A Chevron station in downtown Los Angeles was charging $8.21 a gallon for regular unleaded gasoline on Sunday, March 8, according to reports from ABC7 News. The surge in prices comes as Southern California experiences a broader increase in fuel costs, with the statewide average now exceeding $5 per gallon.
The national average has risen nearly 50 cents a gallon in the week since the beginning of the conflict in Iran, according to AAA. As of March 11, 2026, the AAA national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is $3.578, while the California average is $5.336. Prices were already trending upward due to typical seasonal patterns before the recent escalation, AAA reported.
Los Angeles County’s average price reached $5.17 per gallon on Sunday, a 17-cent overnight jump. Orange County is currently averaging $5.15 a gallon, and Riverside County $5.06. Despite the overall increase, some stations are still offering comparatively lower prices. An American Oil station in Exposition Park was selling gas for just above $4 a gallon, according to ABC7 News.
Drivers are reacting to the price hikes with concern. “I mean, I drive Uber and I’m just getting killed right now, and I mean gas prices are just so high… they were high before the war,” one driver told ABC7. Another driver, Michale Terry, expressed frustration, stating, “Hopefully, something happens about it. I really can’t do nothing but complain.”
Experts attribute the price increases to a combination of factors, including California’s regulatory policies and reduced in-state gasoline production, as well as geopolitical instability. According to AAA data released March 11, 2026, the current average prices for gasoline in California are $5.336 for regular, $5.541 for mid-grade, $5.730 for premium, and $6.157 for diesel. These prices represent increases from yesterday’s averages of $5.290, $5.482, $5.680, and $6.101, respectively.
GasBuddy.com remains a resource for drivers seeking the lowest prices in their area. As of today, March 11, 2026, GasBuddy lists stations in Los Angeles with varying prices, though specific prices below $4.60 were not immediately available in the provided search results.
The highest recorded average price for regular unleaded gasoline in California was $6.438 on June 14, 2022, while diesel reached a record high of $7.011 on June 18, 2022. Bakersfield currently has some of the lowest metro area prices, with an average of $5.223 for regular gasoline as of March 11, 2026. Chico-Paradise is reporting an average of $5.118 for regular, and Fresno $5.293.