Iowa Gas Prices Swing Upward This Week After Brief Decline
Iowa gas prices are making news again after a volatile stretch of weekly swings. Drivers across the Hawkeye State are seeing prices nudge higher at the pump, though costs remain well below where they stood a year ago.
Iowa Gas Prices Today: What Drivers Are Paying
Average gas prices in Iowa have risen 8.6 cents per gallon over the past week, bringing the statewide average to $2.55 per gallon, based on a survey of more than 2,000 stations across the state. That weekly jump caught many drivers off guard after a period of declining prices.
Prices are currently 3 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and 41.9 cents per gallon lower than they were this same time last year, providing significant year-over-year relief for Iowa households and businesses that depend heavily on fuel.
Iowa Gas Prices: Cheapest and Most Expensive Stations
The gap between the lowest and highest prices at Iowa stations remains wide right now, offering real savings for drivers willing to shop around before filling up.
The cheapest station in Iowa was recently spotted at $2.09 per gallon, while the most expensive reached $4.11 per gallon — a difference of $2.02 between the low and the high end. That kind of spread makes comparison shopping at the pump genuinely worthwhile for frequent drivers.
In the Siouxland region, many stations are currently selling unleaded gasoline in the range of $2.29 to $2.59 per gallon, showing how prices can vary meaningfully by region within the state.
How Iowa Gas Prices Compare to the National Average
Iowa continues to rank among the most affordable states in the country when it comes to fuel costs. That gap versus the national average is significant and growing.
Iowa is currently listed among the nation's ten least expensive gasoline markets, with a statewide average of around $2.50 per gallon, putting it squarely in the bottom tier of fuel costs nationally. That is a notable advantage for Iowa commuters and freight operators.
The national average price of gasoline currently stands at $2.88 per gallon, meaning Iowa drivers are paying roughly 33 cents less per gallon than the average American motorist.
Diesel Prices in Iowa This Week
Commercial drivers and fleet operators tracking Iowa gas prices are also watching diesel closely. That market has seen its own swings in recent weeks.
Retail diesel prices in Iowa fell 5 cents this week, bringing the statewide average to $3.40 per gallon — 27 cents lower than the national diesel average of $3.67. The decline offers measurable cost relief for agriculture and logistics sectors that are major pillars of the Iowa economy.
What's Behind the Latest Iowa Gas Price Movement
The recent fluctuations in Iowa gas prices are tied closely to crude oil market movement, with West Texas Intermediate crude falling to $61.60 per barrel — a drop of $3.69 that has pressured wholesale fuel costs lower even as pump prices briefly reversed course.
Over the past year, Iowa has seen one of the steepest year-over-year gas price declines in the nation, with prices falling 13.9% from $2.97 to around $2.56 per gallon — making it one of the top three states for fuel savings compared to 2025 levels.
Iowa Gas Price Outlook for the Coming Weeks
The road ahead for Iowa gas prices depends heavily on crude oil trends and any shifts in seasonal fuel blend requirements. Spring typically brings reformulated gasoline blends that push prices modestly higher in many Midwest markets.
Iowa's weekly average price has bounced up and down across the past nine weeks, dropping five times and rising four times, illustrating just how volatile the current fuel market remains. Drivers looking to lock in savings should monitor local station prices frequently, as single-week swings of nearly a dime per gallon have become routine.
