Average gasoline prices in Modesto have risen 1.9 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.18/gallon as of Dec. 26, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 201 stations in Modesto. Prices in Modesto are 39.0 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 28.7 cents per gallon higher than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has risen 0.6 cents in the last week and stands at $4.00 per gallon.

According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Modesto was priced at $3.59/gallon while the most expensive was $4.99, a difference of $1.40/gallon. The lowest price in the state was $3.59 while the highest was $6.59, a difference of $3.00/gallon.

The national average price of gasoline has risen 2.9 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.07/gallon. The national average is down 13.8 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 1.8 cents per gallon higher than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country.

Historical gasoline prices in Modesto and the national average going back 10 years show the highest Modesto price at $4.42 per gallon on Dec. 26, 2021 and the highest national average price on Dec. 26, 2013 at $3.26 per gallon. The lowest average price in Modesto was $2.48 on Dec. 26, 2015 and the lowest national average price of $2.00 per gallon was recorded the same year, 2015.

“After 13 straight weeks of decline, average gasoline prices have edged higher due to optimistic comments from the Fed on cutting interest rates in 2024, coupled with Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, boosting concerns of a disruption to global shipping, including oil shipments,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “For now, I’m optimistic that we may still have a chance of seeing the first $2.99 national average since 2021 sometime before spring arrives. Hopefully motorists will be able to celebrate a New Year with good news at the pump.”

Neighboring areas and their current gas prices include: Stockton - $4.30/gallon, up 8.8 cents from last week’s $4.21; Oakland - $4.54, up 2.5 cents from $4.52/gallon; and San Jose - $4.55, up 3.0 cents per gallon from last week’s $4.52/gallon.

GasBuddy is the authoritative voice for gas prices and the only source for station-level data. GasBuddy's survey updates 288 times every day from the most diverse list of sources covering nearly 150,000 stations nationwide, the most comprehensive and up-to-date in the country.