RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN - Gas prices in Tennessee are down this week, and while that might sound like cause for celebration, don’t go popping the champagne just yet—unless it’s the bargain-brand stuff. According to AAA, the average price of regular unleaded fuel has dropped a whopping three cents statewide over the past seven days. That brings us to a thrilling new average of $2.76 per gallon as of Monday morning. Yes, a three-cent difference—barely enough to cover a single peanut in a vending machine.
Before you get too excited, let’s take a little stroll down memory lane. Back on May 5, 2025, the statewide average for regular unleaded was $2.72 per gallon, which, if you’re doing the math, was four cents cheaper than it is now. So while we’re technically down this week, we’re still up from a few months ago. The pricing pendulum swings—but at this rate, we’ll all be retired before it swings far enough to make a real difference.
Still, there’s a small gold star in the mix. Tennessee currently ranks #5 in the country for the lowest average fuel prices. We’re not quite at the podium, but hey, fifth place is something, right? It’s like the gas price equivalent of “participant” in the national fuel economy games.
Zooming in a little closer to home, Rutherford County drivers are enjoying an average price of $2.74 per gallon, which is two cents cheaper than the state average. In nearby Shelbyville, folks are paying $2.71, making it the unofficial discount zone for southbound drivers. To the north in Wilson County, gas prices tick up to $2.75, a whole penny more than Rutherford. But if you really want to feel the sting, head east to Woodbury, where gas averages $2.93 per gallon. That’s right—Cannon County continues its reign as one of the pricier places to fill up, a title it’s proudly held for the past 24 months.
On the flip side, Coffee County, home to Manchester, is currently beating out Rutherford with an average price of $2.68 per gallon. Meanwhile, our neighbors to the west in Nashville are coughing up $2.81 per gallon for that Music City blend. But the real showstopper comes from the glitzy lanes of Williamson County, where regular unleaded is averaging a jaw-dropping $3.08 per gallon. Perhaps the roads are paved with gold—or at least lined with Tesla charging stations to mock those still pumping gas.
Top States for Savings at the Gas Pump Nationwide:
#5. Tennessee is ranked in the number five position for having the 5th lowest price on good ole' 87 octane. But let’s take a closer look at which states are ranked in the number one through number four positions for savings...
#4. Ranked in the number four spot, just below Tennessee, is Louisiana, where the price of regular unleaded is tied with Tennessee at $2.76 per gallon.
#3. In the number three spot for savings, we find the Lone Star State, where the average price that Texans are paying is $2.75 per gallon.
#2. In the number two spot is the state of Oklahoma, where regular unleaded is averaging $2.72 per gallon.
#1. Now for the number one ranking of cheap gas across the country, drum roll please... In the number one position for having the cheapest regular-grade gas in the country — we have the state of Mississippi! Where 87-octane is averaging $2.70 per gallon at gas pumps across the Delta and beyond!
Historic 10-Year Look at Past TN Gas Prices Compared to U.S. Average (GasBuddy.com):
- August 4, 2024: $3.06/g in TN (U.S. Average: $3.44/g)
- August 4, 2023: $3.46/g in TN (U.S. Average: $3.81/g)
- August 4, 2022: $3.66/g in TN (U.S. Average: $4.09/g)
- August 4, 2021: $2.87/g in TN (U.S. Average: $3.19/g)
- August 4, 2020: $1.88/g in TN (U.S. Average: $2.18/g)
- August 4, 2019: $2.42/g in TN (U.S. Average: $2.70/g)
- August 4, 2018: $2.63/g in TN (U.S. Average: $2.86/g)
- August 4, 2017: $2.12/g in TN (U.S. Average: $2.34/g)
- August 4, 2016: $1.88/g in TN (U.S. Average: $2.12/g)
- August 4, 2015: $2.36/g in TN (U.S. Average: $2.64/g)
DIESEL PRICES: Now, for all you diesel drivers out there—perk up those ears. Tennessee is doing relatively well, ranked 8th lowest in the country for average diesel prices, sitting at a modest $3.44 per gallon. Sure, it’s not cheap, but in the diesel world, that’s practically a clearance sale.
And then there’s Texas, hanging onto the number one spot for cheapest diesel with an average of $3.26 per gallon. Because of course they are. Everything’s bigger in Texas—except their diesel prices, apparently.
But if you’re really craving pain at the pump, go ahead and point your truck toward Hawaii, where diesel prices are topping the charts at $5.24 per gallon. It doesn't matter whether you drive a Ford, Chevy, GMC, or Dodge—that kind of road trip would require a second mortgage. Also, minor detail: your truck’s probably not making it across the Pacific, so there’s that. But hey, dreaming’s free—even if diesel isn’t. But you could make the road trip to California, the state that has the second highest prices on diesel right now at $5.15 per gallon.
IN CLOSING: So there you have it. The price at the pump continues its lukewarm cha-cha, swinging up and down by pennies while we all pretend this constitutes meaningful news. Is three cents enough to celebrate? Not really. But in a world where small wins matter—especially when they involve paying slightly less to get to work or drop off the kids—it’s worth at least a sarcastic nod.
