Colorado has second- lowest gas prices in nation

Colorado has the second- lowest gas prices in the country — for now.

The statewide average price is $ 3.16 for a gallon of regular unleaded gas, 51 cents below the national average.

The statewide average is down from $ 3.58 per gallon at the same t ime in 2023 and up about 10 c ents o n the month, AAA Colorado said Thursday.

“Coloradans should make the most of comparatively low prices while t hey can,” Skyler Mckinley, regional spokesman for AAA, said in a statement.

Mckinley s aid expectations of an upcoming robust summer travel season coupled with the federally mandated s witchover to reformulated gas mean it likely won’t be long until Colorado’s gas prices climb to above the national average.

In 2 022, t he E nvironmental Protection Agency classified Denver and the northern Front Range as “severe” violators of federal air quality standards, which requires motorists to use a special blend of gasoline that reduces harmful emissions.

Retailers will s ell the reformulated gas June 1 t hrough Sept. 15.

Mckinley said people can expect to start seeing increases in May as refineries switch over.

Gas prices could rise up to 20 to 30 cents per gallon, Mckinley said.

He attributed the current low prices in part to lackluster domestic demand and decreasing oil prices. Conflicts in the Middle East recently sent the price into the upper $ 80s per barrel.

Mississippi has the cheapest gas at $ 3.11 per gallon. California is the most expensive with gas a whopping $ 5.45 per gallon on average.