Detroit, March 31, 2026, 07:06 EDT
Gas prices in Michigan dipped a bit on Tuesday, though drivers may not feel much difference. AAA listed the state’s average for regular at $3.915 a gallon. Filling up a 26-gallon Ford F-150? That’s still running close to $102.
This development stands out: U.S. pump prices just topped $4 a gallon—the highest in over three years—after the Iran conflict snarled traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about 20% of the world’s oil and gas shipments. Prices eased a bit Tuesday, but in Michigan, drivers are still shelling out 92 cents more per gallon than they did just a month back.
AAA said Monday Michigan’s average hit $3.96 — that’s a bump of 4 cents over last week, 97 cents higher than a month back, and up 82 cents compared to this time last year. Still, the number sits under the state’s all-time average of $5.22 from June 2022. “The sharp jumps motorists saw earlier this month are starting to slow,” according to Adrienne Woodland, spokesperson for AAA-The Auto Club Group. AAA Newsroom
Price differences across Michigan are still significant. AAA pegged Benton Harbor at $4.08 this week, with Jackson coming in at $4.06 and Lansing at $3.99. The lowest averages: Flint at $3.86, Marquette $3.90, and Metro Detroit $3.92. Tuesday’s daily numbers from AAA: Flint dropped to $3.769, Metro Detroit to $3.898—down slightly from earlier levels.
Drivers are slipping back into familiar habits: cutting out trips, hunting for cheaper pumps, not filling up right away. According to the Detroit Free Press, a Sam’s Club in Madison Heights had cars backed up six deep, with regular gas going for $3.49 a gallon—roughly 45 cents less than the statewide average posted Monday.
The difference hits pickup drivers’ wallets. According to Autoblog, topping off a 2026 F-150 SuperCrew with the 26-gallon tank runs about $102 at Michigan’s latest average price. Opt for the extended option and you’re up near $141. Ford notes the 36-gallon tank comes with SuperCab and SuperCrew trims.
“Upward pressure on fuel prices is likely to persist,” said Patrick De Haan, GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis, speaking with CBS Detroit. As long as global oil supplies remain tight, that’s not expected to change. Since late February, the U.S. national average for gasoline has jumped about $1.06 a gallon, according to Reuters. West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. crude benchmark, wrapped up trading Monday at $102.88 a barrel. CBS News
Even so, this can swing either direction. Raymond James analyst Pavel Molchanov told Reuters he thinks the shock won’t last as long as the spike tied to Ukraine in 2022, and he’s looking for prices to begin easing within weeks. But Reuters also flagged Brent crude hitting nearly $115 on Tuesday—up 59% for the month. WisdomTree’s Jeremy Siegel called gasoline the “most visible price” for consumers, a big reason why even a modest bump at the pump stings in Michigan. Reuters
