Murphy USA Gas Prices in September 2026: Up 7.83% Nationwide After a 29-Cent One-Day Jump
Across 556 standalone Murphy USA and Murphy Express stations in 25 states, regular unleaded rose 28.2 cents in September and diesel rose 65.3 cents. Most of the increase came in two jumps, on September 10 and September 16–17. Colorado was the only state where prices fell.
Sep 30 Regular Avg
$3.883
+$0.282 (+7.83%) vs Sep 1
Monthly Peak (Sep 17)
$4.054
+45.3¢ above the Sep 1 low
Diesel Month Change
+$0.653
+12.62% (Climbed to $5.828)
Murphy vs. EIA Avg
-50.3¢
EIA National: $4.465 on Sep 28
In August, standalone Murphy USA prices ended the month slightly lower than they started. September was different. The national regular average at our 556 standalone Murphy USA and Murphy Express stations rose from $3.601 on September 1 to $3.883 on September 30, an increase of 28.2 cents (+7.83%). Prices rose at 489 of 556 stations (87.9%), and the median station paid 33 cents more by the end of the month.
The largest single move was a 28.8-cent jump on September 10, the biggest one-day increase of any brand we track this month. A second jump on September 16–17 pushed the average to its $4.054 peak. Murphy remained one of the cheapest places to buy gas: on September 28 it was 50.3 cents below the EIA national average.
1. All Fuel Grades: September 1 vs. September 30
| Fuel Grade | Sep 1 | Sep 30 | Change ($) | Change (%) | Sep Avg | Sep High | Sep Low |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Unleaded | $3.601 | $3.883 | +$0.282 | +7.83% | $3.888 | $4.054 (9/17) | $3.601 (9/01) |
| Midgrade | $4.041 | $4.332 | +$0.291 | +7.21% | $4.335 | $4.485 (9/17) | $4.041 (9/01) |
| Premium | $4.395 | $4.685 | +$0.290 | +6.60% | $4.689 | $4.839 (9/17) | $4.395 (9/01) |
| Diesel (552 stations) | $5.175 | $5.828 | +$0.653 | +12.62% | $5.822 | $6.049 (9/17) | $5.175 (9/01) |
2. Two Jumps, Then a Slow Retreat
The national regular average went through three phases. Each jump was followed by a slow decline, but not enough to undo it:
The 28.8¢ Thursday
After rising about 10 cents over Labor Day week to $3.699, the average jumped 28.8 cents on Thursday, September 10 to $3.964, then fell back to $3.839 by September 15.
The 21.5¢ Second Wave
Two days of increases (+7.7¢, then +13.8¢) lifted the average to the monthly peak of $4.054 on September 17.
A 17.1¢ Slide
Apart from a brief rise on September 23–25, prices eased through the rest of the month and closed at $3.883. Georgia's tax holiday accounted for about 2 cents of the 4.6-cent drop on the last day.
Cheapest Day of the Week to Fill Up at Murphy USA
Tuesday averaged 20.8 cents less than Thursday, the widest weekday gap of the four brands we track. Both big jumps peaked on a Thursday (September 10 and 17), which explains much of the gap.
3. Regional Breakdown: The West Barely Moved
| Census Region | Stations | Sep 1 Avg | Sep 30 Avg | Net Change ($) | Net Change (%) | Sep Monthly Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midwest | 31 | $3.714 | $4.114 | +$0.400 | +10.77% | $4.043 |
| South | 446 | $3.538 | $3.848 | +$0.310 | +8.76% | $3.838 |
| West | 79 | $3.914 | $3.990 | +$0.076 | +1.93% | $4.111 |
The West's small 7.6-cent net rise hides two opposite trends. Colorado's 48 stations fell 21.8 cents, while Utah and Nevada rose 60 to 80 cents. Colorado has the most Murphy stations in the West, so its decline offset most of those increases.
4. State-by-State Winners & Losers
| 1. Colorado (48 stations) | -21.8¢ (-5.56%) |
| 2. Georgia (30 stations) | +1.2¢ (+0.33%) |
| 3. Iowa (2 stations) | +20.0¢ (+5.34%) |
| 4. Texas (131 stations) | +28.1¢ (+8.07%) |
| 5. Kansas (4 stations) | +30.7¢ (+8.35%) |
| 6. Alabama (24 stations) | +32.9¢ (+9.26%) |
| 1. Utah (5 stations) | +80.4¢ (+19.35%) |
| 2. Michigan (2 stations) | +54.0¢ (+13.45%) |
| 3. Nevada (4 stations) | +60.0¢ (+13.34%) |
| 4. Illinois (6 stations) | +52.2¢ (+12.97%) |
| 5. Indiana (4 stations) | +42.0¢ (+12.71%) |
| 6. New Mexico (22 stations) | +45.6¢ (+12.23%) |
Georgia: Tax Holiday Saves the Month
Georgia's 30 Murphy stations rose from $3.592 to $3.990 by September 26. After Governor Kemp suspended the 33.3-cent state gas tax on September 29, they fell 34.5 cents in one day, from $3.949 to $3.604. Georgia ended the month as the cheapest Murphy state, with five of the six cheapest stations.
Colorado: Price Cycles Ended Low
Prices at Murphy's 48 Colorado stations follow a sharp cycle: a sudden jump (+48.6¢ on September 10, +36.3¢ on September 17), then several days of small cuts. The last cycle ran from September 23 to the end of the month, finishing at $3.708, 21.8 cents below September 1.
Cheapest States on September 30Regular avg
- 1. Georgia (30 stations)$3.604
- 2. Colorado (48 stations)$3.708
- 3. Indiana$3.724
- 4. Texas (131 stations)$3.756
- 5. Oklahoma$3.772
- 6. Mississippi$3.789
- 7. Tennessee$3.801
- 8. Louisiana$3.819
Most Expensive States on September 30Regular avg
- 1. Nevada (4 stations)$5.099
- 2. Utah (5 stations)$4.959
- 3. Michigan$4.554
- 4. Illinois$4.542
- 5. New Mexico$4.182
- 6. Nebraska$4.139
- 7. Florida (61 stations)$4.062
- 8. Virginia$4.016
5. Murphy Express Stores vs. Murphy USA Kiosks
Murphy USA Kiosks
$3.884 Sep 30 avg
+$0.317 (+8.87%) month change
September Monthly Average: $3.870 • Diesel Sep 30: $5.811
Murphy Express Stores
$3.883 Sep 30 avg
+$0.265 (+7.33%) month change
September Monthly Average: $3.897 • Diesel Sep 30: $5.836
In August, kiosks were 4.9 cents cheaper than Express stores. In September, kiosks rose 5.2 cents more, so the two formats ended the month essentially level (0.1 cent apart). Kiosks were still 2.7 cents cheaper on the monthly average. Murphy stations in Walmart parking lots averaged $3.898 on September 30, 1.5 cents above standalone sites; see our Walmart September report.
6. Station Extremes
Cheapest Standalone Stations, Sep 30
- 1. Warner Robins, GA (#8568)$3.459
- 2. Acworth, GA (#6762)$3.469
- 3. Franklin, IN (#6848)$3.499
- 4. Grovetown, GA (#8578)$3.499
- 5. Perry, GA (#8742)$3.499
- 6. Macon, GA (#8519)$3.519
Most Expensive Standalone Stations, Sep 30
- 1. North Las Vegas, NV (#8787)$5.099
- 2. Las Vegas, NV (#8783)$5.099
- 3. North Las Vegas, NV (#8782)$5.099
- 4. North Las Vegas, NV (#8777)$5.099
- 5. West Jordan, UT (#8807)$4.999
- 6. Kearns, UT (#8775)$4.999
7. How Murphy Customers Can Save in October
- Fill up early in the week. September's two big increases both peaked on a Thursday, and Tuesday was the cheapest day on average.
- Use Murphy Drive Rewards. Fuel discounts are worth more when gas costs nearly $4. Our Drive Rewards guide explains how points become cents off per gallon.
- In Colorado, buy near the bottom of the cycle. Prices there jump suddenly and then drift down for a week or more. Filling up just before the next jump is the cheapest timing.
Methodology: Daily station-level prices from the martgasprice.com price feed for 556 standalone Murphy USA and Murphy Express stations (Murphy stations in Walmart parking lots are covered in our Walmart report). National and state figures are simple averages of all stations reporting that day. The Murphy feed has no readings for September 2–4 or September 18, so those days are excluded from the daily figures. External benchmarks are from AAA and the EIA's Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update (September 28, 2026).
Check current fuel prices at Murphy USA
Daily pump price updates across 556 standalone locations.