MileCheckWhen is gas cheapest during the year?
Gas is usually cheapest in winter. MileCheck looked at 21 years of weekly U.S. gas prices from the Energy Information Administration (EIA). January had the lowest typical price compared with the rest of its year. December and February were close behind. Prices usually rise through spring and stay higher in summer.
What month is gas usually cheapest?
January was the cheapest month in MileCheck's analysis of EIA weekly U.S. regular gas prices from 2005 through 2025. Prices in January were typically 7.4% below that year's average. December was 6.7% below average. February was 6.3% below.
For each year, MileCheck compared every week's price with that year's average. The monthly figures are the medians of those differences across the 21 years. This shows how prices move within a year. It does not compare dollar prices across different years.
These figures describe a historical pattern. They are not a forecast. January will not have the lowest price every year.
Why does gas cost more in spring and summer?
People drive more in the warmer months, so demand goes up. Refineries also switch to summer gasoline.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limits how easily gasoline evaporates during the summer ozone season. The rules cut the emissions that contribute to smog.
Summer gasoline uses different blending components. According to the EIA, those components generally cost more. Refineries also do maintenance during the switch, which can briefly reduce how much gasoline they make.
The federal summer limits generally apply at gas stations from June 1 through September 15. Some areas have stricter rules.
Does gas always get cheaper in winter?
No. Crude oil prices, supply problems and changes in demand can outweigh the seasonal pattern.
The EIA lists refinery and pipeline problems as causes of sudden price jumps. Hurricanes can disrupt supply. Big events moved prices in 2008, 2020 and 2022.
A winter price can still be higher than the summer before it. The seasonal figures compare prices within each year. They do not predict the price per gallon.
When should you plan a road trip to save on gas?
If your dates are flexible, winter has usually been cheaper. January and December showed the biggest typical discounts.
For a trip that's already set, check current prices instead of going by the month. A national average can't tell you what one station will charge.
See this week's prices by state on MileCheck's gas price table.
More: which states pump your gas for you and how to pump gas.
Sources
- EIA, weekly U.S. regular gasoline prices. Source data for MileCheck's 2005 to 2025 calculation.
- EIA, gasoline price fluctuations
- EIA, seasonal gasoline price increases
- EPA, gasoline Reid vapor pressure rules
- EIA, petroleum product prices