VA Gas Prices Hit Record High

VIRGINIA — Gas prices reached an all-time high in Virginia on Wednesday as the Russian invasion of Ukraine disrupts oil markets around the world.

A gallon of regular unleaded reached an average of about $4.18, according to AAA Mid-Atlanta. The previous record was $4.01 set on July 17, 2008.

Virginia gas prices increased 8 cents since Tuesday and about 69 cents since last week. Gas was $2.66 a gallon a year ago.

AAA Mid-Atlantic said the cost of a gallon of mid-grade gas is $4.50, premium gas is $4.81 and diesel fuel is $4.91 in Virginia.

In the District of Columbia, the average gas price is $4.41 per gallon, AAA said.

The cost of regular unleaded gas was up 7 cents from the day before and a 60-cent increase from last week's average. One year ago, the average cost of gas in Virginia was $2.93 a gallon.

The national average also broke another record at $4.25 a gallon, which was an 8-cent increase since Tuesday.

The average price of a gallon of regular gas Wednesday across northern Virginia was:

• Alexandria: $4.30
• Arlington: $4.29
• Fairfax: $4.29
• Loudoun County: $4.25
• Manassas City: $4.19
• Prince William County: $4.29
• Stafford County: $4.22
• Fauquier County: $4.23

Consumers can expect to pay more so long as the price of crude oil rises, AAA Northeast spokesman Fran Mayko said in a statement.

Gas mileage decreases rapidly when a vehicle is traveling more than 60 mph, according to AAA. Properly inflated tires can improve gas mileage by more than 3 percent per tire.