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Thursday, August 14, 2025

Pay at the pump: Gas prices by state

Pay at the pump: Gas prices by state

Gas prices increased 1% nationally in June 2025, but some states have more pumped up prices than others.

07.21.2025

Key takeaways

  • Gas prices are lower this summer, averaging $3.16 per gallon nationally.
  • Californians are paying the most per gallon at $4.50, while Mississippi residents currently enjoy the cheapest gas prices in the country at $2.72.
  • Analysts expect gas supply to outpace demand and say Americans could ring up a gallon for under $3 by September.

Gas prices are lower than they were at this time last year. While prices vary by state, 19 states already boast average gas prices below $3 per gallon.

What’s the cost of getting from A to B? It turns out that filling the tank has a different impact on depending on location, with some states offering more budget-friendly prices than others.

U.S. inflation accelerated in June, with the cost of a gallon of gasoline increasing 1% from May, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI). The price of filling up is down 8.3% versus the same time last year, but is still 12.2% higher than January 2020, at the onset of the pandemic.1

Paying up

Currently, AAA reports the national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline stands at $3.16.2

State-wide prices, however, tell a different story. Gas prices vary regionally due to factors such as taxes, transportation costs, supply chains, and local regulations. States with higher fuel taxes or limited access to refineries typically have higher prices, while those with lower taxes or abundant local supply often enjoy cheaper rates.3

Average gas prices by state

Which states are paying more at the pump? The most recent data reveals Americans in California are paying the most for gas at $4.50 a gallon on average for regular fuel. They are closely followed by residents in Hawaii ($4.48), Washington ($4.39), Oregon ($3.99), and Nevada ($3.75). At the other end of the spectrum, the least expensive gasoline markets are Mississippi ($2.72), Tennessee ($2.77), Oklahoma ($2.77), Texas ($2.77), and Arkansas ($2.79).Nineteen states currently boast gas prices under $3 per gallon.

State

Regular

Premium

Diesel

Alabama

$2.81

$3.66

$3.45

Alaska

$3.75

$4.19

$4.01

Arizona

$3.20

$3.86

$3.66

Arkansas

$2.79

$3.61

$3.38

California

$4.50

$4.91

$5.19

Colorado

$3.02

$3.73

$3.42

Connecticut

$3.13

$4.09

$3.81

Delaware

$3.09

$3.95

$3.76

District of Columbia

$3.33

$4.31

$3.87

Florida

$3.13

$3.90

$3.71

Georgia

$2.91

$3.77

$3.59

Hawaii

$4.48

$4.96

$5.26

Idaho

$3.48

$4.03

$3.93

Illinois

$3.44

$4.50

$3.78

Indiana

$3.20

$4.23

$3.82

Iowa

$2.91

$3.70

$3.52

Kansas

$2.87

$3.53

$3.44

Kentucky

$2.84

$3.81

$3.40

Louisiana

$2.80

$3.62

$3.35

Maine

$3.09

$4.10

$3.89

Maryland

$3.15

$4.04

$3.78

Massachusetts

$3.06

$4.05

$3.86

Michigan

$3.18

$4.31

$3.72

Minnesota

$3.01

$3.83

$3.61

Mississippi

$2.72

$3.53

$3.29

Missouri

$2.86

$3.54

$3.40

Montana

$3.25

$3.90

$3.64

Nebraska

$3.01

$3.73

$3.44

Nevada

$3.75

$4.32

$3.96

New Hampshire

$3.00

$4.01

$3.82

New Jersey

$3.06

$3.87

$3.69

New Mexico

$2.84

$3.53

$3.43

New York

$3.18

$4.08

$3.93

North Carolina

$2.91

$3.75

$3.53

North Dakota

$2.91

$3.59

$3.42

Ohio

$2.98

$4.04

$3.71

Oklahoma

$2.77

$3.46

$3.27

Oregon

$3.99

$4.48

$4.50

Pennsylvania

$3.23

$4.04

$4.02

Rhode Island

$3.04

$4.17

$3.81

South Carolina

$2.83

$3.68

$3.52

South Dakota

$3.01

$3.66

$3.36

Tennessee

$2.77

$3.62

$3.44

Texas

$2.77

$3.60

$3.26

Utah

$3.37

$3.87

$3.70

Vermont

$3.10

$4.07

$3.85

Virginia

$2.99

$3.83

$3.63

Washington

$4.39

$4.89

$5.03

West Virginia

$3.04

$3.90

$3.60

Wisconsin

$2.95

$3.97

$3.53

Wyoming

$3.13

$3.70

$3.58

 

Prices as of June 18, 2025.

Highest and lowest spending by state

How does the cost of gas compare to what people are actually spending? Empower Personal DashboardTM data* reveals how much Americans are spending at the pump each month.

Nationally, drivers spend $161.50 a month on average, at $51.80 per transaction. At the state level, these are the 10 states with the highest and lowest expenditures during each visit to a gas station per the most recent Empower data:

Highest spending states

State

Average spend per transaction

Nevada

$75.20

Connecticut

$73.90

Washington

$72.30

Arkansas

$72.00

South Dakota

$72.00

 

Lowest spending states

State

Average spend per transaction

North Dakota

$30.50

Iowa

$34.80

Mississippi

$35.90

Utah

$37.00

Idaho

$37.10

 

Will prices tank?

Adjusted for inflation, gas prices are near the lowest levels seen in the last two decades.Analysts say a robust supply of crude oil is expected to outpace demand and push prices lower later this year, with the national average price of gas potentially falling below $3 a gallon as early as September.6,7

*Anonymized user data from the Empower Personal Dashboard™ as of June 2025.

1 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Consumer Price Index,” July 2025.

2 AAA, “State gas price averages,” July 2025.

3 U.S. Energy Information Administration, “Gasoline explained: Regional gasoline price differences,” September 2024.

4 AAA, “State gas price averages,” July 2025.

5 CNBC, “Gas prices are expected to fall: ‘It’s going to be the cheapest summer since 2021,’ one expert says,” June 2025.

6 The Wall Street Journal, “Gas Prices Are Down for Summer Driving Season Despite Middle East Turmoil,” June 2025.

7 CNBC, “Gas prices are expected to fall: ‘It’s going to be the cheapest summer since 2021,’ one expert says,” June 2025.

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The Currency editors

Staff contributors

The CurrencyTM, a publication from Empower, covers the latest financial news and views shaping how we live, work, and play. We keep you current on ways to plan, save, and invest for life.

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