Paola-area fuel check: KC (KS only) regular gas/diesel slip July 20
Paola KS Gas & Diesel Watch: AAA KC (KS only) averages as of 7/20/26—regular $3.763 and diesel $4.514, both slightly lower than yesterday.
For Paola-area drivers, today’s latest AAA fuel-price check shows a small dip compared with yesterday—separately for regular gasoline and diesel—using the closest verified metro proxy AAA publishes: Kansas City (KS only) metro averages.
Quick hit: what changed on July 20 (AAA metro averages)
Regular gas: $3.763 per gallon on July 20, down from $3.766 yesterday. It’s higher than last week ($3.488) and last month ($3.644), and well above last year ($2.881).
Diesel: $4.514 per gallon on July 20, down from $4.519 yesterday. Diesel is higher than last week ($4.359), but lower than last month ($4.567). Diesel is also significantly higher than last year ($3.456).
Regular gas: AAA Kansas City (KS only) comparison (per gallon)
| Timeframe | Price |
|---|---|
| As of 7/20/26 | $3.763 |
| Yesterday | $3.766 |
| Week ago | $3.488 |
| Month ago | $3.644 |
| Year ago | $2.881 |
Diesel: AAA Kansas City (KS only) comparison (per gallon)
| Timeframe | Price |
|---|---|
| As of 7/20/26 | $4.514 |
| Yesterday | $4.519 |
| Week ago | $4.359 |
| Month ago | $4.567 |
| Year ago | $3.456 |
National context (EIA): both products ticked up last week
At the national level, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that weekly retail averages moved higher compared with the prior week (week ending 07/13/26):
- Regular gasoline: $3.855 per gallon (up from $3.777 the prior week)
- On-highway diesel: $4.796 per gallon (up from $4.578 the prior week)
That matches the broader “day-to-day dip, but not a longer slide” signal showing up in the Paola-area proxy: yesterday-to-today is slightly down, while week-ago comparisons point to higher levels.
What it can mean locally for commuters, contractors, and diesel users
AAA’s Kansas City (KS only) metro averages are a practical stand-in for Paola-area fuel costs, but they’re not a claim about any specific Paola pump. Local prices can differ by station and route.
Still, the direction of change is useful: if you’re planning to fill up today, the current AAA numbers suggest a small savings versus yesterday—especially on diesel. For diesel-heavy businesses—delivery, construction, farming, and service fleets—the “week up, month down” pattern is a reminder to watch how quickly operating costs respond, since even a few pennies can add up across a week of runs.
Paola is the county seat of Miami County, which is why this metro-based proxy is often the clearest day-to-day comparison available for residents tracking costs at home and at work.
Want to help keep this beat accurate? Share the highest and lowest pump prices you’re seeing locally right now (regular and diesel). If you can, include whether the prices are from the same brand/site or different ones—station-by-station differences are often bigger than the metro average movement.
Sources
- AAA Fuel Prices (Kansas) — Kansas City (KS only) metro averages (regular & diesel)
- EIA Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update — U.S. weekly retail averages (regular gas & on-highway diesel)
- Kansas Historical Society — Miami County, Kansas (county seat: Paola)
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