National Fuel Prices Are at a Four-Year HighScott Olson - Getty Images (Scott Olson - Getty Images)"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."Stating the obvious, it's really expensive to fill up these days. AAA has the data.California is the most expensive state for fuel, at $6.14 per gallon.With a good supply of used EVs thanks to lease returns, it's more affordable for more households to switch to battery-electric.Heading into the Memorial Day weekend, with plenty of drivers hitting the road for travel or visiting family for a barbecue, the cost of getting places is hitting a four-year high. No surprise here: the headlines are all about the way fuel prices have surged over recent months, and you've already felt the pain at the pump, but AAA now has some actual data on the change.AdvertisementAdvertisementAs of this Thursday, the national average price for a gallon of regular grade gasoline is $4.56, an increase of three cents since last week. Things weren't much rosier last week, with an average of $4.53, but that's a 50-cent increase versus fuel prices in April. Wind the clock back a year, and the national average was well below these high-water marks, at just $3.18.Gasoline prices last spiked like this in 2022, reaching a peak of over $5 a gallon. Currently, domestic demand for gasoline is slightly up while domestic supply has decreased.aaa (aaa)The national average is also not nearly as expensive as gasoline gets in states where the price spikes are particularly hard on drivers' wallets. California leads the way at an average of $6.14 per gallon, with fellow West Coast states Washington at $5.64 and Oregon at $5.35. Hawaii and Alaska are also in the top five states for expensive gasoline, at $5.64 and $5.27 per gallon, respectively.The least you can expect to pay at the pump is in southern states including Mississippi, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas, all with prices at just over the $4-per-gallon mark. Those who've driven out to see the Indy 500 this weekend might also want to make sure to fill up before heading home, with an average there of $4.04 per gallon.AdvertisementAdvertisementAs if to rub it in, this is not a problem EV owners are experiencing. The national average per-kilowatt-hour price at public charging stations is holding steady at 41 cents. If you charge at home, the national residential price per kWh is just 18 cents.So far, the change in fuel costs isn't quite enough to spur a big change in new EV sales, at least in the U.S., but it is heating up the used-EV market. With a large off-lease supply bringing prices down already, it's relatively affordable to make the switch.Households with both an EV and a combustion-engined car in the driveway might find themselves relying more heavily on battery-electric power. Everyone else can rely on basic fuel-saving driving tips, such as not launching off the line at every stoplight like you're in American Graffiti and keeping highway speeds reasonable. Which you're supposed to do anyway.Another very obvious and overlooked way to eke a little more distance out of that expensive tank of gas is to make sure your tires are properly inflated. If you haven't checked in the past couple of weeks, check your door jamb for factory-recommended pressures. Underinflated tires silently rob that mpg.AdvertisementAdvertisementWith no immediate relief in sight, AAA is predicting high fuel prices for the near future. That summer road trip isn't going to be cheap, so the Griswolds may want to skip going to Wally World this year.➡️ Skip the lot. Let Car and Driver help you find your next car.Shop New Cars Shop Used CarsYou Might Also LikeGift Guide: Best Ride-On Electric Cars for KidsFuture Cars Worth Waiting For: 2025–2029