Gasoline prices across Southern California have surged to their highest levels in more than two years, with Los Angeles County topping $6 per gallon on Tuesday for the first time since October 2023. The spike is being driven by the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, which has severely disrupted global oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in Los Angeles County climbed to $6.005 on Tuesday, rising for 33 of the last 34 days. That marks an increase of more than $1.26 compared to just one month ago and $1.27 more than a year ago. The all-time county record stands at $6.494, set in October 2022.
Here’s a county-by-county breakdown of Tuesday’s average prices for regular gasoline:
- Los Angeles County: $6.005 — first time over $6 since October 2023, up $1.26 in one month
- San Bernardino County: $5.952 — rising 40 of the last 41 days
- Orange County: $5.938 — highest since October 6, 2023
- Riverside County: $5.891
- Ventura County: $5.864 — up $1.68 since late January
The statewide average for California reached $5.822 on Tuesday (March 31), up from $5.790 the day before and $4.628 just one month ago. As NBC Los Angeles reports, the national average has also climbed, reaching $3.977 per gallon — crossing the $4 threshold for the first time in recent memory.
The root cause is the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane that carries roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply. According to FOX LA, Iran has been limiting oil tanker traffic through the strait since the conflict began, cutting off millions of barrels of crude oil from global markets each day.
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, explained the impact clearly. “Gasoline and diesel prices continue to climb to multi-year highs as the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz curtails the flow of millions of barrels of crude oil each day,” he said. De Haan added, “It’s going to mean more expensive bills for truckers, tractors, and trains that move the U.S. economy.”
The financial strain is hitting Southern California drivers hard. A recent AP-NORC poll found that nearly half of all U.S. adults are now “extremely” concerned about their ability to afford fuel.
Local drivers told National Today the prices are forcing real changes. Saul Carrera, a driver in Los Angeles, said he is seriously weighing his options. “I’ve been debating selling the car. That says a lot. I’m not the type of person to charge people, but now whenever they’re constantly asking for a ride, I’m going to have to at least get 10 or 15 bucks, because right now, with the gas prices … It wasn’t a good hit on our end.”
Another driver, Kyle Doss, is bracing for even worse. “I think we’re going to see it rise a lot more in the near future. We’re not even in the summer, so I’m anticipating $8, probably even $9 as an average throughout Los Angeles,” he said.
President Trump has said the U.S. and Iran are making progress in negotiations, describing the Iranian regime as “new” and “more reasonable.” However, his administration has simultaneously sent additional U.S. troops to the region — a move that Iran’s parliament speaker says contradicts any diplomatic outreach and signals a possible ground invasion, prompting further defiance from Tehran.
The federal government has initiated an emergency release of oil reserves to help ease supply pressures, though analysts warn it may not be enough to bring prices down significantly in the short term. President Trump is also reportedly considering sending U.S. forces to seize control of an Iranian island and its oil export terminal in the Persian Gulf, a move that could escalate the conflict further.
If the military disruption in the Middle East continues through spring, analysts say the national average could move toward $4.50 per gallon. That would push California’s statewide average toward the $7.00 mark — a level never seen before in the state’s history. Some candidates running for California governor have already called for a suspension of the state gas tax in response to the crisis.
California’s gas prices are typically higher than the national average due to state taxes and fees, as well as stricter environmental and fuel requirements, according to the California Energy Commission. With the summer driving season still months away, analysts warn that relief at the pump is not yet in sight for Southern California drivers.
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