Average gasoline prices in Modesto have fallen 10.4 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.26/gallon on Monday, Oct. 20, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 201 stations in Modesto. Prices in Modesto are 6.5 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 17.2 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has decreased 3.7 cents compared to a week ago and stands at $3.59 per gallon.

According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Modesto was priced at $3.85/gallon while the most expensive was $4.89, a difference of $1.04/gallon. The lowest price in the state was $3.49 while the highest was $8.19, a difference of $4.70/gallon.

The national average price of gasoline has fallen 4.1 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.98/gallon on Oct. 20. The national average is down 19.3 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 15.2 cents per gallon lower than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country.

Historical gasoline prices in Modesto and the national average going back 10 years show the highest Modesto price of $5.74 per gallon came on Oct. 20, 2022 and the lowest Oct. 20 price was $2.61 in 2016. Nationally, the highest U.S. Oct. 20 average price was $3.82 in 2022 and the lowest U.S. average price of $2.15 per gallon was on Oct. 20, 2020.

Neighboring areas and their current gas prices include: Stockton - $4.34 per gallon, down 3.1 cents from last week’s $4.37; Oakland - $4.63, up 2.7 cents per gallon from $4.60; and San Jose - $4.55 per gallon, down 0.6 cents from last week’s $4.56.

“Gas prices have finally fallen below $3 per gallon nationally — the earliest date we’ve seen a $2.99 national average since 2020, when COVID was the primary driver of low prices,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “OPEC+ deserves much of the credit for this trend, having steadily raised oil production for much of 2025. Currently, 35 states have average gas prices below $2.99/gallon, and GasBuddy even recorded the first $1.99 cash price at a station in Evans, Colorado, with stations in Oklahoma and Texas not far behind. Barring any major disruptions, gas prices are likely to remain slightly below year-ago levels for much of the next few months.”

GasBuddy is the authoritative voice for gas prices and the only source for station-level data. GasBuddy’s survey updates 288 times every day from the most diverse list of sources covering nearly 150,000 stations nationwide, the most comprehensive and up-to-date in the country.