Rising Gas Prices Are Pushing California Drivers to Rethink How Far They Go, and What They Drive

California drivers are feeling the squeeze at the pump again, with the average price for regular gasoline now sitting at $6.16 per gallon, up three cents overnight, according to AAA. That's a sharp jump from the $4.78 average recorded last year and puts California back near record territory. The all-time high was set in June 2022, when prices hit $6.44 statewide.

Drivers in the Sacramento area told reporter Denzen Cortez the increases are already changing their habits. For Ryan Robinson, the impact is practical. "I try not to do extra trips, try to group all of my activities on one go, so I'm not driving back and forth," he said. And when Memorial Day travel came up, his answer was blunt: "Probably not going to go anywhere, to be honest with you. I'm going to relax at home."

Others are rethinking their transportation entirely. One driver said they've started taking the train to visit family in Southern California, calling it "a little more affordable."

The price spike comes as global conflicts in the Middle East continue to rattle oil markets, piling onto a tax and regulatory structure that already leaves California paying the highest gas prices in the country.

For some, the cost is becoming a turning point on what they drive. A Car.com survey from April found more than half of buyers are now considering an electric vehicle or hybrid, with gas prices listed as a key factor. 

With Memorial Day approaching, one of the busiest travel periods of the year, AAA says how much Californians actually hit the road this year remains to be seen.