Average gasoline prices in Modesto have risen 35.7 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $5.29/gallon on March 16, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 201 stations in Modesto. Prices in Modesto are 90.6 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 87.7 cents per gallon higher than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has increased 34.0 cents compared to a week ago and stands at $4.95 per gallon.

According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Modesto was priced at $4.84 while the most expensive was $6.19, a difference of $1.35/gallon. The lowest price in the state was $4.09 while the highest was $8.71, a difference of $4.62/gallon.

Neighboring areas and their current gas prices include: Stockton - $5.26/gallon, up 31.3 cents from last week’s $4.95; Oakland - $5.51, up 31.0 cents from $5.20; and San Jose - $5.47/gallon, up 27.1 cents per gallon from last week’s $5.20/gallon.

The national average price of gasoline has risen 23.2 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.68/gallon on March 16. The national average is up 80.0 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 66.1 cents per gallon higher 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 five years: March 16, 2025: Modesto $4.41/gallon (U.S. Average: $3.02/gallon); 2024: Modesto $4.66 (U.S. $3.45); 2023: $4.59 (U.S. $3.43); 2022: $5.55 (U.S. $4.29); and March 16, 2021: Modesto $3.67/gallon (U.S. Average: $2.87).

“Consumers continue to feel the sting of rising oil, gasoline, and diesel costs as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East remain elevated, pushing gasoline prices to their highest levels in years,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “At the same time, seasonal forces are beginning to intensify as several regions complete the transition to summer gasoline, creating a double headwind that could continue driving pump prices higher in the weeks ahead.”

GasBuddy, a PDI Technologies company, is North America’s trusted fuel savings platform, helping consumers fuel up for less for over 25 years. GasBuddy delivers real-time prices at 150,000+ stations and is the most authoritative source of station-level fuel pricing data, updating averages 288 times daily from the broadest mix of inputs— spotter reports, direct station integrations, and transactional data.