A number of factors, including a temporary closure of the Olympic Pipeline, sent gas prices across Oregon and Washington state skyrocketing. In Oregon, the average price jumped 22 cents, or $3.91 a gallon — the biggest week-over-week jump for a state in the nation.
According to AAA, the national average for regular fuel increased by 3 cents, or $2.95 a gallon.
The Olympic Pipeline was shut down for maintenance and repairs last Tuesday, then resumed operations on Thursday, according to a BP spokesperson. As a result, wholesale prices in the Pacific Northwest region increased, hitting drivers with double-digit increases.
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The Olympic Pipeline last shut down after a gas leak was discovered in November. The pipeline transports gasoline, diesel and jet fuel along a 400-mile system operated by BP Pipelines North America, running from Whatcom County to Portland, with terminal sites in Seattle, SeaTac, Tacoma, Vancouver and Portland.
The rising prices also coincided with California refineries beginning to transition to summer-blend fuel, which is more expensive to produce.
AAA also noted that U.S. and Iran’s ongoing tensions have led to higher crude oil prices and could continue. This comes as the Trump administration ordered that all nonessential diplomats and their family members at the U.S. Embassy to leave Lebanon.
“The re-opening of the pipeline should ease the situation a bit, but the normal seasonal price increases will continue as refineries in the region undergo maintenance ahead of the switch to summer-blend fuel,” said Marie Dodds, public affairs director for AAA Oregon/Idaho, in a statement. “The unknown is how ongoing geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Iran will impact crude oil prices, which remain elevated. Higher crude oil prices mean higher pump prices.”
The highest price of the year so far is today’s price of $3.91. The lowest price of the year in Oregon, so far, was $3.33 on Jan. 20, according to AAA. Oregon’s average regular gas price at the beginning of 2026 was $3.42 a gallon.
