RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. — Gas prices are climbing again across Tennessee, with the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded now sitting at $3.09 in Rutherford County. While prices have risen sharply over the past week, Tennessee motorists are still paying some of the lowest fuel prices in the country.
According to AAA, Tennessee currently ranks as having the sixth lowest average gas prices in the United States, an improvement from 11th place just one week ago. The statewide average price for regular unleaded gasoline now stands at $3.03 per gallon, marking the first time Tennessee’s statewide average has moved above $3 since August 2024.
The increase comes after a dramatic surge in oil prices tied to ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Over the past week alone, the average price of gas in Tennessee jumped 42 cents, while the current average is 48 cents higher than one month ago and 35 cents more than this time last year.
“With crude oil prices surging again over the weekend, Tennessee drivers should prepare for another round of increases at the pump in the coming days,” said Megan Cooper, spokeswoman for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “About 60% of what we pay at the pump is in direct correlation to the price of crude. Because of this, any time we see sharp rises in the price of crude oil, we typically expect to see our gas prices rise as well.”
Energy markets were shaken last week as crude oil prices surged by 36 percent, with Friday’s closing price reaching $90.90 per barrel, nearly $24 higher than the week before and the highest level seen since September 2023.
Part of the spike stems from disruptions in global oil transportation. Oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route responsible for about 20 percent of the world’s oil supply, has temporarily stopped due to safety concerns tied to the conflict involving Iran. The disruption has tightened global supply and pushed oil prices higher.
Despite those global concerns, officials say fuel deliveries within the United States remain steady, and gas stations are continuing to receive normal shipments. Experts say the price increases motorists are seeing are primarily tied to rising crude oil costs rather than fuel shortages.
Nationally, the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline jumped 48 cents in the past week, bringing the U.S. average to $3.47 per gallon. That level matches prices last seen in April 2025. Analysts note that gasoline prices often increase during the spring as demand rises and refineries transition to producing summer-blend gasoline.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand dropped slightly last week from 8.73 million barrels per day to 8.29 million barrels per day. Total domestic gasoline supply also dipped slightly, from 254.8 million barrels to 253.1 million barrels, while gasoline production increased to an average of 9.3 million barrels per day.
Within Tennessee, Nashville currently has the highest average gas prices among major metro areas at $3.10 per gallon, followed by Chattanooga at $3.07 and Clarksville at $3.06. Meanwhile, some of the lowest prices in the state can be found in Knoxville and Morristown at $2.95 per gallon, followed by Kingsport at $2.97.
How much higher gas prices may climb will likely depend on how long tensions in the Middle East persist, when shipping resumes through the Strait of Hormuz, and how global oil supply and demand adjust in the coming weeks.
