Idaho drivers ring in 2024 with lower gas prices.

COEUR d'ALENE — Tuesday’s average price for a gallon of regular in the Gem State was $3.17, which was a nickel less than a week ago, 39 cents less than a month ago, and 26 cents less than a year ago, according to AAA, 

Meanwhile, the national average was at $3.10, which was 2 cents less than a week ago, 14 cents less than a month ago, and 11 cents less than a year ago.

Idaho ranked 15th in the country for most expensive fuel. Montana and Utah, which supply much of Idaho’s finished gasoline, rank 26th and 35th, respectively.

Kootenai County gas prices ranged from a low of around $3.19 to a high of around $3.29.

“Gas prices are like doing the limbo — everyone wants to know how low they can go,” said AAA Idaho public affairs director Matthew Conde. “We see the potential for the Idaho average to approach or even fall below the $3 mark, but that would require low seasonal demand and a resilient supply chain to keep things moving in the right direction."

Idaho’s lowest price for the year was $3.18 for a gallon of regular on Dec. 31, and prices topped out at $4.22 per gallon on Sept. 1 (right before Labor Day). The national average hit a low of $3.07 per gallon on Dec. 18, with its most expensive price of $3.87 on Aug. 17.

“Pump prices weren’t as low as we would all like them to be, but Idaho drivers fared much better in 2023 than in 2022, paying an average of 56 cents less per gallon over the course of the year,” Conde said.

AAA said that if cold weather curbs fuel demand, pump prices could drop even further in the coming days and weeks.

Here’s a look at Idaho gas prices as of Tuesday: Boise, $3.26; Franklin, $2.85; Idaho Falls, $2.89; Lewiston, $3.61 and Pocatello, $2.66.