Pain at the pump: Washington gas prices highest in the country

Washington state has the highest gasoline prices in the nation, with a gallon costing drivers $1.50 more than the national average on Tuesday, according to data from AAA.

The recent price spike can be attributed, in part, to a temporarily closed pipeline in the Puget Sound region, repairs at refineries, increased gas taxes and the higher cost for summer-blend fuel.

A gallon of unleaded gas cost $4.66 on average in Washington, compared to the national average of $3.18.

Drivers in Eastern Washington currently pay less than those west of the Cascades, with a gallon of gas in King County costing an average of $4.88, compared to the $4.31 Spokane County drivers pay.

According to GasBuddy, an app that helps drivers find the cheapest fuel, the cost of a gallon of gas has fallen by about 3 cents on average across the country during the past week, while the cost in Washington has risen by 16.5 cents.

“While gas prices fell in more states than they rose last week, the West Coast continues to face challenges, with Oregon and Washington seeing some of the largest increases due to regional infrastructure issues,” Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said in a statement.

Two Spokane residents pumping gas Tuesday afternoon downtown said they feel the financial sting of high gas prices.

Barry Saddler, filling up at Divine’s where regular unleaded gas was $4.20 per gallon, said he’s going to retire in about four months and worries gas prices and other high costs, like groceries, will put a large dent in his fixed income.

“It’s just going to be tough for us to retire, my wife and I,” Saddler said.

Saddler said they take fewer trips because of expensive gas, hotel rooms and other costs. They used to drive to Seattle three or four times a year but now go once or twice.

“It’s amazing to me how all the other states in the country have lower gasoline prices, except for us,” he said.

Lindsey McDermott, who pumped gas into her white Toyota 4Runner at Chevron, also said she and her family reduced travel because of gas prices. She used to drive a Ford F-150 that she filled up sparingly because it was a hybrid, but her Toyota requires more trips to the pump.

McDermott, 42, said she uses rewards programs at places like Safeway and NomNom for gas discounts. The price for unleaded gas Tuesday at Chevron was $4.40 per gallon.

“I’ve noticed that with the added increase in the gas prices we’re just not taking that many trips or road trips and just kind of cutting down on places that we don’t really need to go, whereas before with my hybrid, I could just go anywhere,” McDermott said.

Washington drivers have felt the pinch in part due to the unexpected temporary closure of the Olympic pipeline, which carries refined petroleum in Western Washington 400 miles from the Canadian border to the Portland area. According to AAA, the pipeline went out of operation sometime around Sept. 2, though it is reportedly back online.

“The outage of the Olympic Pipeline as well as refinery maintenance created tight supplies in the region, causing wholesale prices to spike,” Marie Dodds, a public affairs director for AAA, said in a statement.

Also adding to the cost is Washington’s gas tax. As part of the transportation package adopted by the Legislature, the state gas tax increased by 6 cents to 55.4 cents per gallon on July 1.

Beginning in July 2026, the state’s gas tax will rise by 2% annually to account for inflation. It was the first time the state’s gas tax has been adjusted since 2016.

While Washington currently has the highest gas price, Dodds said drivers should “get some relief soon.”

While the cost of gas fluctuates throughout the year, drivers typically pay more during the summer months as demand increases.

Refineries have begun transitioning from summer -blend fuel to winter blend, a yearly switch that temporarily reduces a refinery’s output. Both blends are customized to offset impacts from seasonal weather.

Tuesday was the first day gas stations throughout the country could sell the cheaper winter-blend fuel under regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency. As more and more stations make the switch, drivers should begin to notice gas prices coming down.

“Gas stations can now sell winter-blend fuel, which costs less to produce, and can eventually amount to savings of 10 to 30 cents a gallon at the pumps,” Dodds said in a statement.

De Hann said he expects “that average gas prices will continue to decline in the weeks ahead in most states – assuming hurricane season remains quiet.”