RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. (WGNS) — On this fine Monday (02/02/2026) morning, the snow and ice seem to be clearing the way for cheaper fuel prices at the pump. As the temps begin to slightly warm with the sun beaming down, WGNS brings even more uplifting news to the airwaves! So, for anyone who has ever stared at a gas pump like it personally wronged them: Stop Staring - Tennessee is winning. Or at least… not losing as badly as most other states.

In the great national “Why does GAS cost so much?” competition, the Volunteer State has clawed its way into the Top 10 cheapest states to buy gas, landing proudly at No. 9. That’s right — last week Tennessee was merely hanging around the Top 20 like an uninvited guest. This week, we’ve moved up to the grown-ups’ table.

While the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded is sitting at $2.87, Tennessee drivers are enjoying a statewide average of $2.51 per gallon. That’s not just cheaper than last week — it’s cheaper than most of the country, which is apparently still paying for something called “convenience.”

The gold medal, once again, goes to Oklahoma, which continues its long-standing tradition of being the nation’s gas-price overachiever. There, regular unleaded averages $2.36 per gallon. That’s only 15 cents cheaper than Tennessee — a difference small enough to annoy you but not quite big enough to justify moving.

Middle Tennessee and Rutherford County Gas Prices - A Study in Pennies - Closer to home, Rutherford County sits squarely in the middle of the pack at $2.50 per gallon for 87-Octane. Not flashy. Not painful. Just… fine.

Head south to Bedford County, and you’ll pay three cents more at $2.53 per gallon, proving once again that geography matters — even when the distance is barely a podcast episode long.

To the east in Cannon County, prices climb another penny to $2.54, because apparently Cannon County decided it was feeling a little premium this week.

Go north of Murfreesboro into Wilson County, and suddenly gas gets friendlier. Communities like Lebanon and Mt. Juliet are enjoying prices around $2.48 per gallon, which is just enough savings to make Rutherford County drivers mutter quietly at stoplights.

To the southwest, over in Marshall County where Chapel Hill is located, prices land right back at $2.51, matching the state average and reminding us that balance still exists in the universe.

And Then There’s Williamson County - If you’re looking for the highest gas prices in Tennessee, congratulations — you already knew the answer.

Williamson County, home to Brentwood and Franklin, is once again holding the title no one asked for. At an even $3.00 per gallon, it remains the most expensive place to fuel up in the state — a position it has apparently defended for 24 straight months with unwavering commitment.

Nearby Nashville isn’t far behind, with drivers paying about $2.61 per gallon, proving that proximity to live music does, in fact, cost extra.

HIGHEST PRICED GAS NATIONWIDE: According to AAA, the Auto Club, they report the most expensive gas can be purchased on your next road trip to Hawaii — of course, that may not be a road trip that ends well when you hit the western coastline of California, unless, of course, you drive a vehicle that can turn into a “007 submarine.”

The 007 Lotus S1 - You may recall seeing that famous 1977 Lotus Esprit S1 model in the James Bond film, The Spy Who Loved Me (Scroll down for movie clip). If that's what you're driving today, once you arrive in the Aloha State, you’ll find the average price at the pump for regular unleaded is $4.39 per gallon. But then again, you won’t be using the cheap stuff — not if you’re trying to maintain 007 standards. So plan on pumping premium-grade fuel into your ride, Bond… Mr. Bond, because saving a few cents at the pump would simply be unbecoming for a man whose car doubles as a submarine. The average price of premium-grade fuel — just one Pacific Ocean away — is a wallet-emptying $4.87 per gallon, which is $1.53 more per gallon than premium-grade gas in the Volunteer State.

If that same 1977 Lotus Esprit S1 — with its 16.9-gallon tank — were topped off today, it would cost $82.30 in Hawaii, compared to $56.44 in Tennessee, even if your underwater adventure only takes you to Percy Priest Lake instead of the Pacific Ocean. That’s a difference of more than $25, which is enough to make even 007 pause before ordering that martini, shaken — not stirred.

Of course, in 1977, the average price for a gallon of gas in Tennessee was in the range of $0.62 to $0.66 per gallon. During that same year, the average price for a gallon of gas in Hawaii was, believe it or not, about the same price the rest of America saw at the pumps and sometimes even cheaper, at an occasional $0.59 per gallon.

DIESEL PRICES IN TENNESSEE: For those filling up with diesel, the current statewide average is $3.23 per gallon. That may still sting, but it’s actually cheaper than this time last year, when diesel averaged $3.41 per gallon. Progress comes in many forms — sometimes it’s just fewer winces at the pump.

Bottom Line - Gas is still expensive. That hasn’t changed. But in a country where many states are paying far more, Tennessee drivers can take a small victory lap — preferably one that doesn’t waste fuel. Because for now, the Volunteer State isn’t just surviving the gas-price game. It’s quietly winning it.