As Russia, one of the world’s top oil and gas producers, continues its invasion of Ukraine, Americans and other drivers around the world are feeling the pain at the pump. According to AAA, the national average gas price as of March 17 was $4.29 per gallon – just a bit lower than the record high of $4.33, set less than a week earlier.
To provide drivers with some relief, a number of governors across the country have either asked state legislators to temporarily suspend state gas taxes or pause planned increases to these taxes. The federal gas tax is 18.4 cents a gallon, and drivers pay an additional 15 cents to 68 cents per gallon in state taxes.
To determine the states with the highest and lowest gas taxes, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on state gas taxes in January 2022 from the American Petroleum Institute.
Gas prices have remained over $4 per gallon nationwide, even as oil prices have dropped below $100 per barrel. President Joe Biden called on oil and gas corporations to adjust the price of fuel accordingly, saying “Last time oil was $96 a barrel, gas was $3.62 a gallon. Now it’s $4.31. Oil and gas companies shouldn’t pad their profits at the expense of hardworking Americans.”
Gas prices are often highly volatile, rising and falling based on a number of complex factors. These prices are different from state to state, and even from city to city. Even as gas prices have soared nationwide, there are still dozens of major metropolitan areas in which gas prices are well below $4 per gallon. These are the cities with the lowest gas prices right now.
Click here to see the states with the highest gas taxes
Click here to read our detailed methodology
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50. Alaska
> State gas tax: 15.1 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $4.72 per gallon (5th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 3.2% (the lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 10,012 miles (8th fewest)
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Source: Tiago_Fernandez / iStock via Getty Images
49. Mississippi
> State gas tax: 18.8 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $3.97 per gallon (11th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 4.7% (4th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 19,399 miles (2nd most)
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48. New Mexico
> State gas tax: 18.9 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $4.16 per gallon (25th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 4.5% (3rd lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 16,227 miles (7th most)
Source: Art Wager / E+ via Getty Images
47. Arizona
> State gas tax: 19.0 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $4.62 per gallon (7th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 4.1% (2nd lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,419 miles (21st fewest)
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Source: ChrisBoswell / iStock via Getty Images
46. Missouri
> State gas tax: 19.9 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $3.80 per gallon (2nd lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 5.2% (8th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 16,984 miles (3rd most)
Source: typhoonski / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
44. Texas
> State gas tax: 20.0 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $3.96 per gallon (9th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 5.1% (6th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 14,510 miles (15th most)
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45. Oklahoma
> State gas tax: 20.0 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $3.82 per gallon (3rd lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 5.2% (7th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 16,628 miles (4th most)
Source: Meinzahn / iStock via Getty Images
43. Louisiana
> State gas tax: 20.0 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $4.11 per gallon (22nd lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 4.9% (5th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 14,075 miles (17th most)
Source: RudyBalasko / iStock via Getty Images
42. Colorado
> State gas tax: 22.0 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $3.96 per gallon (10th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 5.6% (9th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 11,434 miles (17th fewest)
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41. Delaware
> State gas tax: 23.0 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $4.13 per gallon (23rd lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 5.6% (10th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 10,083 miles (9th fewest)
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40. North Dakota
> State gas tax: 23.0 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $3.89 per gallon (6th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 5.9% (12th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 15,425 miles (10th most)
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39. New Hampshire
> State gas tax: 23.8 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $4.23 per gallon (20th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 5.6% (11th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 9,872 miles (6th fewest)
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38. Wyoming
> State gas tax: 24.0 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $4.03 per gallon (17th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 6.0% (13th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 23,167 miles (the most)
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37. Kansas
> State gas tax: 24.0 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $3.80 per gallon (the lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 6.3% (15th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,830 miles (24th fewest)
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36. Arkansas
> State gas tax: 24.8 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $3.86 per gallon (4th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 6.4% (16th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 15,777 miles (9th most)
Source: grandriver / iStock via Getty Images
35. Nebraska
> State gas tax: 25.7 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $3.89 per gallon (5th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 6.6% (18th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 13,394 miles (23rd most)
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34. Kentucky
> State gas tax: 26.0 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $4.00 per gallon (14th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 6.5% (17th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 15,233 miles (11th most)
Source: ChrisBoswell / iStock via Getty Images
33. Massachusetts
> State gas tax: 26.5 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $4.31 per gallon (14th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 6.2% (14th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 10,733 miles (11th fewest)
Source: Peeter Viisimaa / iStock via Getty Images
32. South Carolina
> State gas tax: 26.8 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $4.02 per gallon (16th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 6.6% (19th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 13,966 miles (19th most)
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Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
31. Tennessee
> State gas tax: 27.4 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $4.08 per gallon (19th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 6.7% (20th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 13,903 miles (21st most)
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29. South Dakota
> State gas tax: 30.0 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $3.98 per gallon (13th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 7.5% (23rd lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 15,218 miles (12th most)
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30. Iowa
> State gas tax: 30.0 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $3.90 per gallon (7th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 7.7% (24th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,943 miles (25th fewest)
Source: haveseen / iStock via Getty Images
28. Maine
> State gas tax: 30.0 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $4.22 per gallon (21st highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 7.1% (21st lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,343 miles (20th fewest)
Source: YinYang / E+ via Getty Images
27. Minnesota
> State gas tax: 30.6 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $3.93 per gallon (8th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 7.8% (23rd highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 15,042 miles (13th most)
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Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
26. Alabama
> State gas tax: 31.3 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $4.10 per gallon (20th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 7.6% (25th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 16,462 miles (6th most)
Source: grandriver / iStock via Getty Images
25. Utah
> State gas tax: 31.9 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $4.35 per gallon (13th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 7.3% (22nd lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 13,933 miles (20th most)
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24. Vermont
> State gas tax: 32.1 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $4.24 per gallon (19th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 7.6% (25th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 10,328 miles (10th fewest)
Source: AlenaMozhjer / iStock via Getty Images
23. Wisconsin
> State gas tax: 32.9 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $3.97 per gallon (12th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 8.3% (18th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 13,247 miles (25th most)
Source: Shunyu Fan / iStock via Getty Images
22. Idaho
> State gas tax: 33.0 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $4.36 per gallon (12th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 7.6% (24th lowest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 13,440 miles (22nd most)
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Source: krblokhin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
21. Montana
> State gas tax: 33.3 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $4.01 per gallon (15th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 8.3% (17th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 14,670 miles (14th most)
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
20. Virginia
> State gas tax: 34.4 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $4.16 per gallon (25th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 8.3% (19th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,781 miles (23rd fewest)
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19. Rhode Island
> State gas tax: 35.0 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $4.29 per gallon (15th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 8.2% (21st highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 8,716 miles (2nd fewest)
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Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
18. West Virginia
> State gas tax: 35.7 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $4.11 per gallon (21st lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 8.7% (15th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 14,221 miles (16th most)
Source: ChrisBoswell / iStock via Getty Images
17. Connecticut
> State gas tax: 35.8 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $4.40 per gallon (10th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 8.1% (22nd highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 11,332 miles (16th fewest)
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16. Maryland
> State gas tax: 36.1 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $4.21 per gallon (22nd highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 8.6% (16th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 11,165 miles (15th fewest)
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
15. Georgia
> State gas tax: 37.6 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $4.24 per gallon (18th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 8.9% (14th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 15,809 miles (8th most)
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Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
14. Ohio
> State gas tax: 38.5 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $4.05 per gallon (18th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 9.5% (12th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,726 miles (22nd fewest)
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13. North Carolina
> State gas tax: 38.8 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $4.14 per gallon (24th lowest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 9.4% (13th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 13,997 miles (18th most)
Source: XXLPhoto / iStock via Getty Images
12. Oregon
> State gas tax: 38.8 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $4.71 per gallon (6th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 8.2% (20th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 10,959 miles (13th fewest)
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11. Florida
> State gas tax: 43.5 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $4.28 per gallon (16th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 10.2% (9th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 13,315 miles (24th most)
Source: ChrisBoswell / iStock via Getty Images
10. Michigan
> State gas tax: 45.2 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $4.20 per gallon (24th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 10.8% (7th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,022 miles (18th fewest)
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9. New York
> State gas tax: 48.2 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $4.41 per gallon (9th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 10.9% (6th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 8,111 miles (the fewest)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
8. Washington
> State gas tax: 49.4 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $4.73 per gallon (4th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 10.4% (8th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 9,269 miles (4th fewest)
Source: alexeys / iStock via Getty Images
7. Indiana
> State gas tax: 49.8 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $4.20 per gallon (23rd highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 11.8% (4th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 16,561 miles (5th most)
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6. Nevada
> State gas tax: 50.5 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $5.03 per gallon (3rd highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 10.0% (11th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 12,148 miles (19th fewest)
Source: Allard1 / iStock via Getty Images
5. New Jersey
> State gas tax: 50.7 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $4.27 per gallon (17th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 11.9% (3rd highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 9,957 miles (7th fewest)
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4. Hawaii
> State gas tax: 51.7 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $5.12 per gallon (2nd highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 10.1% (10th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 9,083 miles (3rd fewest)
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Source: Alex Potemkin / iStock via Getty Images
3. Pennsylvania
> State gas tax: 58.7 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $4.37 per gallon (11th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 13.4% (the highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 9,648 miles (5th fewest)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
2. Illinois
> State gas tax: 59.6 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $4.54 per gallon (8th highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 13.1% (2nd highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 10,915 miles (12th fewest)
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1. California
> State gas tax: 68.2 cents per gallon
> Avg. gas price as of Mar 17, 2022: $5.79 per gallon (the highest)
> State taxes as pct. of gas price: 11.8% (5th highest)
> Annual miles traveled per driver: 11,020 miles (14th fewest)
Methodology
To determine the highest and lowest gas taxes in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on state gas taxes in January 2022 from the American Petroleum Institute. Data on total state gas taxes does not include the federal gas tax of 18.4 cents per gallon. Supplemental data on average prices per gallon for regular gas by state came from AAA. Prices are current as of March 17, 2021. Annual vehicle miles traveled per driver was calculated using data on total vehicle miles traveled in 2020 from the Federal Highway Administration and an estimate of the number of licensed drivers in 2020 based on FHWA data for the number of licensed drivers in 2019 and 2020 population data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
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