Idaho Gas Prices Jump 13 Cents, Lewiston Among State’s Highest at $4.46 Average
Statewide Fuel Costs Up More Than a Dollar Over Last Year
Gas prices across Idaho continued their upward climb this week, with the statewide average rising 13 cents to $4.46 per gallon, according to a new report from AAA Idaho. Lewiston ranks among the highest-priced markets in the state, adding financial strain to Nez Perce County residents already contending with broader inflationary pressures.
The statewide average is now 20 cents higher than one month ago and a full $1.17 more per gallon than this time last year, a significant year-over-year increase that is hitting working families, farmers, truckers, and small business owners particularly hard across the Lewis-Clark Valley and surrounding rural communities.
Idaho’s current average matches the national average of approximately $4.46 per gallon, though AAA noted the national figure has been rising more sharply in recent days, suggesting further increases could be on the horizon for Idaho drivers as well.
Crude Oil Prices and Global Tensions Driving Pump Prices Higher
AAA Idaho Public Affairs Director Matthew Conde identified geopolitical tensions as a key factor driving fuel costs higher, noting that ongoing global uncertainty continues to influence crude oil prices. West Texas Intermediate crude is currently trading near $106 per barrel — nearly $50 higher than a year ago — despite no reported domestic shortages in the United States supply chain.
The disconnect between domestic supply conditions and crude oil pricing underscores the degree to which Idaho consumers remain exposed to international energy market volatility. For Lewiston and the broader Nez Perce County region, where commuting distances are often substantial and personal vehicles are essential for daily life, elevated fuel costs carry an outsized economic impact compared to more densely populated urban areas.
Farmers in the region preparing for planting and harvest seasons face compounding costs, as diesel prices — which typically track closely with gasoline — affect the cost of running equipment, transporting goods to market, and moving agricultural products through the Port of Lewiston. Commercial trucking operations tied to regional businesses, including those serving the timber and paper industries along the Clearwater River corridor, also face mounting fuel overhead.
Local Impact on Nez Perce County Households and Commerce
For the average Nez Perce County household operating one or more vehicles, the price increase translates into dozens of additional dollars per month in fuel expenditures compared to this time last year. A driver filling a 15-gallon tank in Lewiston today is paying roughly $17 more per fill-up than they were at this point in 2025, based on the reported year-over-year difference.
Small businesses dependent on delivery logistics, including those supplying Lewiston’s retail and restaurant sectors, are absorbing higher transportation costs that can eventually be passed along to consumers through price increases on goods and services. The ripple effect of sustained high fuel prices often reinforces broader inflationary conditions that have strained household budgets throughout the Lewis-Clark Valley in recent years.
Highway 12 and Highway 95 corridors — critical arteries for commerce and commuter traffic throughout Nez Perce County — see consistent fuel demand, and pump prices at stations along those routes reflect the statewide trend. Travelers heading toward Hells Canyon recreation areas, a key source of regional tourism revenue, may also reduce trip frequency if fuel costs continue rising through the summer travel season.
What Comes Next
AAA Idaho has not projected a near-term price ceiling, and Matthew Conde’s remarks suggest fuel costs will remain subject to global energy market conditions for the foreseeable future. With West Texas Intermediate crude trading near $106 per barrel and geopolitical uncertainty showing no clear signs of resolution, Idaho drivers should anticipate continued volatility at the pump heading into the summer months.
Consumers looking to limit fuel expenditures are advised by AAA to keep tires properly inflated, combine errands to reduce trips, and compare prices at stations before filling up. For continued statewide economic and energy coverage, visit Idaho News and the Idaho News Network.