Michigan Drivers Hit Hardest By Nation’s Biggest Gas Price Surge This Year

As if our wallets couldn’t have told you this to begin with, Michigan has the highest rise in gas prices in the last year in the nation. Gas prices have hit a new high in 2026, and data from AAA shows that Michigan leads the nation with a 55% year-over-year surge in regular retail gas prices.

That means Michigan has seen the most dramatic spike in gas prices. Silver Bulletin recently put out a map that shows the most dramatic increases in gas prices by state by taking the percentage change in regular gas prices on September 22, 2026, versus one year earlier, and Michigan tops the list with 54.9%, according to them:

Get our free mobile app

Inflation in regular gas prices has been somewhat higher in the Midwest and in the heartland generally than on the coasts (though that’s partly because gas prices were already high on the West Coast in particular). As compared with one year ago, Michigan has seen the largest rise in retail gas prices, a 55 percent jump from Sept. 22, 2025, based on this morning’s data from the AAA.

As of right now, the most expensive gas price averages are seen in Ann Arbor, Lansing and Jackson where the averages come out to about $4.96 per gallon and the cheapest gas price averages are in Marquette, Traverse City, and Flint, where they range from $4.79, $4.85, and $4.90, respectively.

Adrienne Woodland, spokesperson for AAA-The Auto Club Group, also commented on this dramatic spike:

Michigan drivers are seeing a significant increase at the pump, with gas prices climbing 62 cents in just one week and reaching their highest levels since July 2022. This sharp jump highlights the continued volatility of the global oil market and its impact on drivers.