U.S. Gas Prices by State — October 15, 2026
National average: $4.33/gallon (AAA, today). That’s up over a dollar from a year ago ($3.07) and the highest autumn price on record.
Highest & Lowest (Top 10 Each)
Most expensive:
| Rank | State | Avg/gal |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $6.31 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $5.63 |
| 3 | Washington | $5.45 |
| 4 | Nevada | $5.45 |
| 5 | Alaska | $5.03 |
| 6 | Oregon | $5.00 |
| 7 | Idaho | $4.89 |
| 8 | Wyoming | $4.89 |
| 9 | Utah | $4.81 |
| 10 | Arizona | $4.70 |
Cheapest:
| Rank | State | Avg/gal |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia | $3.81 |
| 2 | Texas | $3.82 |
| 3 | Indiana | $3.91 |
| 4 | North Carolina | $3.91 |
| 5 | Mississippi | $3.93 |
| 6 | Tennessee | $3.93 |
| 7 | Louisiana | $3.93 |
| 8 | Arkansas | $3.96 |
| 9 | Alabama | $3.97 |
| 10 | Ohio | $3.97 |
Full State List (Low → High)
Georgia $3.81 · Texas $3.82 · Indiana $3.91 · North Carolina $3.91 · Mississippi $3.93 · Tennessee $3.93 · Louisiana $3.93 · Arkansas $3.96 · Alabama $3.97 · Ohio $3.97 · South Carolina $3.99 · Missouri $3.99 · Oklahoma $4.01 · Kansas $4.01 · Kentucky $4.02 · Florida $4.07 · North Dakota $4.13 · Wisconsin $4.13 · Virginia $4.17 · Nebraska $4.19 · South Dakota $4.22 · Colorado $4.24 · Iowa $4.24 · Minnesota $4.25 · Delaware $4.25 · Maryland $4.26 · West Virginia $4.26 · Rhode Island $4.29 · New Hampshire $4.31 · New Jersey $4.31 · Massachusetts $4.32 · Maine $4.38 · New Mexico $4.40 · Connecticut $4.41 · Vermont $4.42 · New York $4.46 · Pennsylvania $4.46 · Montana $4.50 · Michigan $4.66 · Illinois $4.70 · Arizona $4.70 · Utah $4.81 · Wyoming $4.89 · Idaho $4.89 · Oregon $5.00 · Alaska $5.03 · Nevada $5.45 · Washington $5.45 · Hawaii $5.63 · California $6.31
What’s Driving It
- Crude near $100/barrel — the single biggest input, and it’s been volatile all year.
- West Coast premium — California, Hawaii, Washington, Nevada all sit north of $5. California’s the outlier at $6.31, driven by refinery constraints and its special fuel blend.
- The South stays cheap — Georgia, Texas, and the Gulf states benefit from proximity to refineries and lower state fuel taxes.
- Regional spread is huge — a $2.50/gallon gap between California and Georgia for the same product.
Worth Noting
The $4.33 national average is a seasonal record — fall usually brings relief at the pump, but oil market volatility has kept prices elevated. Compared to last October’s $3.07, drivers are paying roughly 41% more per gallon.
Bottom line: If you’re in the South or Gulf region, you’re paying the least. If you’re on the West Coast, bend over. The spread between the cheapest and most expensive states is over $2.50/gallon — that’s not a market, that’s a geography tax.
©2026 Dr. Richard M. Swier, LTC U.S. Army (Ret.). All rights reserved.
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