This will be the most expensive Labor Day ever for gas. Here are the 10 states with the highest fuel prices — and 10 with the lowest.
Average gas prices have soared above $4, setting a fuel price record for Labor Day weekend. Southern states are among the cheapest places to fill up.
David McNew/Getty Images
- AAA expects this will be the priciest Labor Day ever for gas, with averages above $4 a gallon.
- Oil and gas prices across the US have remained high amid the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran.
- California has the highest average fuel price, inching closer to $6 a gallon since August.
Since the beginning of the Iran war in late February and the subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Americans have been feeling the effects at the gas pump.
After the conflict started, prices rose sharply across the US. AAA data show the national average peaked in May at roughly $4.56 per gallon, then zigzagged through the end of August, averaging $4.09. Now, as average prices continue to creep up, hitting $4.15 on Friday, AAA expects this to be the most expensive Labor Day on record for gas.
To provide a snapshot of where prices stood heading into the holiday weekend, Business Insider used AAA data to calculate the percent change in gas prices in the 10 priciest and the 10 cheapest states from August 27 to September 4. We also looked at the gas prices on September 4 and compared them with prices reported one year ago.
"The national average has never been above $4 per gallon on Labor Day. The current Labor Day record is $3.82, set on September 3, 2012," AAA said in a press release. "Even though gasoline demand decreases this time of year, typically bringing down gas prices, this year is different due to the high cost of crude oil."
Still, there are a few ways travelers could score cheaper gas. Chevron rolled out a summer discount for new rewards members, offering $1 off per gallon for up to five fill-ups at participating stations. Maverik, a gas-station chain with stores across the Midwest and western US, has offered eligible customers 15 cents off per gallon since May 12; the promotion ends on Labor Day.
Here are the states with the highest and lowest gas prices nationwide in August.
10. UtahMichael Yanow/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $4.40
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $4.42
Percent change from late August: 0.5% increase
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $3.32
Percent change from one year ago: 33.3% increase
9. WyomingAl Drago/Getty Images
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $4.41
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $4.37
Percent change from late August: 0.9% decrease
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $3.14
Percent change from one year ago: 39.1% increase
8. ArizonaBloomberg/Getty Images
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $4.54
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $4.53
Percent change from late August: 0.2% decrease
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $3.49
Percent change from one year ago: 29.8% increase
7. Idaho: Don & Melinda Crawford/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $4.57
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $4.62
Percent change from late August: 1.1% increase
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $3.47
Percent change from one year ago: 33.1% increase
6. OregonWang Ying/Xinhua via Getty Images
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $4.76
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $5.00
Percent change from late August: 5.0% increase
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $3.98
Percent change from one year ago: 25.5% increase
4. Nevada (tie)Bloomberg/Getty Images
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $4.81
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $4.95
Percent change from late August: 2.9% increase
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $3.84
Percent change from one year ago: 28.9% increase
4. Alaska (tie)Bloomberg/Getty Images
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $4.81
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $5.00
Percent change from late August: 4.0% increase
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $3.76
Percent change from one year ago: 33.0% increase
3. WashingtonBloomberg/Getty Images
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $5.27
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $5.48
Percent change from late August: 4.0% increase
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $4.40
Percent change from one year ago: 24.7% increase
2. HawaiiBloomberg/Getty Images
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $5.41
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $5.42
Percent change from late August: 0.2% increase
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $4.47
Percent change from one year ago: 21.1% increase
1. CaliforniaBloomberg/Getty Images
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $5.63
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $5.81
Percent change from late August: 3.2% increase
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $4.61
Percent change from one year ago: 26.1% increase
41. IndianaMarcin Golba/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $3.46
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $3.45
Percent change from late August: 0.3% decrease
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $3.23
Percent change from one year ago: 6.7% increase
42. TexasRONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP via Getty Images
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $3.63
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $3.69
Percent change from late August: 1.7% increase
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $2.78
Percent change from one year ago: 32.9% increase
43. MississippiBloomberg/Getty Images
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $3.65
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $3.73
Percent change from late August: 2.2% increase
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $2.73
Percent change from one year ago: 36.6% increase
44. South CarolinaBloomberg/Getty Images
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $3.67
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $3.77
Percent change from late August: 2.7% increase
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $2.87
Percent change from one year ago: 31.7% increase
45. Louisiana (tie)Bloomberg/Getty Images
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $3.69
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $3.77
Percent change from late August: 2.2% increase
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $2.80
Percent change from one year ago: 34.6% increase
45. Tennessee (tie)Brett Carlsen/Getty Images
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $3.69
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $3.83
Percent change from late August: 3.8% increase
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $2.85
Percent change from one year ago: 34.3% increase
47. AlabamaBloomberg/Getty Images
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $3.71
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $3.80
Percent change from late August: 2.4% increase
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $2.84
Percent change from one year ago: 34.0% increase
48. KentuckyBloomberg/Getty Images
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $3.73
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $3.86
Percent change from late August: 3.5% increase
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $2.94
Percent change from one year ago: 31.3% increase
49. ArkansasBloomberg/Getty Images
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $3.74
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $3.78
Percent change from late August: 1.1% increase
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $2.81
Percent change from one year ago: 34.4% increase
50. North CarolinaBloomberg/Getty Images
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $3.76
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $3.85
Percent change from late August: 2.4% increase
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $2.91
Percent change from one year ago: 32.5% increase
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