See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app.
Mapped: Where Gas Costs Are Highest—and Why
See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
Key Takeaways
- U.S. drivers spend between $1.6K and $3.3K per year on gas, depending on the state.
- Driving distance—not gas prices—is the biggest factor behind higher costs.
- Rural states like Wyoming top the list, while Northeast states rank lowest due to shorter commutes.
Gas prices only tell part of the story.
Across the U.S., drivers can pay more than twice as much annually for fuel, even in states where gas is relatively cheap. The difference comes down to how much people drive.
Using data from AAA and the Federal Highway Administration via FinanceBuzz, this map estimates annual gasoline costs by state based on April 15, 2026 prices, average miles driven, and a fuel efficiency of 25.6 miles per gallon.
The result is a clear divide: states with longer driving distances, often rural, face the highest total costs, while shorter commutes in the Northeast keep annual spending far lower.
Ranked: Where Gas Costs Add Up the Most
Wyoming tops the list at $3,343 per year, over $1,000 above the national average, not because of high gas prices but because of how much people drive.
Drivers in the state log nearly 22,000 miles annually, about 50% more than the U.S. average, pushing total fuel costs higher despite below-average prices at the pump.
Other rural states, like Indiana ($2,928) and Mississippi ($2,912), also rank among the highest due to longer driving distances, even with gas prices below the U.S. average of $4.07 per gallon.
The table below breaks down estimated annual gas costs by state, combining April 15, 2026 fuel prices, average miles driven, and a fuel efficiency of 25.6 miles per gallon.
| Rank | State | Annual Fuel Cost | Price of Gas per GallonApril 15 | Annual Miles per Driver |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $3,343 | $3.89 | 21,986 |
| 2 | Indiana | $2,928 | $3.88 | 19,296 |
| 3 | Mississippi | $2,912 | $3.74 | 19,910 |
| 4 | New Mexico | $2,833 | $3.96 | 18,321 |
| 5 | Missouri | $2,733 | $3.67 | 19,049 |
| 6 | California | $2,705 | $5.88 | 11,780 |
| 7 | Alabama | $2,657 | $3.84 | 17,728 |
| 8 | Utah | $2,587 | $4.21 | 15,725 |
| 9 | Kentucky | $2,541 | $3.98 | 16,330 |
| 10 | Tennessee | $2,497 | $3.86 | 16,558 |
| 11 | Idaho | $2,483 | $4.34 | 14,643 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $2,480 | $3.62 | 17,560 |
| 13 | Nevada | $2,465 | $4.96 | 12,716 |
| 14 | Arkansas | $2,463 | $3.65 | 17,287 |
| 15 | Arizona | $2,458 | $4.66 | 13,501 |
| 16 | Hawaii | $2,454 | $5.65 | 11,115 |
| 17 | Oklahoma | $2,426 | $3.44 | 18,031 |
| 18 | Georgia | $2,411 | $3.68 | 16,763 |
| 19 | Louisiana | $2,409 | $3.75 | 16,452 |
| 20 | Montana | $2,406 | $3.90 | 15,775 |
| 21 | Vermont | $2,404 | $4.09 | 15,048 |
| 22 | Texas | $2,373 | $3.77 | 16,125 |
| 23 | Oregon | $2,345 | $5.00 | 12,016 |
| 24 | Virginia | $2,309 | $3.97 | 14,877 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $2,299 | $3.78 | 15,580 |
| 26 | Florida | $2,296 | $4.15 | 14,179 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $2,292 | $3.86 | 15,198 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $2,232 | $3.79 | 15,075 |
| 29 | Maine | $2,230 | $4.02 | 14,185 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $2,220 | $3.68 | 15,424 |
| 31 | Kansas | $2,184 | $3.51 | 15,941 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $2,164 | $3.93 | 14,091 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $2,148 | $3.63 | 15,157 |
| 34 | Washington | $2,132 | $5.39 | 10,125 |
| 35 | Maryland | $2,120 | $4.10 | 13,228 |
| 36 | Illinois | $2,072 | $4.36 | 12,154 |
| 37 | Minnesota | $2,066 | $3.71 | 14,272 |
| 38 | Alaska | $2,026 | $4.64 | 11,173 |
| 39 | Iowa | $2,005 | $3.65 | 14,077 |
| 40 | Ohio | $1,981 | $3.80 | 13,345 |
| 41 | Michigan | $1,976 | $3.92 | 12,906 |
| 42 | New Hampshire | $1,934 | $3.96 | 12,511 |
| 43 | Massachusetts | $1,932 | $3.97 | 12,472 |
| 44 | Colorado | $1,921 | $3.96 | 12,426 |
| 45 | Connecticut | $1,908 | $4.08 | 11,974 |
| 46 | Pennsylvania | $1,807 | $4.13 | 11,189 |
| 47 | New Jersey | $1,804 | $4.00 | 11,536 |
| 48 | Delaware | $1,684 | $3.97 | 10,854 |
| 49 | Rhode Island | $1,616 | $3.97 | 10,411 |
| 50 | New York | $1,582 | $4.13 | 9,815 |
| -- | U.S. State Average | $2,285 | $4.07 | 14,558 |
California ranks sixth at $2,705 per year. Despite having the highest gas prices in the country, shorter driving distances, about 11,780 miles annually versus the 13,916 national average, keep total costs lower than in many cheaper states.
Why Northeast Drivers Spend the Least on Gas
The same pattern plays out in reverse in the Northeast.
In New York, drivers spend just $1,582 per year, about $700 below the national average, largely because they drive the fewest miles (9,185 annually). States like Rhode Island, Delaware, and New Jersey follow a similar pattern, where shorter commutes keep total fuel costs low even when gas prices are relatively high.
Ultimately, the states with the highest gas prices aren’t always the most expensive places to drive. Instead, longer commutes in rural America push total costs higher, changing how fuel affordability is actually experienced.
Learn More on the Voronoi App
To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the top countries by oil reserves.