Gasoline prices in Arkansas have jumped 18.3 cents per gallon over the past week, averaging $3.92 per gallon as of Monday, according to data from GasBuddy's survey of 1,826 stations across the state. The statewide average price is now 22 cents higher than a month ago and $1.19 more than this time last year.
In north central Arkansas, fuel prices show significant variation. In Baxter County, gas prices range from $3.97 to $4.09 per gallon, while in Marion County, they span $3.99 to $4.01 per gallon. Fulton County prices fall between $3.99 and $4.19, Izard County offerings range from $3.74 to $3.99, and Stone County prices are listed from $3.96 to $4.29. Drivers in Searcy County face prices from $3.86 to $4.04, while Boone County stations display costs between $3.88 and $4.09 per gallon. No gas prices were reported in Newton County as of Monday.
The most affordable gas reported statewide was $3.39 per gallon at a station in Benton. The highest price, meanwhile, reached $4.69 per gallon, a difference of $1.30 per gallon. For north central Arkansas drivers, the lowest price was found at $3.74 per gallon at 24-hour Fuel in Calico Rock.
Nationally, the average price of gasoline rose 17.2 cents over the last week, climbing to $4.25 per gallon. Diesel saw an even sharper increase, with the national average jumping 31.6 cents to $6.18 per gallon. Both gasoline and diesel prices are up by more than a dollar per gallon compared to a year ago, according to GasBuddy analysis based on reports from over 150,000 gas stations nationwide.
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, attributed the sharp increases to escalating geopolitical tensions. Factors such as tensions between the U.S. and Iran, new hostilities in the Red Sea, and a shutdown of Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline contributed to the surge. Additionally, recent attacks on Russian refineries have further strained global supply.
"While most of the country transitions to cheaper winter-blend gasoline this week, the scale of ongoing geopolitical escalations makes meaningful price relief unlikely in the near term," De Haan explained. He also predicted potential further increases in diesel prices due to supply disruptions.
Arkansas gas prices have consistently remained below the national average. Historical data shows past prices for mid-September as $2.73 per gallon in 2025, $2.81 in 2024, and $3.47 in 2023, compared to nationwide averages of $3.12, $3.16, and $3.84, respectively. However, this year’s average has reached the highest levels Arkansans have seen in recent years.