Gas falls below $4: Which states have seen the biggest drops
Gas falls below $4: Which states have seen the biggest drops
Andrew DornThu, June 18, 2026 at 9:19 PM UTC
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Gas falls below $4: Which states have seen the biggest drops
(NewsNation) — Gas is below $4 a gallon for the first time since March following an interim peace deal between the U.S. and Iran.
The national average for a gallon of regular was $3.999 on Thursday, according to AAA. That's down about 50 cents from a month ago, but still roughly 25% higher than a year ago.
Drivers could see prices continue to fall in the days and weeks ahead as disruptions ease along the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for global oil flows.
What does the US-Iran deal mean for gas prices?
Still, a return to pre-war gas prices may be months away and will depend on whether energy markets continue to stabilize.
"If everything goes well and no major hurricane disruptions, we could see the national average fall below $3/gal again late this year," Patrick De Haan, GasBuddy's head of petroleum analysis, wrote Thursday.
But the national average only tells part of the story. Gas prices vary widely across the country, ranging from $5.64 in California to $3.40 in Indiana.
Prices were below $4 a gallon in 28 states Thursday but remained above that mark in 22 states.
Where have gas prices dropped the most over the past month?
Some states have seen steeper declines than others, with prices down nearly 80 cents in Illinois and Michigan, compared with roughly 30 cents in New York and Idaho.
Indiana ranked among the biggest movers, with prices falling more than 70 cents over the past month, helped in part by a state gas tax holiday.
How quickly prices rise or fall can vary due to several factors, including refinery conditions, local supply and seasonal demand.
Hawaii and Alaska have seen the smallest declines over the past month, with prices falling six cents and 24 cents, respectively.
The 10 states where gas prices have dropped the most over the past month
Change from a month ago in the average price of a gallon of regular (AAA data as of June 18, 2026)
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National average: -$0.52
Illinois: -$0.77
Michigan: -$0.76
Indiana: -$0.73
Wisconsin: -$0.72
Colorado: -$0.68
Iowa: -$0.68
Maryland: -$0.64
Minnesota: -$0.61
Ohio: -$0.60
North Carolina: -$0.58
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Where are drivers paying the most for gas?
California has the most expensive pump prices in the nation, due to a combination of higher taxes, stricter fuel requirements and supply constraints.
Even so, prices in the Golden State have dropped about 50 cents from a month ago to $5.64 a gallon. That's roughly a dollar more than a year ago.
Washington state has also seen prices retreat from an all-time high of $5.79 a gallon in mid-May to $5.44 on Thursday.
The 10 states with the highest gas prices (AAA data as of June 18, 2026)
National average: $3.99 per gallon
State
Current Avg.(6/18/26)
Year Ago Avg.
Highest Recorded Avg.
California
$5.64
$4.65
$6.44 (Jun. 14, 2022)
Hawaii
$5.57
$4.46
$5.67 (Apr. 19, 2026)
Washington
$5.44
$4.41
$5.79 (May 20, 2026)
Alaska
$5.04
$3.68
$5.61 (Jun. 19, 2022)
Oregon
$4.92
$4.02
$5.55 (Jun. 15, 2022)
Nevada
$4.84
$3.82
$5.68 (Jun. 16, 2022)
Idaho
$4.32
$3.37
$5.25 (Jul. 1, 2022)
Arizona
$4.30
$3.30
$5.39 (Jun. 17, 2022)
New York
$4.29
$3.16
$5.04 (Jun. 14, 2022)
Illinois
$4.28
$3.44
$5.56 (Jun. 13, 2022)
AAA data as of June 18, 2026
Where are drivers paying the least for gas?
Indiana has the cheapest gasoline in the U.S. at $3.40 a gallon after temporarily suspending state gas taxes.
Texas isn't far behind at $3.49, followed by Oklahoma ($3.51) and South Carolina ($3.58).
Gas tends to be cheaper near the Gulf Coast, where drivers benefit from being close to much of the nation's refinery capacity.
The 10 states with the lowest gas prices (AAA data as of June 18, 2026)
State
Current Avg.(6/18/26)
Year Ago Avg.
Highest Recorded Avg.
Indiana
$3.40
$3.13
$5.24 (Jun. 9, 2022)
Texas
$3.49
$2.80
$4.70 (Jun. 15, 2022)
Oklahoma
$3.51
$2.82
$4.67 (Jun. 15, 2022)
South Carolina
$3.58
$2.86
$4.61 (Jun. 12, 2022)
Tennessee
$3.59
$2.82
$4.64 (Jun. 12, 2022)
Louisiana
$3.59
$2.79
$4.56 (Jun. 15, 2022)
North Carolina
$3.61
$2.86
$4.67 (Jun. 13, 2022)
Mississippi
$3.61
$2.69
$4.53 (Jun. 12, 2022)
Alabama
$3.62
$2.81
$4.63 (Jun. 14, 2022)
Arkansas
$3.62
$2.83
$4.54 (Jun. 14, 2022)
AAA data as of June 18, 2026
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