
What is the cheapest day to buy gas?
Nationally, Sunday and Monday are usually the cheapest, and Wednesday to Friday the most expensive, according to GasBuddy’s 2026 study. The gap is usually 4–9 cents per gallon, and much larger in states where prices jump in cycles, such as Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Florida.
Why is gas so expensive in California?
California has the highest state gas tax (about 74 cents per gallon in July 2026), a special cleaner-burning fuel blend and few refineries supplying the state.
How much of the price is tax?
About 12% on average. Everyone pays the 18.4-cent federal tax, and state taxes range from about 9 cents in Alaska to about 74 cents in California (July 2026).
Is Costco gas really cheaper?
Usually yes, often by 5 to 25 cents a gallon, but you need a membership. If you buy about 50 gallons a month and save 15 cents a gallon, you save $90 a year, more than the $65 fee.
Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA): Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update (week of Sept. 28, 2026), weekly price history, Short-Term Energy Outlook (Sept. 2026) and Weekly Heating Oil and Propane Prices · AAA national and state averages (Oct. 2, 2026) · GasBuddy best day to buy gas 2026 · Tax Foundation state gas taxes (July 2026) · official program pages. FuelPriceScout is an independent website. We are not affiliated with the EIA, AAA, GasBuddy or any gas station, and prices at the pump can differ from these averages. Last updated: Sept. 28, 2026 (latest EIA weekly data).