The 11 States with the Highest Gas Prices

11. Oregon
> Regular gas price per gallon: $3.64 (tied for 10th)
> Tax per gallon: 31 cents (17th highest)
> Number of oil refineries: 0

Though a total of 21 refineries are found in three states on the West Coast, not one of these is in Oregon. The absence of any local gasoline-producing facilities likely serves to increase prices far more than taxes do. Though gas is taxed at a rate of 31 cents per gallon, just half a cent more than the national average, the price per gallon is 14 cents higher in Oregon than it is nationwide. Recently the disparity between state and national prices actually has decreased, as last month a gallon of regular in Oregon cost $3.63 versus $3.33 nationwide.

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10. North Dakota
> Regular gas price per gallon: $3.64 (tied for 10th)
> Tax per gallon: 23 cents (tied for 20th lowest)
> Number of oil refineries: 1

Despite the presence of the Bakken shale oil field, North Dakota has just one refinery for transforming oil into gasoline. In the past month, gas prices in North Dakota have risen by 11 cents. Though this was less than the 17-cent increase seen nationwide, gas still costs 14 cents a gallon more than the national average of $3.50. Fortunately, the effects of North Dakota’s relatively high gas prices may be partially relieved by the lowest utility costs in the nation, according to the Council for Community and Economic Research. And even with high gas prices, transportation costs are still the fifth lowest in the nation. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate of 2.9% helps further ease the economic burden on the state.

9. Rhode Island
> Regular gas price per gallon: $3.65
> Tax per gallon: 33 cents (13th highest)
> Number of oil refineries: 0

Taxes and production factors contribute to Rhode Island’s high gas prices. The tax of 33 cents a gallon is slightly higher than the U.S. median of 30.5 cents. Meanwhile, no oil refineries are located in Rhode Island, and no oil production takes place in states nearby, thus adding extra transport costs to gasoline. Making the high-gas-price burden even more painful is the state’s 10.9% unemployment rate, the second highest in the country after Nevada’s 11.6%. Fortunately, gas prices have gotten better for Rhode Islanders in the past year, dropping 5.52%, a higher rate than all states on the list except Connecticut.

8. Washington
> Regular gas price per gallon: $3.67
> Tax per gallon: 37.5 cents (9th highest)
> Number of oil refineries: 5

Although Washington has five refineries that process more than 630,000 barrels a day — the fifth-highest figure among all states — gas prices are still 17 cents above the national average. This is partly due to the state’s high excise tax rates, which amount to 37.5 cents per gallon and account for all state taxes on gasoline. There are some positives, however: Over the past month, when gas prices rose an average of 17 cents nationwide, the cost of a gallon of regular in Washington rose by only about one cent.

7. Michigan
> Regular gas price per gallon: $3.71
> Tax per gallon: 39.5cents (6th highest)
> Number of oil refineries: 1

Though gas prices in Michigan are about 10 cents lower than they were a year ago, recent price trends in Michigan have been largely upward. A month before, a gallon of gas cost $3.42, but by July 31 the price had risen to $3.71 per gallon — an increase of 8.49%. Though, at 19 cents per gallon, the excise tax on gas is lower than in more than half of all states, residents pay an additional 20.5 cents in other state taxes and fees. Because of this, the total taxes on a gallon of gas in Michigan are sixth highest in the nation.