Gas Prices by State, Ranked
As of the EIA week of 2026-10-12, regular gasoline averages $4.33 nationally. California is the most expensive published state at $6.10 per gallon; Texas is the cheapest at $3.78 — a spread of $2.33 driven by taxes, fuel blends and distance from refineries.
States, Most to Least Expensive (EIA week of 2026-10-12)
| # | State | Regular ($/gal) | Diesel ($/gal) | vs US avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 6.10 | 8.09 | +1.77 |
| 2 | Washington | 5.38 | — | +1.05 |
| 3 | New York | 4.35 | — | +0.02 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 4.26 | — | -0.07 |
| 5 | Minnesota | 4.18 | — | -0.15 |
| 6 | Colorado | 4.18 | — | -0.16 |
| 7 | Florida | 3.98 | — | -0.35 |
| 8 | Ohio | 3.87 | — | -0.46 |
| 9 | Texas | 3.78 | — | -0.55 |
The EIA publishes weekly retail diesel prices for California only; the other surveyed states report regular gasoline but no state-level diesel, shown here as —. National and PADD-region diesel averages are on the diesel prices page.
Regional Averages
| Region (PADD) | Regular ($/gal) | vs US avg |
|---|---|---|
| East Coast | 4.12 | -0.21 |
| Midwest | 4.15 | -0.19 |
| Gulf Coast | 3.85 | -0.48 |
| Rocky Mountain | 4.44 | +0.11 |
| West Coast | 5.64 | +1.31 |
Official EIA weekly retail prices — the EIA surveys selected large states plus the five PADD regions, not all 50 states. See the full gas-prices page, prices by year, and why prices differ.
This Week's Regular gasoline Price in Context
EIA week of 2026-10-12| Comparison | $/gal | This week vs it |
|---|---|---|
| This week, US average | 4.33 | — |
| 2026 average (year to date) | 3.84 | +$0.50 (+13%) |
| 2025 average | 3.10 | +$1.23 (+40%) |
| 2024 average | 3.30 | +$1.03 (+31%) |
| 2023 average | 3.52 | +$0.81 (+23%) |
| 2022 average | 3.95 | +$0.38 (+10%) |
| 2021 average | 3.01 | +$1.32 (+44%) |
| Record weekly average (2022) | 5.01 | −$0.67 (−13%) |
Annual averages and the record are from EIA weekly retail prices since 1990, nominal dollars (not adjusted for inflation). Every year in full: gas price history.
From Wholesale to the Pump
Futures close Oct 19| Layer | $/gal | Share of pump price |
|---|---|---|
| RBOB gasoline futures, wholesale benchmark | 3.13 | 72% |
| Federal excise tax | 0.18 | 4% |
| Everything else: state and local taxes, distribution, retail margin | 1.02 | 24% |
| US average retail price | 4.33 | 100% |
The retail price is a Monday survey and the futures close is the latest day, so the layers do not line up to the day; the last row is a residual, not a measured cost. Wholesale prices lead the pump by one to two weeks. Full breakdown: why gas prices are high.
State Gas Price FAQ
Which state has the most expensive gas?
Among states the EIA surveys weekly, California has the most expensive regular gasoline at $6.10 per gallon (week of 2026-10-12), versus a national average of $4.33. Texas is cheapest at $3.78.
Why do gas prices vary so much between states?
Three main reasons: state fuel taxes (from about 9¢ to over 68¢ per gallon), fuel specifications (California and some metros require costlier special blends), and distance from refining centers — Gulf Coast states sit next to the refineries, while the West Coast is an isolated market where outages spike prices.
Does the EIA track all 50 states?
No — the EIA's weekly survey publishes a subset of large states plus the five PADD regions; that's what this table shows, from the official government series. For daily crowd-sourced estimates covering every state and county, AAA and GasBuddy are the standard complements.