Drivers across North Texas are paying more at the pump as the ongoing war involving Iran disrupts a major global oil route and forces crude prices past $100 a barrel. Many DFW-area gas stations are now charging nearly $3.70 a gallon for regular unleaded as of Wednesday morning, which is above the statewide average of $3.53, according to AAA. The nationwide average is now $3.84 per gallon. Gas prices averages as of Wednesday morning, March 18, 2026. The spike comes as the Strait of Hormuz – a vital passageway that moves 20% of the world’s oil – remains essentially closed amid escalating attacks in the Middle East region. U.S. oil has surged nearly 50% since the conflict began and is up about 75% since the start of the year. “We definitely didn’t have this on our bingo card in 2026, did we?” said Rey Treviño III, director of operations at Pecos Country Operating and host of The Crude Truth video podcast. “With the Strait of Hormuz still in that uncertainty, we’re still going to see these higher than normal oil prices right now.” Some North Texas drivers say the increases are already straining their budgets. “It’s impacting me on everything – my household, my bills,” said Corey Peoples, who drives a pickup. “I got a pick and choose what I’m going to do, due to the fact of the gas prices are going so high. And I got a truck. So it’s drinking a lot of gas.” Another driver told NBC 5 the sudden jump was hard to ignore. “A couple of weeks ago, we were down a dollar or two. Now it’s skyrocketing and making it hard on working people,” he said. While the pain at the pump is real, Treviño said Texas remains cheaper than many other states because of lighter gasoline taxes and easier access to refineries and pipelines. In states like California, he said, limited refinery capacity and higher transportation costs – along with reliance on foreign oil – drive prices even higher. There’s also the operations in the Permian Basin of West Texas to help out the Lone Star State, which Treviño said produces over 50% of the oil in Texas. “As long as we continue to produce our sweet Texas crude, we’ll keep supplying the market,” Treviño said. “But right now, all eyes are on what happens overseas.” Another anomaly drivers are seeing right now is the drastic difference in gas prices across different parts of the metroplex. He added that wide price differences between gas stations, even those across the street from each other, often come down to timing.“That gas station at $3.35 might have purchased its supply four days ago. And the one at $3.70 bought it yesterday when prices were higher. When they refill, their price will go up too,” said Treviño. “That’s normally the easy answer on why gasoline prices may or may not exactly be the same at stations right across the street from each other.” Last week, several countries, including the U.S., have agreed to release oil from strategic reserves in an effort to stabilize markets. Treviño said this conflict is one of the clearest examples in years of why those reserves exist. Energy officials say prices are likely to remain elevated until the Strait of Hormuz reopens and the threat to tanker routes eases. While there’s no telling when gas prices will jump from day to day, Treviño suggests drivers avoid filling up on Fridays and Saturdays, when prices typically rise. Stay fueled before heading into downtown or airport areas, where demand often pushes prices higher. ...read more read less