Gas prices surging in Maine, drivers could face Labor Day record highs
MAINE —
Gas prices are surging in Maine as we head into the long Labor Day weekend, at a time when prices usually come down.
According to AAA, the average for a gallon of regular gas in Maine on Thursday was $4.16. That was up three cents from the day before and four cents in the last week. On the same date in 2025, the average was $3.12, more than a dollar less.
Average prices in the Lewiston-Auburn area were a penny higher than the state average while Portland was right on the state average.
Diesel prices were up even more. According to AAA, the average for a gallon of diesel in Maine on Thursday was $5.81, up 13 cents from the day before. The average a year ago was $3.89 per gallon.
The national average for regular gas was $4.14 on Thursday as continued volatility in the Strait of Hormuz has pushed crude oil prices to the $90 per barrel range.
AAA said the national average for regular gas has never been above $4 per gallon on Labor Day. The current Labor Day record is $3.82, set on September 3, 2012. Even though gasoline demand decreases this time of year, typically bringing down gas prices, AAA said this year is different due to the high cost of crude oil.
Gas prices are up nearly 40% nationwide compared with when the Iran War began six months ago.
As of Aug. 27, the national average price for a gallon of regular gas was $4.10. The day before the strikes were launched, it was $2.98.
This is the first August ever in which the national average price of regular gas has been above $4 every day.
Drivers also faced high gas prices for the long Memorial Day holiday weekend.
The highest recorded average in Maine for regular unleaded gas was $5.09 in June of 2022 under the Biden administration, as the war in Ukraine impacted the global oil market. The highest recorded average for diesel in Maine was $6.37 in May of 2022.