by Morgan Sweeney
Today’s gas prices in Virginia are higher than a month ago but lower than a year ago and lower than the national average.
Unleaded regular is going for an average of $3.67 per gallon in the commonwealth; diesel for $4.19. The price is almost 30 cents higher than a month ago when gas was $3.41 per gallon, but it’s 20 cents less than today’s national average of $3.87.
Within the state, prices are generally highest in Northern Virginia and Eastern parts of the state, in urban or close-to-urban areas and lower in the Central and Southwestern parts of the state.
Gas is most expensive in Arlington and Fairfax Counties, costing an average of $3.88 per gallon, more than 20 cents higher than the state average. Gas is lowest in Danville at $3.45 for unleaded regular.
The American Automobile Association categorizes states according to the range into which their retail gas prices fall. Virginia is in the second-lowest tier for gas prices that, currently fall between $3.63 and $3.75 per gallon.
Virginia’s prices are higher than its neighbors to the West and South, like Kentucky and Tennessee, which are currently averaging $3.58 and $3.50 per gallon and fall into the country’s lowest tier for gas prices.
With the exception of West Virginia, the commonwealth’s prices are lower than its neighbors to the North — 14 cents lower than Maryland, 8 cents lower than Delaware, and 6 cents lower than New Jersey.
The highest gas prices in the nation are in Illinois and states to the West of Montana and Colorado, including Alaska and Hawaii.
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Morgan Sweeney is a staff writer covering Virginia and Maryland for The Center Square. Morgan was an active member of the journalism program as an undergraduate at Hillsdale College and previously freelanced for The Center Square.
