Texans Blast 'California Gas Prices' as Pumps See Surge

The Iran-US war is pinching wallets back home as gas prices reach highest levels since 2024.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 11:04pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

As the conflict between Iran and the U.S. escalates in the Middle East, resulting in over 1,000 casualties, Texans are feeling the impact at the gas pump. The national average retail price of gasoline has reached around $3.50 per gallon, the highest since May 2024, leading Texans to share images of gas pumps with unrecognizably high prices and compare them to the even higher prices in California.

Why it matters

The surge in gas prices is a direct result of disruptions to oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. This is squeezing wallets across Texas, where many residents rely on personal vehicles for transportation and are now facing a significant increase in their cost of living.

The details

Redditors in Texas have been posting photos of gas prices over $4 per gallon, with one user calling them 'California gas prices.' For context, the average gas price in California is $5.368 per gallon, up from $4.681 a year ago. Texans have been comparing the high prices to the weather and cost of living in California, with one user noting they recently filled up in California for $4.25 per gallon while enjoying ocean views.

  • The national average retail price of gasoline is sitting around $3.50 per gallon as of Wednesday, March 11, 2026, according to a Reuters report.
  • Gas prices in California are averaging $5.368 per gallon, an increase from $4.681 a year ago, according to AAA.

The players

Redditor hiddenorbit

A Redditor who posted a photo of gas prices over $4 a gallon at a QT in Pflugerville, Texas, calling them 'California gas prices.'

SaltyTserendolgor

A Redditor who commented on hiddenorbit's post, saying the high gas prices are 'California gas prices without the California weather or views' or the 'California pay.'

Paxsimius

A Redditor who commented on hiddenorbit's post, saying 'the traffic in Austin has gotten far far worse' compared to the Bay Area in California.

AustinBike

A Redditor who replied to Paxsimius, saying they recently filled up in California for $4.25 per gallon while enjoying ocean views.

General_Performance6

A Redditor who posted a photo from a gas pump charging $3.199 per gallon with a sticker of former President Donald Trump that reads 'I did that.'

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I just filled up my tank in California on Monday. $4.25/gal. It was 72F and I was looking at the Santa Monica mountains after a ride that had ocean views.”

— AustinBike (Reddit)

“Gas prices are a funny thing to fixate on.”

— AustinBike (Reddit)

“When Sam's Club is the same price of an Exxon, you know it's gotten ridiculous.”

— Pam Fee (Facebook)

The takeaway

The surge in gas prices across Texas is a direct result of the ongoing conflict between Iran and the U.S. in the Middle East, which is disrupting global oil exports and squeezing wallets of Texans who rely heavily on personal vehicles. While some Texans are comparing the high prices to California, the issue is a broader economic impact of the geopolitical tensions.