Gasbuddy.com forecasts $2.28 a gallon on average for the U.S. this year with a high that could reach $2.63 in May.
But, California is already paying that.
Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan says supply is one reason California's prices are so much higher than the rest of the nation.
"A lot of refineries that are in other countries such as Europe or Asia find it hard to ship to California just because of the volatility taking place. There's a concern that should gasoline be sent - by the time it reaches California - the value could be much lower which is what we've just experience this week with a plunge in wholesale gas prices."
DeHaan says an Exxon Mobile refinery in southern California has been offline for a year and prices will drop when the refinery resumes operations.
If the national forecast holds true, that would be a 12-cent decrease from last year.
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