Gas prices in California today
Regular gasoline in California averages $5.39 per gallon as of Monday, July 13, 2026, 152 cents per gallon above the US national average of $3.87 [EIA · 13 Jul 2026]. On-highway diesel is $6.49, 161 cents off the national diesel mean of $4.88. Highest pump price in the lower 48: CARB summer blend, the nation's highest excise, cap-and-trade and LCFS all stack.
Source: [EIA · 13 Jul 2026] · State excise: 63.4 cents/gal · PADD 5
California's pump-price cost stack
Every gallon you buy at the pump breaks down into five named slices. For California today, the stack looks like this:
Crude / refining / distribution shares estimated from EIA Petroleum Marketing Monthly. Federal excise from FHWA Highway Statistics. State excise from the API Motor Fuel Tax Map and Tax Foundation 2026. [EIA · 13 Jul 2026] [API · 13 Jul 2026]
Border-state comparison
For drivers crossing in or out of California, here is how the neighbours print today:
Use the border comparator to compute the per-tank savings of crossing into a cheaper neighbour, and the round-trip mileage at which the detour pays for itself.
Cheapest metro in California
Today's cheapest metro in California is generally Bakersfield. Within-state spread is typically 20-40 cents per gallon depending on county tax overlays, station brand and distance from the wholesale rack. AAA publishes metro-level detail for California updated daily.
FAQ
What is the current average price of regular gas in California?
$5.39 per gallon as of Monday, July 13, 2026, 152 cents above the national average. [EIA · 13 Jul 2026]
What is California's state gas tax?
63.4 cents per gallon state excise, plus the 18.4 cents federal excise. [API · 13 Jul 2026]
Where is gas cheapest in California today?
Bakersfield is typically the cheapest metro. Regional spread is normal at 20-40 cents per gallon.