With electrification becoming less of a priority for automakers, most drivers’ attention has again turned to gas prices. Whether you drive an ICE vehicle or a hybrid, gas prices will continue to be an expense you have to live with. You might think gas prices are high where you live – and you might be right! – but we’ve found the five US cities and towns that have some of the worst gas prices around.
To be clear, we’re not simply listing the cities or small towns with the highest gas prices. That would be too easy; the information we’ve gathered and synthesized is from a mix of real-time market data, government economic reports, and broader industry analysis for early 2026. We examined which areas saw the largest increases in gas prices and looked at both year-over-year price changes and the increase in January 2026 alone.
Further, we’re excluding areas such as Los Angeles, California; San Francisco, California; and New York City, New York. Honolulu, Hawaii, is also off this list. So are Juneau and Anchorage in Alaska. These areas are known for high gas prices; we’re looking beyond that.
5. Flagstaff, AZ
Arizona and Nevada both rely on gas pipelines from California. When California experiences any disruptions – and it has, read on for more on that – Arizona feels the effects, too. Flagstaff is also just far enough away from cities like Tucson or Phoenix that it makes delivery of refined gasoline a trek.
Since January 1, gas prices in Flagstaff have been up 6% to $3.18 per gallon. That’s down year over year; this time last year, gas was $3.34 per gallon in the Flagstaff area. The percentage increase versus January 1 is an anomaly driven by supply and demand issues.
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4. Portland, OR
The whole of the Pacific Northwest is experiencing a ripple effect from issues stemming from California, too. In Portland, recent late January storms have caused gas prices to continue rising, even though some experts expected them to begin mellowing. Typically, gas prices this time of year are lower than average due to reduced travel after the holidays.
The good news for Portland is that gas prices are up only 1.2% since January 1 and now average $3.41 per gallon. Like Flagstaff, that’s down from last year at this time, when gas was $4.02 per gallon. The issue in the PNW is that gas prices typically dip much lower this time of year.
3. Las Vegas, NV
Like Flagstaff, Las Vegas relies on California refineries for its gas. Unlike Flagstaff, Las Vegas has a robust highway system that connects directly to California and is well-traveled. Supply shortages and higher prices in California, a much larger market than Nevada or Arizona, mean the extended networks that depend on California get the short end of the stick.
Gas pricing in the Las Vegas area is up 2.1% this year to an average of $3.42 per gallon. That’s down from $3.92 this time last year, though, which is the good news for Las Vegas drivers.
Jonathon Ramsey
2. Seattle, WA
Seattle is even farther from California than Portland, but it is experiencing the same California-caused supply-and-demand issues as nearly everyone else on this list. In addition to California’s issues, crude oil prices remain around $60 per barrel, helping keep gas prices from their normal February lull.
Gas prices in Seattle are up 3.1% in 2026 and now sit at $3.93 per gallon. In February 2025, gas was $4.06 per gallon, on average, so that’s a slight reprieve. Still, hovering around $4 per gallon is not what Seattle drivers want.
1. San Luis Obisppo, CA
High per-gallon state taxes (60 cents!) contribute to San Luis Obispo’s high prices for gas, as does its geographical placement. While not remote, per se, it’s geographically remote enough that trucking in gas is a bit of a hike. Further, the state of California requires its gas stations to pump a low-emissions blend that requires additional processing, and recent refinery closures have created a supply crunch felt throughout the region; if you notice, every location on our list is on or near the West Coast.
San Luis Obispo has the highest increase in gas prices we could find for 2026, with the area up 4.5% to an average of $4.43 per gallon. That, too, is down from last year, when gas prices were roughly $4.85 per gallon, but it is still far from acceptable to Cal Poly students who have to rush to Pismo Beach after morning classes.
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