California gas prices to drop as winter-blend fuel begins. What drivers will pay
California drivers routinely pay some of the highest gas prices in the nation.
However, some relief is underway.
Gas stations across the Golden State officially switched to a cheaper fuel blend on Friday, Oct. 31, according to AAA.
“With the seasonal transition from summer- to winter-blend fuel, drivers are likely to see gas prices continue to decline, barring any disruptions in supplies,” the automobile association said in an Oct. 14 news release.
As the seasonal transition to winter-blend gasoline — which is less expensive to produce — begins, here’s what California drivers can expect to pay at the pump:
Why did gas prices increase in California?
A fire at the El Segundo Chevron refinery in Southern California in early October briefly affected West Coast pump prices.
However, AAA said, the “average price of gas in California only increased a couple of cents.”
“This facility is one of the largest in California, producing about 40% of Southern California’s jet fuel as well as about 20% of its fuel for cars,” the automobile association said.
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, previously told The Sacramento Bee that the fire was expected to push gas prices up by 5 to 25 cents per gallon.
In Fresno, gas prices rose by 10 cents following the refinery fire, while Merced saw an 8-cent increase.
Prices in Modesto went up by 3 cents, Sacramento saw a 5-cent jump, and the San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles area experienced a 4-cent rise, according to AAA.
As the refinery continues operating at reduced capacity, De Haan said, that could influence gas prices across California through the end of 2025, depending on how long it takes to return to full operations.
The seasonal shift to cheaper winter-blend gasoline could help offset cost increases related to the refinery fire, softening the impact for drivers.
How much does gas cost per gallon in California?
In its Oct. 14 release, AAA reported that California was the U.S. “state with the most expensive gas in the nation for the fourth week in a row,” with the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline at $4.66.
As of FriNov. 7, California still held that title.
The Golden State had the highest gas prices in the United States, with prices averaging about $4.69 per gallon of regular gas statewide.
That’s more than a dollar higher than the national average of $3.08.
Around this time in 2024, California drivers were paying about $4.53 per gallon.
Where are the lowest gas prices in California?
According to AAA, the most affordable fuel could primarily be found in parts of Northern and Southern California — with the average price for a gallon of regular gas dropping as low as $4.24 in Yuba City and $4.37 in Modesto.
As of Thursday, Nov. 6, here’s how much a gallon of regular gas cost on average in metropolitan areas around California:
- Bakersfield: $4.63 per gallon
- Chico-Paradise: $4.34
- El Centro: $4.58
- Fresno: $4.51
- Hanford-Corcoran: $4.39
- Los Angeles-Long Beach: $4.85
- Madera-Chowchila: $4.54
- Merced: $4.45
- Modesto: $4.36
- Napa: $4.75
- Oakland: $4.58
- Orange County: $4.81
- Redding: $4.41
- Riverside: $4.72
- Sacramento: $4.52
- Salinas: $4.68
- San Bernardino: $4.70
- San Diego: $4.92
- San Francisco: $4.69
- San Jose: $4.52
- San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles: $4.94
- San Rafael: $4.68
- Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc: $4.74
- Santa Cruz-Watsonville: $4.65
- Santa Rosa: $4.73
- Stockton-Lodi: $4.41
- Vallejo-Fairfield: $4.53
- Ventura: $4.86
- Visalia-Tulare-Porterville: $4.48
- Yolo: $4.46
- Yuba City: $4.25
Find cheapest gas stations in my area
GasBuddy is a price-tracking website designed to help motorists find the cheapest gas prices in their areas.
You can search for the most affordable gas stations in your area on the GasBuddy website.
This story was originally published November 7, 2025 at 9:31 AM with the headline "California gas prices to drop as winter-blend fuel begins. What drivers will pay."
