Murphy USA Gas Prices in August 2026: Down 0.82% Nationwide, Up 26 Cents Mid-Month
A comprehensive dive into 556 standalone Murphy USA and Murphy Express locations across 23 states. Behind a gentle 3-cent monthly drop lay a violent 26-cent mid-month price surge, double-digit diesel spikes, and massive state-level shifts.
Aug 31 Regular Avg
$3.613
-$0.030 (-0.82%) vs Aug 1
Monthly Peak (Aug 20)
$3.746
+25.9¢ rebound from Aug 10 low
Diesel Net Change
+$0.166
+3.31% (Climbed to $5.186)
Indiana Price Drop
-32.5¢
-8.92% (Lowest state: $3.317)
On paper, August 2026 seemed quiet for drivers visiting standalone Murphy USA and Murphy Express stations. The national average regular unleaded price slipped just 3.0 cents (-0.82%), opening at $3.643 on August 1 and closing at $3.613 on August 31.
Yet underneath that 3-cent net change was a volatile month: an explosive 25.9-cent mid-month price run-up between August 10 and August 20, an aggressive 16.6-cent diesel surge, and dramatic divergence across states where Indiana tumbled by 32.5 cents while Mountain West markets gained ground.
1. Fuel Grades: August 1 vs. August 31 Performance
| Fuel Grade | Aug 1 | Aug 31 | Change ($) | Change (%) | Aug Avg | Aug High | Aug Low |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Unleaded | $3.643 | $3.613 | -$0.030 | -0.82% | $3.622 | $3.746 (8/20) | $3.487 (8/10) |
| Midgrade | $4.080 | $4.055 | -$0.025 | -0.61% | $4.064 | $4.191 (8/20) | $3.933 (8/10) |
| Premium | $4.435 | $4.410 | -$0.025 | -0.56% | $4.418 | $4.541 (8/20) | $4.287 (8/10) |
| Diesel | $5.020 | $5.186 | +$0.166 | +3.31% | $5.108 | $5.308 (8/21) | $4.897 (8/10) |
The spread between diesel and regular gasoline widened significantly from +$1.377 on August 1 to +$1.573 on August 31.
2. The 26-Cent Mid-Month Eruption
Daily pump prices at Murphy forecourts followed an aggressive 3-act script:
The 15.6¢ Slide
Prices retreated in 8 of the first 10 days, drifting from $3.643 to the monthly low of $3.487 on August 10.
The 25.9¢ Surge
Consecutive single-day spikes of +8.0¢ (Aug 12), +7.8¢ (Aug 13), and +13.6¢ (Aug 20) rocketed the average to a peak of $3.746.
Pre-Holiday Retreat
Wholesale margins cooled, giving back 13.3 cents over the final 11 days to settle at $3.613 into Labor Day.
Cheapest Day of the Week to Fill Up at Murphy
Motorists filling up on Tuesday saved an average of 9.0 cents per gallon ($1.35 on a 15-gallon tank) compared to filling up on Thursday.
3. State & Regional Winners & Losers
| 1. Indiana (4 stations) | -32.5¢ (-8.92%) |
| 2. Ohio (3 stations) | -32.0¢ (-8.08%) |
| 3. Michigan (2 stations) | -30.0¢ (-6.86%) |
| 4. Colorado (48 stations) | -13.8¢ (-3.38%) |
| 5. Illinois (6 stations) | -12.5¢ (-3.00%) |
| 6. New Mexico (22 stations) | -10.7¢ (-2.79%) |
| 1. Nevada (4 stations) | +10.0¢ (+2.31%) |
| 2. Utah (5 stations) | +8.4¢ (+2.06%) |
| 3. Texas (131 stations) | +5.5¢ (+1.60%) |
| 4. Louisiana (22 stations) | +5.1¢ (+1.49%) |
| 5. Nebraska (3 stations) | +2.4¢ (+0.64%) |
| 6. Florida (61 stations) | +0.5¢ (+0.13%) |
Cheapest States on August 31Regular avg
- 1. Indiana$3.317
- 2. Oklahoma$3.392
- 3. Mississippi$3.444
- 4. Louisiana$3.481
- 5. Tennessee$3.481
- 6. South Carolina$3.489
- 7. Texas (131 stations)$3.497
Most Expensive States on August 31Regular avg
- 1. Nevada (4 stations)$4.424
- 2. Utah$4.155
- 3. Michigan$4.074
- 4. Illinois$4.036
- 5. Colorado (48 stations)$3.939
4. Format Battle: Murphy Express Stores vs. Murphy USA Kiosks
Murphy USA Kiosks
$3.579 Aug 31 avg
-$0.037 (-1.02%) month change
August Monthly Average: $3.594 • Diesel Aug 31: $5.170
Murphy Express Stores
$3.628 Aug 31 avg
-$0.028 (-0.77%) month change
August Monthly Average: $3.635 • Diesel Aug 31: $5.194
Compact Murphy USA kiosks maintained an average 4.9-cent discount over larger format Murphy Express convenience stores on August 31.
5. Station Highlights: Bargains & Swings
Cheapest Standalone Stations
- 1. Corpus Christi, TX (#8793)$3.179
- 2. Houston, TX (#6737)$3.199
- 3. Louisville, KY (#7533)$3.199
- 4. Franklin, IN (#6848)$3.219
- 5. Lebanon, IN (#8816)$3.219
Most Expensive Standalone Stations
- 1. North Las Vegas, NV (#8777)$4.499
- 2. Las Vegas, NV (#8783)$4.499
- 3. Saratoga Springs, UT (#8800)$4.299
- 4. Pleasant Grove, UT (#8780)$4.199
- 5. Fort Gratiot, MI (#7364)$4.149
Check current fuel prices at Murphy USA
Real-time pump updates across 556 standalone locations.