This Is the Best Day To Buy Gas in 2026

Many of us are forever in search of cheaper gas, hoping that saving a few cents per gallon will add up over time. This is especially true now, when prices at the pump are the highest they’ve been since 2022 and seem likely to go even higher. Thankfully, there are some best practices you can follow to ensure you’re getting the most bang for your buck — including filling up at certain times of the week.

The Best Day To Buy Gas Is …

According to a new analysis by GasBuddy, the day of the week that you choose to fill up your tank matters: Sunday is the cheapest day to buy gas across the U.S., followed by Monday, and drivers should avoid purchasing at the pump on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. (You can see a state-by-state breakdown here.)

“Gas prices don’t just move based on global oil markets — they also follow a weekly rhythm,” Patrick De Haan, GasBuddy’s head of petroleum, said in a press release. “For most drivers, Sunday is the safest bet for finding lower prices, while filling up midweek can mean paying more.”

Using gas apps like GasBuddy, Upside, or Gas Guru could also help you save: They check local gas prices in real time and even offer cash back in some instances. It’s also worth signing up for a loyalty program at your local gas station, as those rewards accrue over time and cost nothing.

Prepare To Pay More in the Summer … 

Gas costs more in the summer than at any other time of the year. Not only is demand higher, but gasoline is more costly to produce in warmer months, so most of us can’t do much more than be mindful of expenses and make the best of the situation.

… And Depending on Where You Live (or Where You’re Traveling)

According to data from AAA, gas in the U.S. costs the most on the West Coast — and nowhere are prices higher than California, where the average cost of a gallon of regular gas was $5.843 in late March 2026. Hawaii, Washington state, Oregon, and Nevada follow. The lowest prices can be found in the center of the country, from the Upper Midwest to the Central Plains and some Southern states. As of late March 2026, Oklahoma had the cheapest gas in the nation, at $3.256 for a gallon of regular, followed by Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, and Arkansas.

GasBuddy’s analysis notes that some states participate in what’s known as “price cycling,” a pattern where the cost of a gallon resets to a higher price on a certain day before lowering throughout the rest of the week due to competition. In those states — which include Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Florida, and Texas, as well as some areas of the West Coast — the cheapest gas prices occur around five to seven days after a price spike, and the difference can be significant: anywhere from 15 to 45 cents per gallon, and potentially even more.

Does Buying Gas at Certain Times of Day Save Money?

You may have read that filling up your tank early in the morning or late at night can save you some money over time — not because prices are lower at different times of day, but because of temperature. The thinking goes that because gas expands when heated, filling up in the middle of the day, when the temperatures tend to be highest, could result in paying more for less gasoline. 

But according to a recent investigation by Consumer Reports, filling up when air temperatures are lower might not make much of a difference. The publication measured the temperature of gas in both the morning and the early afternoon and found that while gas temperature was higher at first — because it had been aboveground in the pump dispenser, which warmed up in the sun — a few gallons later, the fuel cooled down to the same temperature as the underground fuel tank where it was stored. 

Ultimately, Consumer Reports found that even at those higher temperatures, the change in the volume of gas was so small that it made a difference of only a few cents in the initial gallons that were pumped — “not enough to change your schedule or routine in chasing costs, especially if it might increase your fuel consumption in the pursuit.” 

This story initially ran in 2023; it has been updated for 2026.

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