20 Most Expensive States to Refuel Your Car
These are the 20 most expensive states for refueling your car right now.
Thinking about a summer road trip? Some states are more expensive than others. A major reason is the cost of gasoline, which has been rising steadily this summer after dropping during the first months of the year. Increased demand and reduced supply from overseas are partly to blame, experts say. New data from AAA found the national average for a gallon of gas sits around $3.828 as of the first week in August, and prices vary up to 70 cents depending where you live. These are the 20 most expensive states for refueling your car right now.
A gallon of regular gas costs $3.795 in Maine, just below the national average. But compared to Mississippi, the state with the lowest gas prices in the country at $3.314 a gallon, it's no bargain.
In the Hawkeye State, a gallon of regular gas runs about $3.799, having risen 19 cents in the last week.
Connecticut skates just below the national average, with a typical gallon of gas costing $3.802. That's up about 18 cents a gallon from one month ago, AAA says.
A gallon of regular gas costs $3.808 in Minnesota, slightly below the national average of $3.828. That price has risen almost 40 cents in a month, according to AAA data.
New York's gas prices aren't too far out of line with the national average—at $3.90 per gallon of regular, that's just about eight cents higher. But it's still enough to put the Empire State in the top 20 most expensive states for refueling.
Gas in Pennsylvania will run you $3.908 for a gallon of regular, about eight cents higher than the national average. Why? "Some of the refineries in Texas and Louisiana had to shut down or reduce their production due to the heat," Alan Gin, an economics professor at the University of San Diego, told Fox 43 this week. A cutback in oil production by Russia and Saudi Arabia is also to blame.
Average gas prices have jumped 10 cents in the last week, WyomingNews.com reports. A gallon costs $3.917 on average, according to AAA data.
A gallon of gas costs $3.965 in the Centennial State, according to AAA. The cost of a gallon has increased every month since May, Axios Denver reports.
Washington, D.C., isn't exactly known for its low expenses, and gas is no exception. A gallon of regular costs $3.983, about 16 cents over the national average.
A gallon of gas in Montana will cost you $3.993—about 17 cents per gallon above the national average. "Transportation is another big factor that contributes to the cost of gas, and everything is a little more spread out in Montana. Other things, like local and state taxes, can all increase the cost of gas, depending on your area," said AAA spokesperson Julian Paredes.
Arizona comes in tenth place nationwide, with the average gallon of gas squeaking in at just under four dollars: $3.996.
Illinois hits the top 10 most expensive states for gas, with the average gallon costing $4.056.
The average gallon of gas in the Gem State is $4.056, up 10 cents from a month ago."We're seeing sizeable jumps in the price of fill-ups this week, and the pressure may not ease in any significant way until we get past Labor Day," AAA Idaho public affairs director Matthew Conde said on Aug. 7. "Take advantage of fuel rewards points and discounts from grocery store and other retail purchases to help cushion your bank account."
An average gallon of gas in Utah comes in at $4.098, slightly above the national average of $3.828. KSL NewsRadio points out that the national average in the '70s was 65 cents—or $3.98 adjusted for 2023 inflation.
In blazing-hot Nevada, gas prices are running high, with the average gallon of regular gas coming in at $4.344.
In Alaska, the average gallon of gas is currently $4.466. "I don't expect any relief at the pump in the next few weeks," analyst Larry Persily told KTUU. "It's going to take either a lot [of] new supply that the market doesn't expect or lower demand to affect those prices at the pump. So it looks like Alaskans will head into the fall with prices higher than they want at the pump. But lower than they were at the height of the price spike last year."
The average gallon of gas will run you $4.679 in Beaver State. Prices have risen about a dollar since January's low. But it's still well below the $5.55 of last summer.
It seems like everything is expensive in Hawaii. A recent survey by CNBC rated it the most expensive state for overall cost of living; another by the bill payment service Doxo ranked it the state with the highest household bills. And AAA found it has the third-most-expensive gallon of gas in the nation, at $4.777.
In Washington state, the average gallon of regular gas costs $5.017. It misses out on the #1 spot by less than eight cents.
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Despite slipping out of the #1 position around the Fourth of July, the Golden State is once again the most expensive state for refueling your car. According to AAA, the average gallon of regular gas costs $5.09.
