RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. - Gas prices in Tennessee are doing their best impression of a mood ring again—up one day, down the next, and today… slightly up. According to AAA, the statewide average for regular unleaded on Monday, August 11, 2025, is $2.77 per gallon—just 1 cent higher than last week. So yes, technically “up,” in the same way a step stool is technically a ladder.
Zoom out a bit and it looks better. Compared to one month ago (July 11), Tennessee drivers are paying 4 cents less than the $2.81 average. Compared to this date last year (August 11, 2024), it’s downright cheerful: regular unleaded is 24 cents cheaper than the $3.01 average a year ago. That’s not confetti-worthy, but it might justify the good coffee instead of the gas-station brew.
Closer to home, the county-by-county picture shows the usual patchwork of pennies. Rutherford County averages $2.78 per gallon for regular grade gas. Bedford County comes in a hair lower at $2.76. Head east toward Woodbury (Cannon County) and you’re looking at $2.79 per gallon. Up in the Lebanon/Mt. Juliet area, it’s also $2.79 for 87-octane in Wilson County. Westward you go and in that direction, you might find yourself in Williamson County and the wallet twinges a bit more at $3.09. Nashville proper is averaging $2.83 for 87-octane—city price, suburban patience.
Nationally, Tennessee remains one of the bargain bins of the pump, ranked fifth-cheapest for regular unleaded. We’re just 1 cent higher than Louisiana at No. 4, and 6 cents above Texas at No. 3, where the average is $2.71. Oklahoma sits in the No. 2 slot, essentially tied with Texas but edging it by a few tenths of a cent. And, cue the drumroll:Mississippi retains its crown for the lowest average, at $2.69 per gallon for plain old 87.
Premium fans—those who swear their V6 “can tell”—won’t find any doorbuster deals here. Tennessee ranks 12th-cheapest for the spendy stuff, averaging $3.62 this morning. As usual, Oklahoma is leading the discount parade on premium at $3.37, followed by Mississippi at $3.49. Meanwhile, California continues its crusade to make your wallet lighter: regular 87-octane there averages $4.50—more than premium costs in Tennessee. Sunshine tax included.
A quick octane Public Service Announcement while we’re here: pumps must label the octane rating correctly. In Tennessee, 87 is “Regular,” 89 is “Mid-Grade,” and 93 is “Premium.” For nearly all vehicles made since 1984, 87-octane is what the manufacturer recommends. Older, carbureted cars can run lower octane at higher elevations, which is why some Rocky Mountain states still sell 85 or 86 as “Regular.” In places like Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, and South Dakota, 85-octane can still show up, and New Mexico sometimes labels the 86 brew as Regular. Montana even gets quirky with 85.5 octane at a few stations. Quirks aside, the rule is simple: label it right, pump it once. Label it wrong while watering it down with some bad additives to save the gas station money - and it will cost you some BIG moo-la and you'll have to pump it out of your tank, literally.
Diesel drivers get their own price rollercoaster. The best average today is in Texas at $3.21 per gallon—another small win for the Lone Star State. Tennessee ranks eighth-cheapest at $3.41. On the other end of the map (and the price spectrum), Hawaii leads the “not it” list with diesel averaging $5.24. Paradise has a premium, even when it’s diesel.
Bottom line: today is one of those days you can fill up without wincing—maybe just a polite grimace. A penny up from last week, a few cents down from last month, and a cool quarter cheaper than last year. As far as gas-price drama goes, we’ll take the mild episode.
Historic 10-Year Comparison of TN Gas Prices Vs U.S. Average (GasBuddy.com):
- August 11, 2024: $2.97/g (U.S. Average: $3.41/g)
- August 11, 2023: $3.42/g (U.S. Average: $3.82/g)
- August 11, 2022: $3.51/g (U.S. Average: $3.95/g)
- August 11, 2021: $2.85/g (U.S. Average: $3.18/g)
- August 11, 2020: $1.88/g (U.S. Average: $2.17/g)
- August 11, 2019: $2.35/g (U.S. Average: $2.63/g)
- August 11, 2018: $2.61/g (U.S. Average: $2.85/g)
- August 11, 2017: $2.14/g (U.S. Average: $2.35/g)
- August 11, 2016: $1.90/g (U.S. Average: $2.13/g)
- August 11, 2015: $2.30/g (U.S. Average: $2.58/g)
