Experts say consumers are now in a waiting game as global tensions and supply disruptions ripple through energy markets, potentially pushing prices higher at the pump.
Nathaniel Brown of Camden, New Jersey, said he was already surprised by current prices.
"If the gas goes higher - $3.15 is outrageous. I didn't even notice that until I just looked over there," Brown said.
Analysts say gas prices are likely to rise as strikes continue in Iran, halting production at some refineries and threatening key infrastructure in the region.
"We've seen today that one of the largest refineries in Saudi Arabia, the LNG facility in Qatar have been hit," said Col. Steve Ganyard, an ABC News contributor.
In addition, access for oil shipments moving through the Strait of Hormuz has been blocked, raising concerns about global supply chains. The waterway is a critical route for energy exports.
"The Strait of Hormuz is what links the Persian Gulf to open waters. And because Iran is such a big player in the global oil world, any time that strait is compromised or shut down, we'll feel the ripple effects across the globe," said Jana Tidwell, AAA's public affairs manager.
Tidwell said this period typically brings a seasonal increase in gas prices, even without geopolitical tensions, making it difficult to predict how much the current conflict will add to costs.
Shawkat Hammoudeh, a professor of economics at Drexel University, urged consumers to prepare for higher prices.
"The consumer should go and fill their tanks because the price is going to go up. If not tomorrow, the day after," Hammoudeh said.
Hammoudeh, who teaches natural resources economics, said that for every dollar increase per barrel of oil, drivers typically see an increase of two to three cents per gallon at the pump. He added that higher oil prices can affect more than just fuel costs.
"Oil prices go up, and anything related to that will go up, and so that should reduce economic growth," Hammoudeh said.
Hammoudeh also said natural gas prices are climbing after facilities in Qatar were struck.
As for how long the impacts could last, experts say it is hard to predict at this point, though they expect the effects could linger for weeks.