AAA put California's average at $6.01 on Thursday, while U.S. regular gasoline reached $4.30 and WTI crude climbed to $106 a barrel.
Prices have jumped about 28% since the Iran war began, driven by fears of a prolonged US blockade outside the Strait of Hormuz, possible escalation and tighter global fuel supply.
California is the first state above $6 in this spike, though still below its June 2022 record of $6.438; nationally, pump prices are at their highest since July 2022.
Beyond the Iran war, are California's own refineries the real cause behind its record-breaking $6 gas prices?
The Iran war has crippled the world's oil supply. Will this crisis accelerate a green energy future or derail it completely?