Motorists can count on spending a little more at the gas station as we edge closer to the Labor Day holiday, the unofficial end of summer and typically a busy travel weekend.

Average gasoline prices in Modesto have risen 5.2 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.23/gallon on Aug. 18, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 201 stations in Modesto. Prices in Modesto are 3.7 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 1.2 cents per gallon higher than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has decreased 1.9 cents compared to a week ago and stands at $3.67 per gallon.

According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Modesto was priced at $3.74/gallon while the most expensive was $5.49, a difference of $1.75/gallon. The lowest price in the state was $2.99 while the highest was $8.39, a difference of $5.40/gallon.

Across the nation, the average price of gasoline was unchanged in the last week, averaging $3.09/gallon as of Aug. 18. The national average is down 4.6 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 27.9 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 nationwide.

“The national average is nearly unchanged from a week ago, with gasoline prices continuing to hover in the same territory where they’ve spent much of 2025 so far—in the low-$3-per-gallon range—as oil prices remain anchored in the $60s,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “For the majority of motorists, gas prices will likely remain near current levels as we head toward Labor Day.”

Neighboring areas and their current gas prices include: Stockton - $4.30/gallon, down 4.7 cents from last week’s $4.35; Oakland - $4.55, up 4.2 cents from $4.51; and San Jose - $4.45, down 1.6 cents from last week’s $4.47/gallon.

Historical gasoline prices in Modesto and the national average going back 10 years show the highest Modesto price was $5.14 per gallon on Aug. 18, 2022 and the lowest was $2.41 per gallon on Aug. 18, 2016. Highest U.S average price of $3.90 per gallon on Aug. 18 was recorded in 2022 and the lowest of $2.14 was in 2016.

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.