US Gas Prices Hit $4.18 Four-Year High

US Gas Prices Surge to $4.18 as Iran Negotiations Stall

American drivers faced a painful milestone at the pump on Thursday. The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline climbed to $4.18. That marks the highest average price since 2022. Prices now stand roughly $1 higher than just one year ago.

The last time average US gas prices breached $4.15 a gallon was in April 2022. Oil prices soared that spring after Russia invaded Ukraine. Today’s surge mirrors that shock, driven this time by conflict in the Middle East. The Iran conflict has pushed pump prices up roughly 40%, or about $1.20, since it began.

AAA data confirmed the latest national average of $4.18 per gallon. That figure came in 15 cents higher than the week before. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have roiled global energy markets. Sharp swings in oil prices have followed every twist in diplomatic talks.

Regional Price Gaps Widen Across America

Gas prices vary dramatically from state to state. Taxes, supply access, competition, and operating costs all drive the differences. Oil-producing states see averages as much as $2 per gallon lower than import-dependent states. Drivers in Texas pay $3.72 per gallon on average.

California tops the national rankings at $5.97 per gallon. In rural Mono County, drivers pay nearly $7 a gallon. Other western states also sit above $5 a gallon. Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, and Nevada all exceed that threshold.

At the other end of the scale, Oklahoma leads with the cheapest gas at $3.57 per gallon. Kansas follows at $3.63, and Arkansas sits at $3.68. Even these low-end states have seen dramatic increases. Oklahoma prices stood around $2.50 before the conflict began at the end of February.

The Midwest absorbed a particularly sharp spike over the past week. Michigan drivers saw prices jump about 40 cents from one week earlier. Ohio recorded a similar 40-cent increase, AAA data showed. The run-up in those states outpaced the national average increase.

The Ten Most Expensive States for Gas

AAA data as of April 28, 2026 shows a clear geographic pattern. Western states dominate the top of the list. Alaska and several Mountain West states also rank among the highest. The national average of $4.18 anchors the full picture.

California: $5.97
Hawaii: $5.64
Washington: $5.51
Oregon: $5.10
Nevada: $5.07
Alaska: $4.83
Arizona: $4.64
Illinois: $4.45
Idaho: $4.38
Utah: $4.28

Oil Markets React to Hormuz Deadlock

The global energy crisis centers on the Strait of Hormuz. A fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas typically passes through that narrow waterway. Negotiators remain gridlocked over a deal to reopen it. Oil prices climbed further on Tuesday after that news emerged.

Brent crude, the global benchmark, hit $111 a barrel on Tuesday morning. That sits below its recent high of $119 a barrel from last month. Still, the price runs nearly 60% above pre-war averages. WTI crude, the US benchmark, hovered near $100 a barrel on the same morning.

Iran offered to end its chokehold on the strait under specific conditions. Tehran demanded that the US lift its naval blockade of the waterway. The proposal also delayed any talks over Iran’s nuclear program. Trump officials signaled they were unlikely to accept those terms.

President Donald Trump struck a skeptical tone on Tuesday. He posted a message on Truth Social citing Iranian leaders directly. “Iran has just informed us that they are in a ‘State of Collapse,'” Trump wrote. He added that Iran wants to open the strait “as soon as possible.”

Trump Expresses Frustration Over Iran’s Proposal

Trump reportedly told advisers on Monday that he was unhappy with Iran’s offer. The proposal required the US to end its own naval blockade. It also failed to address any nuclear deal framework. White House officials have not publicly accepted or advanced the Iranian terms.

Trump’s Tuesday post carried a notably optimistic tone about Iran’s internal situation. He suggested Iranian leaders were working through a leadership crisis. He wrote that he believed they would resolve that situation. The message signaled that Washington holds the stronger negotiating hand.

The Trump administration tapped the nation’s strategic oil reserves to ease pressure at the pump. That move did not produce meaningful price relief. Sustained relief depends on resuming normal shipping flows through the strait. Even after a deal, analysts suggest prices could take several months to fall.

UAE Exits OPEC in Major Diplomatic Shift

The United Arab Emirates delivered a dramatic announcement on Tuesday. The UAE declared it would leave the OPEC oil cartel. OPEC has struggled to clear exports through the blocked strait. The departure reshapes the cartel’s influence at a critical moment.

The Trump administration scored a significant diplomatic win with the UAE’s departure. Trump had previously accused OPEC of colluding to raise oil prices. He described the group as “ripping off the rest of the world.” The UAE’s exit weakens OPEC’s cohesion at a time of maximum pressure.

Higher oil prices have delivered extraordinary gains for Western energy companies. These firms gained a competitive edge over Middle Eastern rivals affected by the war. Their regional competitors faced supply chain disruptions throughout the conflict. Western producers moved quickly to fill the gap.

Drivers Feel the Squeeze at Every Fill-Up

For ordinary American drivers, the picture remains bleak. Prices at $4.18 a gallon inflict real economic pain. Households budget more carefully with each visit to the pump. Low-income families bear the heaviest burden from the sustained price surge.

The Trump administration faces pressure from multiple directions. Voters feel pain at the pump with every fill-up. Diplomats must navigate a complex nuclear and military standoff with Iran. Every day the strait stays blocked adds cost to the American economy.

The path forward depends heavily on diplomatic progress. Iran’s openness to discussions gives some room for optimism. However, the nuclear question remains a major sticking point. Until negotiators bridge that gap, American drivers should expect prices to stay elevated.