Colorado Gas Prices Today
Regular gasoline in Colorado averages $4.17 per gallon as of the EIA week of 2026-10-12 — $0.16 below the national average of $4.33. Colorado belongs to the Rocky Mountain market, the smallest and most self-contained of the five US fuel regions. Local refining capacity is limited and the region is far from both the Gulf Coast and the West Coast, so when regional supply tightens there is no quick way to bring barrels in and prices can move sharply.
Colorado vs Region vs US (EIA week of 2026-10-12)
| Area | Regular ($/gal) | vs Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 4.18 | — |
| Rocky Mountain (region) | 4.44 | +0.26 |
| US average | 4.33 | +0.16 |
EIA weekly retail averages. Compare all published states, see gas prices by year, or read what actually sets pump prices.
All EIA-Published States This Week
| State | Regular ($/gal) | vs US avg |
|---|---|---|
| California | 6.10 | +1.77 |
| Washington | 5.38 | +1.05 |
| New York | 4.35 | +0.02 |
| Massachusetts | 4.26 | -0.07 |
| Minnesota | 4.18 | -0.15 |
| Colorado | 4.18 | -0.16 |
| Florida | 3.98 | -0.35 |
| Ohio | 3.87 | -0.46 |
| Texas | 3.78 | -0.55 |
EIA publishes weekly prices for these states; it does not survey all 50 individually.
What Sets the Price in Colorado
| Factor | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Market region | PADD 4, the Rocky Mountain region — the smallest US refining and consuming market | EIA PADD definitions |
| Refining | Limited in-state refining capacity serving the Denver and Front Range market | EIA refinery capacity data |
| Crude supply | Nearby DJ Basin production plus regional and Canadian crude | EIA drilling productivity data |
| Altitude | High-elevation areas allow a higher-volatility gasoline specification than sea-level markets | EPA fuel volatility rules |
Taxes are one of four components of the pump price — see the full breakdown of crude, refining, distribution and tax.
Why Colorado Prices Move Differently
A small, self-contained market
- PADD 4 consumes and refines far less than the other regions, so a single facility represents a large share of local supply.
- The region is distant from both coasts, so replacement barrels are expensive and slow to arrive.
- The result is that Colorado can hold steady while the nation moves, then move sharply when something local goes wrong.
What to watch
- Refinery maintenance and unplanned outages serving the Front Range.
- The Rocky Mountain line in the PADD region table — the most relevant benchmark for Colorado, more so than the US average.
- Seasonal blend changes and winter demand in mountain communities.
- Regional crude differentials, which feed directly into local refining economics.
Colorado Gas Price FAQ
What is the average gas price in Colorado right now?
Regular gasoline in Colorado averages $4.17 per gallon (EIA, week of 2026-10-12) — $0.16 below the US average of $4.33.
Why are Colorado gas prices lower than the national average?
Colorado belongs to the Rocky Mountain market, the smallest and most self-contained of the five US fuel regions. Local refining capacity is limited and the region is far from both the Gulf Coast and the West Coast, so when regional supply tightens there is no quick way to bring barrels in and prices can move sharply.
How often are these prices updated?
The EIA publishes state and regional retail prices every Monday; this page refreshes automatically when new data lands. EIA covers selected large states weekly — for daily crowd-sourced prices per county or station, AAA and GasBuddy complement this official weekly view.
Why are Colorado gas prices sometimes far off the national average?
Because Colorado sits in the Rocky Mountain region, the smallest and most isolated US fuel market. It has limited local refining and is a long way from Gulf and West Coast supply, so regional conditions dominate. Colorado can stay flat while national prices fall, or spike when a single regional refinery has trouble, simply because there is no cheap way to import replacement fuel quickly.
Why does gas cost more in Colorado mountain towns?
Distance and volume. Mountain resort communities are far from the Denver-area terminals where fuel is loaded, so trucking costs more per gallon delivered. These stations also sell lower volumes and face higher operating costs, and in tourist areas demand is less price-sensitive, all of which supports a higher retail margin.