SOUTHLAND - (INT) - As a record number of Southern Californians fill up for their Independence Day trips, they will be paying about 60 to 80 cents less per gallon than they did ahead of the Memorial Day holiday after five straight weeks of gas price drops, according to the Auto Club’s Weekend Gas Watch.

On Thursday statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $5.50, which is 14 cents less than last week and 86 cents higher than at this time last year. The national average is $3.91,

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles–Long Beach area is $5.50 per gallon. In San Diego, the average price is $5.56.

In Riverside, the average price per gallon is $5.34, 13 cents lower than last week and 88 cents higher than a year ago.

“The 5.48 million Southern Californians expected to head out for vacations during the Independence Day holiday will have some relief at the pump, but it will still be the second most expensive July Fourth holiday for gasoline,” said Auto Club spokesperson Kandace Redd. “In 2022 before the July Fourth holiday, drivers were paying $6.30 to $6.40 a gallon because of supply issues related to the Russia-Ukraine war.” (Source: Automobile Club of Southern California)

Story Date: July 2, 2026