Pump Pain in Natrona County: Local Gas Prices Jump While National Average Sits Flat

K2 Radio, Oil City News, and Wyoming Eagle Tribune contributed to this report.

Drivers in Natrona County are feeling it at the pump this week — after a sharp bump in local gas prices pushed the average back up toward pre-holiday levels, bucking a broader trend of mostly flat or falling fuel costs elsewhere.

According to local reports, the cost of a gallon of regular in Natrona County spiked over the past several days, wiping out some of the price relief residents saw right after the Christmas rush. That jump stands out at a time when most of the country — and Wyoming as a whole — isn’t seeing much upward movement.

Across the state, the latest AAA fuel data shows Wyoming’s metro pump prices remain comparatively low — with regular unleaded around the low-to-mid $2 range in cities like Casper and Cheyenne.

Statewide, recent GasBuddy data found Wyoming’s average gas price dipped slightly over the past week to about $2.42 per gallon — about 18 cents cheaper than a month ago and 44 cents below last year’s levels. The cheapest reported gas in the state was under $2 per gallon, while the priciest hit more than $3.30 in some spots.

Meanwhile, the national average has basically flatlined — only nudging down by fractions of a cent or staying near roughly $2.80 per gallon in mid-January. That modest plateau comes after weeks of broad declines that have brought fuel costs well below year-ago figures across much of the US.

Analysts say these mixed patterns — a local spike in Natrona County amid flat or falling averages statewide and nationally — reflect the complex push-pull of regional supply, seasonal demand and how quickly individual stations adjust their pricing. Regardless, for drivers in central Wyoming, this week’s pump pain is a reminder that even small spikes can hit the wallet when the tank’s running near empty.