Since the beginning of the Iran war in late February and the subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Americans have been feeling the effects at the gas pump.

After the conflict started, prices rose sharply across the US. AAA data show the national average peaked in May at roughly $4.56 per gallon, then zigzagged through the end of August, averaging $4.09. Now, as average prices continue to creep up, hitting $4.15 on Friday, AAA expects this to be the most expensive Labor Day on record for gas.

To provide a snapshot of where prices stood heading into the holiday weekend, Business Insider used AAA data to calculate the percent change in gas prices in the 10 priciest and the 10 cheapest states from August 27 to September 4. We also looked at the gas prices on September 4 and compared them with prices reported one year ago.

"The national average has never been above $4 per gallon on Labor Day. The current Labor Day record is $3.82, set on September 3, 2012," AAA said in a press release. "Even though gasoline demand decreases this time of year, typically bringing down gas prices, this year is different due to the high cost of crude oil."

Still, there are a few ways travelers could score cheaper gas. Chevron rolled out a summer discount for new rewards members, offering $1 off per gallon for up to five fill-ups at participating stations. Maverik, a gas-station chain with stores across the Midwest and western US, has offered eligible customers 15 cents off per gallon since May 12; the promotion ends on Labor Day.

Here are the states with the highest and lowest gas prices nationwide in August.

10. Utah

Gas price on August 27, 2026: $4.40

Gas price on September 4, 2026: $4.42

Percent change from late August: 0.5% increase

Gas price on September 4, 2025: $3.32

Percent change from one year ago: 33.3% increase

9. Wyoming

Gas price on August 27, 2026: $4.41

Gas price on September 4, 2026: $4.37

Percent change from late August: 0.9% decrease

Gas price on September 4, 2025: $3.14

Percent change from one year ago: 39.1% increase

8. Arizona

Gas price on August 27, 2026: $4.54

Gas price on September 4, 2026: $4.53

Percent change from late August: 0.2% decrease

Gas price on September 4, 2025: $3.49

Percent change from one year ago: 29.8% increase

7. Idaho

Gas price on August 27, 2026: $4.57

Gas price on September 4, 2026: $4.62

Percent change from late August: 1.1% increase

Gas price on September 4, 2025: $3.47

Percent change from one year ago: 33.1% increase

6. Oregon

Gas price on August 27, 2026: $4.76

Gas price on September 4, 2026: $5.00

Percent change from late August: 5.0% increase

Gas price on September 4, 2025: $3.98

Percent change from one year ago: 25.5% increase

4. Nevada (tie)

Gas price on August 27, 2026: $4.81

Gas price on September 4, 2026: $4.95

Percent change from late August: 2.9% increase

Gas price on September 4, 2025: $3.84

Percent change from one year ago: 28.9% increase

4. Alaska (tie)

Gas price on August 27, 2026: $4.81

Gas price on September 4, 2026: $5.00

Percent change from late August: 4.0% increase

Gas price on September 4, 2025: $3.76

Percent change from one year ago: 33.0% increase

3. Washington

Gas price on August 27, 2026: $5.27

Gas price on September 4, 2026: $5.48

Percent change from late August: 4.0% increase

Gas price on September 4, 2025: $4.40

Percent change from one year ago: 24.7% increase

2. Hawaii

Gas price on August 27, 2026: $5.41

Gas price on September 4, 2026: $5.42

Percent change from late August: 0.2% increase

Gas price on September 4, 2025: $4.47

Percent change from one year ago: 21.1% increase

1. California

Gas price on August 27, 2026: $5.63

Gas price on September 4, 2026: $5.81

Percent change from late August: 3.2% increase

Gas price on September 4, 2025: $4.61

Percent change from one year ago: 26.1% increase

41. Indiana

Gas price on August 27, 2026: $3.46

Gas price on September 4, 2026: $3.45

Percent change from late August: 0.3% decrease

Gas price on September 4, 2025: $3.23

Percent change from one year ago: 6.7% increase

42. Texas

Gas price on August 27, 2026: $3.63

Gas price on September 4, 2026: $3.69

Percent change from late August: 1.7% increase

Gas price on September 4, 2025: $2.78

Percent change from one year ago: 32.9% increase

43. Mississippi

Gas price on August 27, 2026: $3.65

Gas price on September 4, 2026: $3.73

Percent change from late August: 2.2% increase

Gas price on September 4, 2025: $2.73

Percent change from one year ago: 36.6% increase

44. South Carolina

Gas price on August 27, 2026: $3.67

Gas price on September 4, 2026: $3.77

Percent change from late August: 2.7% increase

Gas price on September 4, 2025: $2.87

Percent change from one year ago: 31.7% increase

45. Louisiana (tie)

Gas price on August 27, 2026: $3.69

Gas price on September 4, 2026: $3.77

Percent change from late August: 2.2% increase

Gas price on September 4, 2025: $2.80

Percent change from one year ago: 34.6% increase

45. Tennessee (tie)

Gas price on August 27, 2026: $3.69

Gas price on September 4, 2026: $3.83

Percent change from late August: 3.8% increase

Gas price on September 4, 2025: $2.85

Percent change from one year ago: 34.3% increase

47. Alabama

Gas price on August 27, 2026: $3.71

Gas price on September 4, 2026: $3.80

Percent change from late August: 2.4% increase

Gas price on September 4, 2025: $2.84

Percent change from one year ago: 34.0% increase

48. Kentucky

Gas price on August 27, 2026: $3.73

Gas price on September 4, 2026: $3.86

Percent change from late August: 3.5% increase

Gas price on September 4, 2025: $2.94

Percent change from one year ago: 31.3% increase

49. Arkansas

Gas price on August 27, 2026: $3.74

Gas price on September 4, 2026: $3.78

Percent change from late August: 1.1% increase

Gas price on September 4, 2025: $2.81

Percent change from one year ago: 34.4% increase

50. North Carolina

Gas price on August 27, 2026: $3.76

Gas price on September 4, 2026: $3.85

Percent change from late August: 2.4% increase

Gas price on September 4, 2025: $2.91

Percent change from one year ago: 32.5% increase

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Tristin Hoffman is a Life Fellow on Business Insider’s Editorial Partnerships team. Her reporting focuses on retail, travel, business, and more through a visual storytelling and lifestyle lens. She has previously reported on Oregon’s economy for The Oregonian and Pennsylvania litigation for Law.com. Her stories have inspired policy changes, shed light on public officials’ misconduct, and gained national awards.  She graduated from the University of Oregon, where she studied journalism and law while serving as editor-in-chief of The Daily Emerald. 

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