The average price for a gallon of regular gas in Washington was about $5.38 on Tuesday, according to AAA
SEATTLE — Gas prices are climbing again across Western Washington, with drivers paying some of the highest prices in the country and adjusting their habits to cope with rising costs.
The average price for a gallon of regular gas in Washington is about $5.38, according to AAA — more than a dollar higher than the national average of just over $4.00. That gap places Washington among the three most expensive states for gas, behind only California and Hawaii.
At a Costco station in Seattle’s SODO neighborhood, long lines formed throughout the day as drivers sought out lower prices. Even there, regular gas hovered around $5.29 a gallon — still well above the national average.
For many, the rising cost is most noticeable not in the per-gallon price, but in the total at the pump.
Retired sailor Jim Annicelli said filling up his van recently cost him $80.45 — the most he’s ever paid for that vehicle.
“Eight dollars and forty five cents – that’s a record absolutely for this car,” Annicelli said.
“I’m retired, and I’m living on a fixed income, so it’s difficult, but it’s okay because I know that gas will come up, and gas will come down,” he said.
Other drivers are feeling the impact as well. George Petrovich of Burien said he recently paid $46 for just over eight gallons of gas.
“Eight and a half gallons, 46 dollars, that’s a bit of a sting – I’m not used to that but it is what it is,” Petrovich said.
Analysts say the current spike is being driven in part by global factors. New data from GasBuddy shows gas prices climbing rapidly in recent weeks, calling the increase one of the fastest upward moves in recent months and linking it to rising global oil prices.
Major geopolitical events have historically pushed gas prices higher. During Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the U.S. average peaked at around $5 a gallon — the highest on record. While the current surge is happening quickly, prices have not yet reached those levels nationally.
Still, Washington drivers often feel price increases more sharply than much of the country. Experts point to a combination of higher state fuel taxes and the West Coast’s relative isolation from the rest of the U.S. fuel supply system. Unlike other regions, Washington cannot easily import cheaper gasoline via pipeline, making it more vulnerable to regional supply constraints and global market shifts.
Some drivers are finding ways to offset the higher costs.
At certain gas stations on tribal land, prices are often lower due to different fuel tax agreements, which can translate into savings at the pump.
“I come here usually once maybe twice a week because I drive pretty far for work, and it’s the cheapest place around,” one driver said at a station in Fife.
Others rely on fuel rewards programs offered by grocery chains like Fred Meyer and Safeway. Those programs allow customers to redeem points for discounts ranging from 10 cents to as much as $1 per gallon, depending on spending.
Even with those savings, many drivers say there are few alternatives.
“I’m a green person; I protested many times, but the fact, the reality of it, is everyone of these people needs gas to put in their car because we don’t have an infrastructure nationally or worldwide to resolve the problem with oil where we’re at right now,” Annicelli said.
With global oil markets remaining volatile, analysts say drivers should expect continued uncertainty at the pump. And in a state where prices are already among the highest in the nation, even modest increases can translate into a significant hit for consumers.
To ensure diverse coverage and expert insight across a wide range of topics, our publication features contributions from multiple staff writers with varied areas of expertise.
