If it feels like filling up your car in Winston-Salem has gotten a whole lot more expensive lately, you're not imagining it.
As of August 21, 2026, AAA reports that the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in Winston-Salem is approximately $3.81. In Greensboro, it's about $3.80, while the North Carolina statewide average is approximately $3.78 per gallon.
What really caught my attention wasn't today's price, though. It was what we were paying a year ago.
According to AAA, regular gasoline in Winston-Salem averaged approximately $2.92 per gallon one year ago. Today, that same gallon averages about $3.81.
That's an increase of roughly 30% in just one year.
For somebody driving a vehicle with a 15-gallon tank, that's approximately $13 more every time you fill up. Fill up once a week and you're looking at nearly $700 in additional fuel expense over the course of a year if prices remain at similar levels.
That's real money coming out of a family's budget.
Here's a quick snapshot as of August 21:
AAA's data also shows that Winston-Salem regular gas averaged approximately $3.73 one week ago and $3.70 one month ago, meaning prices have been moving higher recently—not just compared with last year.
This is where I think the conversation about buying a vehicle sometimes gets too focused on one number.
The payment matters. Of course it does. But the payment isn't the only thing you pay to own and drive a vehicle.
Fuel economy matters. Insurance matters. Maintenance matters. Tires matter. Repairs matter. And when gasoline jumps nearly 90 cents per gallon in a year, the difference between a vehicle getting 18 miles per gallon and one getting 30 miles per gallon suddenly becomes a lot more noticeable.
That's why I believe people shopping for a nicer, newer vehicle should look at the total cost of driving it, not simply the number printed beside "monthly payment."
A vehicle that's a little more fuel-efficient could potentially put meaningful money back into your household budget over the next several years.
There isn't a magic button that makes gasoline cheaper, but there are some simple things that can help.
Keeping your tires properly inflated, staying current on routine maintenance and avoiding unnecessary idling can all help your vehicle operate more efficiently. Combining errands instead of making several separate trips can help, too.
And if you're already considering replacing your vehicle, take fuel economy into account before deciding what fits your budget. Sometimes the vehicle with the lowest purchase price isn't necessarily the vehicle that's going to cost you the least to drive.
As of August 21, 2026, the average price of regular gasoline in Winston-Salem, North Carolina is approximately $3.81 per gallon, according to AAA. That compares with approximately $2.92 per gallon one year ago.
Yes. AAA currently reports the Greensboro metro average at approximately $3.80 per gallon for regular gasoline, making gas prices in Greensboro and Winston-Salem very similar right now.
The statewide North Carolina average for regular gasoline is approximately $3.78 per gallon as of August 21, 2026. One year ago, the statewide average was approximately $2.90.
That's what the Triad Driver Report is going to be about.
Not selling you something every time you see it. Not another dealership advertisement disguised as information.
Just useful information about driving, owning and buying vehicles in Winston-Salem, Greensboro and throughout the Piedmont Triad—gas prices, DMV changes, recalls, road construction, insurance, vehicle ownership costs, consumer tips and anything else we think local drivers ought to know.
Because if it affects drivers here at home, it's worth talking about.
TRIAD DRIVER REPORT
Local information for the people who drive the Piedmont Triad.
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Source: AAA Fuel Prices. Gas-price averages change daily.
