RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN - Just when Tennesseans thought the spooky season was behind them, the real horror continues — at the gas pump. According to AAA, Tennessee now proudly sits at #6 on the list of cheapest gas prices in America, which sounds great until you remember that sixth place is just another way of saying “not the worst, but definitely not winning.”

The statewide average for regular unleaded is $2.62 per gallon, which is apparently something we’re supposed to celebrate. But if you're in Williamson County, home of Brentwood and Franklin, you’ll pay $3.05, proving once again that even gas respects economic hierarchy.

Meanwhile, here in Rutherford County, we’re right in the middle at $2.63 — a perfect match for our “not Memphis, not Nashville, not cheapest, not most expensive” identity. Just down the road in Shelbyville, drivers are paying $2.60, likely while waving politely at Murfreesboro residents who paid three cents more.

But the true overachiever is Henry County, where regular gas is just $2.46 per gallon. With a population just above 10,000, Paris, Tennessee may not have a mall, but it does have bragging rights at the pump.

For drivers who demand premium fuel, Tennessee ranks 9th cheapest at $3.47 per gallon, which still feels pricey until you remember that California is selling premium for $5.08 — enough to empty your wallet before you even start the engine. If you drive a Mercedes in Los Angeles, congratulations, your fill-up is now a $101.60 luxury ritual.

Diesel owners aren't left out, either. Tennessee ranks #7 cheapest for diesel, with an average of $3.37 per gallon. But things get extra dramatic in Hawaii, where diesel runs $5.19, which basically means you can fuel up or pay rent — pick one.

So yes, the ghost of Halloween may be gone, but the real monster — inflation with a gas nozzle — is still riding shotgun.

Historical Gas Prices in Tennessee and the U.S. Average (GasBuddy.com):
November 3, 2024: $2.68/g (U.S. Average: $3.05/g)
November 3, 2023: $3.02/g (U.S. Average: $3.40/g)
November 3, 2022: $3.27/g (U.S. Average: $3.77/g)
November 3, 2021: $3.13/g (U.S. Average: $3.40/g)
November 3, 2020: $1.82/g (U.S. Average: $2.10/g)
November 3, 2019: $2.28/g (U.S. Average: $2.60/g)
November 3, 2018: $2.53/g (U.S. Average: $2.75/g)
November 3, 2017: $2.26/g (U.S. Average: $2.52/g)
November 3, 2016: $2.05/g (U.S. Average: $2.22/g)
November 3, 2015: $1.93/g (U.S. Average: $2.19/g)