The national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in the United States dropped to $3.9788 on Tuesday, falling below $4 for the first time in nearly four months, according to AAA.
The decline brings welcome relief to drivers preparing for holiday road trips after pump costs reached $4.56 per gallon earlier in 2026. The drop follows recent momentum that saw crude benchmarks slide on potential diplomatic paths, pulling retail fuel lower after a steady slide from Monday's average of $4.0093.
Cheaper Winter Fuel Blends Take Over
Pump prices typically fall by 10 to 30 cents per gallon during winter months as road trips drop off and stations switch away from costlier fuel. Under federal rules, gas stations must dispense summer-blend fuel from June 1 to September 15 to limit evaporation, after which retailers can transition to less expensive winter mixtures.
International crude benchmarks have also receded from recent peaks, including Brent crude, which touched $113.43 a barrel on October 30. Costs had climbed sharply after President Donald Trump authorized military strikes in Iran in late February, but Trump stated at a White House press briefing that the conflict is moving toward resolution.
GasBuddy petroleum analyst Patrick De Haan expects motor fuel expenses to continue easing through the Thanksgiving holiday. State averages already vary widely, ranging from $3.290 per gallon in North Carolina to $5.765 in California as of November 7.
