Gas prices hit $4 a gallon in Palm Beach County, highest in Florida
John Bisognano- Gas prices have risen due to seasonal changes and U.S.-Israeli strikes in Iran.
- Florida's average gas price is $3.86 per gallon, while the national average is $3.79.
- Factors like local taxes, competition, and distribution costs contribute to higher prices in certain areas.
Palm Beach County became the first county in Florida to reach $4 for a gallon of gas on Tuesday, March 17, according to AAA-Auto Club South.
The South Florida county, usually the home to the most expensive gas in the state, reached $4.003 on average for a gallon of regular gas, rising 26 cents since last week, according to AAA. The price was $3.26 a year ago.
The average fuel price in Florida is $3.86, a rise of 23 cents since last week.
According to AAA, gas prices across the state in the last year have been as low as $2.60 on Jan. 12, 2026.
➤ INTERACTIVE: See how your area's gas prices have changed over the years at data.palmbeachpost.com.
While Palm Beach County is the only county surpassing $4 per gallon on average, others are getting close. The next most expensive gas in the state can be found in Naples ($3.96), Fort Myers ($3.93), Homosassa Spring ($3.92), Orlando ($3.92), Sarasota-Bradenton ($3.91), Gainesville ($3.91), Tampa ($3.90) and The Villages ($3.90).
The average gas price in the United States is $3.79, up 25 cents since last week.
Gas prices have risen steadily since the U.S.-Israeli strikes in Iran started Feb. 28. They were already rising before the attacks on Iran began. It's a regular seasonal swing as spring arrives, according to AAA.
Analysts said the war hikes gas prices partly because of supply issues and partly because of global uncertainty.
Why do some gas stations charge more than others?
Experts at AAA-Auto Club South and the website GasBuddy say there are numerous reasons for some areas of the country, like Palm Beach County, charging much more for gas.
“The biggest difference-maker in Palm Beach County prices is based on the cost of living and operating a business. If it costs more to keep the lights on, then you are likely to find higher costs for consumers as well,” Tampa-based AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said.
What other factors are to blame?
Competition, or a lack of competition
Stations near low-price leaders such as Costco and Sam’s Club are likely to offer lower prices, too. Conversely, if there is no large gasoline retailer in an area, prices tend to be higher.
Price zones
A pricing practice known as zoning takes into account the numbers of competing stations and vehicles, average traffic flow, population density, income level and more. Set by the gasoline suppliers, price zones can result in varying prices for the same brand at stations a few miles apart.
Motor fuel tax rates
At about 39.4 cents per gallon in state gas taxes, plus local fuel taxes that can add roughly a dozen cents more, and 18.4 cents in federal taxes, drivers in Palm Beach County can pay close to 70 cents per gallon in fuel taxes.
Distribution cost
These vary depending on how far trucks have to travel from a terminal to gas stations. Palm Beach County has no gasoline terminal. Port Everglades in Broward County is South Florida’s primary storage and distribution center for refined petroleum products, and all of Palm Beach County’s gasoline comes from there.
Property taxes, insurance and leasing costs
These tend to be higher near airports and interstate on- and off-ramps and in higher-income municipalities such as Boca Raton and Jupiter.
The market
Station owners charge what the market will bear. In an affluent county, that ends up with prices being higher. Higher-income communities also tend to have fewer gas stations, resulting in less competition.
What does it boil down to? They charge more because they can.