Are You Willing To Pay $10 For A Gallon Of Gas?

Gas prices are climbing once again across California, but in one remote stretch of the state, they’ve reached levels that sound almost unreal.

Along the scenic but isolated Highway 1 in Big Sur, a lone gas station is now charging $9.99 per gallon—and it may not stop there.

The station, known as Gorda by the Sea, sits miles from the nearest alternative, making it a necessary stop for anyone traveling that rugged section of the Central Coast. According to owner Leo Flores, the near-$10 price isn’t a stunt—it’s simply the highest number the pump can display.

“The software only goes to $10,” Flores told the Los Angeles Times, suggesting that if costs rise further, the station could run into a practical problem: how to show the price at all.

Unlike typical gas stations, Gorda operates almost entirely off-grid. The site—including its small market, café, lodging, and fuel pumps—relies on gasoline-powered generators due to the lack of connection to a traditional electrical grid. That alone adds significant operating costs.

Then there’s the logistics. Delivering fuel to this stretch of coastline is neither easy nor cheap. Landslides have historically cut off access to Highway 1, and a recent three-year closure severely disrupted supply chains. Flores has previously said those interruptions nearly forced the business to shut down.

“If the highway is closed in both directions, I’m screwed,” he said.

An employee at the station indicated that prices could climb even higher in the coming weeks, as suppliers continue to raise wholesale costs. “Unfortunately, our vendor told us it will be more expensive in the next few weeks,” the employee said.

While $9.99 gas is an outlier, it sketches the broader trend across California. Statewide averages have climbed past $5.80 per gallon, with some regions—including parts of the Bay Area—already exceeding $6 per gallon.

Several factors contribute to California’s consistently higher fuel prices. These include state taxes, stricter environmental regulations, and the use of a unique fuel blend required to meet emissions standards. Add in refinery shutdowns and reduced in-state production, and the supply picture becomes tighter.

Unlike much of the U.S., California’s fuel market operates somewhat independently. When local refineries go offline, the state often turns to overseas imports—primarily from Asia—which can take weeks to arrive. That lag leaves prices particularly sensitive to disruptions.

Despite the surge, demand hasn’t collapsed. Surveys suggest many drivers would continue filling up even if prices reached $10 per gallon—a reflection of how dependent Californians remain on personal vehicles.

For now, the situation in Big Sur remains an extreme example. But with global energy markets under pressure and supply chains still vulnerable, it may not be as isolated as it seems.

This article was co-written using AI and was then heavily edited and optimized by our editorial team.

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