Southern California drivers are seeing some relief at the pump just in time for Memorial Day weekend, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California’s latest Weekend Gas Watch.
The latest report, published on Thursday, shows that gas prices dipped despite earlier reports that Californians wouldn’t see relief at the pump during the holiday weekend.
“Southern Californians will be paying the lowest pump prices since 2021 to fill up for their Memorial Day getaways, which they will be taking in record numbers,” Auto Club spokesperson Doug Shupe said in a statement. “Gas prices are backing off from a price spike earlier this month caused by a Northern California refinery fire and some unplanned refinery outages. According to Oil Price Information Service, those supply issues have been resolved, and refineries have increased their gasoline production.”
In the Los Angeles-Long Beach region, prices dipped by two cents to $4.80 per gallon, while San Diego drivers are also paying $4.80, down three cents from last week.
The Central Coast saw the biggest weekly decline, with average prices falling seven cents to $4.72 per gallon — a 45-cent drop from last year.
Riverside drivers now pay an average of $4.66 per gallon, three cents less than last week and 38 cents below 2024 prices. In Bakersfield, the average is $4.73, a two-cent decrease from last week and 46 cents below last year’s figure.
As of Friday morning, the average price of gasoline in California stands at $4.84, while the national average is $3.19.