- Annual driving fuel costs range from under $1,000 in D.C. and New York to over $2,200 in Wyoming when combining state gas prices with miles driven.
- The biggest factor is how far people drive—states with high VMT per capita have the highest total costs even if gas prices are moderate.
- California has the highest gas prices but ranks mid-pack on total fuel cost because residents drive fewer miles than rural states.
- Rural Western and Southern states dominate the top of the list due to long driving distances and truck-heavy vehicle fleets.
01 How We Calculated State Rankings
Total annual driving fuel cost depends on three variables: how many miles residents drive, the price of gasoline in their state, and the fuel economy of their vehicles. We combined data from three federal sources:
FHWA Highway Statistics, Table VM-2; EIA state gasoline prices; EPA fleet average fuel economyWe used the FHWA's vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per capita by state, the EIA's average retail gasoline price by state, and the EPA fleet average fuel economy of 26 MPG (estimated on-road average, which is slightly lower than the new-vehicle average of 26.4 MPG to account for older vehicles in the fleet).
FHWA Table VM-2; EIA state gasoline prices; EPA on-road fleet average estimate from Automotive Trends Report02 Top 10 Most Expensive States
The states with the highest annual driving fuel costs are predominantly rural states where residents drive significantly more miles per year. Even with moderate gas prices, the sheer volume of driving pushes total costs well above the national average.
FHWA Highway Statistics, Table VM-2: VMT per capita by state; EIA state retail gasoline prices| Rank | State | VMT/Capita | Avg Gas Price | Est. Annual Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | 16,849 | $3.20 | $2,073 |
| 2 | Mississippi | 14,528 | $2.80 | $1,564 |
| 3 | Alabama | 14,201 | $2.85 | $1,556 |
| 4 | Oklahoma | 13,952 | $2.85 | $1,529 |
| 5 | Georgia | 13,215 | $2.90 | $1,474 |
| 6 | Texas | 12,689 | $2.80 | $1,366 |
| 7 | Tennessee | 12,842 | $2.85 | $1,407 |
| 8 | Missouri | 13,104 | $2.75 | $1,386 |
| 9 | Indiana | 12,776 | $3.00 | $1,474 |
| 10 | North Dakota | 14,389 | $3.05 | $1,688 |
Estimate your vehicle's driving cost using official EPA fuel economy data.
Use the Calculator03 Top 10 Least Expensive States
The least expensive states for driving fuel are typically urban, densely populated areas where residents drive fewer miles and have access to public transportation alternatives.
FHWA Highway Statistics; EIA state gasoline prices; Census Bureau urbanization data| Rank | State | VMT/Capita | Avg Gas Price | Est. Annual Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | D.C. | 5,133 | $3.40 | $671 |
| 49 | New York | 7,289 | $3.50 | $981 |
| 48 | Rhode Island | 8,107 | $3.20 | $998 |
| 47 | Hawaii | 8,452 | $4.20 | $1,365 |
| 46 | Massachusetts | 8,634 | $3.30 | $1,096 |
| 45 | Connecticut | 8,978 | $3.40 | $1,174 |
| 44 | Pennsylvania | 9,253 | $3.40 | $1,210 |
| 43 | Alaska | 8,118 | $3.50 | $1,093 |
| 42 | Illinois | 9,145 | $3.50 | $1,231 |
| 41 | Oregon | 9,388 | $3.60 | $1,300 |
Washington D.C. stands out with the lowest fuel cost by far, at just $671 per year. This reflects its extremely low VMT per capita (5,133 miles) due to the extensive Metro system, walkability, and the small geographic area.
04 Why Costs Vary So Much
Three factors explain why annual driving fuel costs can differ by more than $1,400 between the most and least expensive states:
- Miles driven. This is the dominant factor. Wyoming residents drive 3.3 times more miles per capita than D.C. residents. Rural states with sparse populations and limited public transit produce the highest VMT. See our miles driven by state ranking for details.
- Gas prices. State gas prices vary by over $1.90 per gallon due to differences in state taxes, refining proximity, and regulations. California averages $4.50+ while Mississippi averages under $2.80. See our gas prices by state breakdown.
- Vehicle mix. States with more trucks and SUVs (common in rural areas) have lower effective fleet fuel economy, increasing cost per mile. The gas tax burden also varies significantly.
05 All 50 States Ranked
The table below provides the estimated annual driving fuel cost for all 50 states and D.C., ranked from most to least expensive. Costs are calculated using FHWA VMT per capita data, EIA state gasoline prices, and a 26 MPG fleet average.
FHWA Table VM-2; EIA state retail gasoline prices; 26 MPG on-road fleet estimateThe key takeaway is that how much you drive matters more than what you pay per gallon. A driver in a state with cheap gas but high VMT will spend far more on fuel annually than a driver in an expensive-gas state who drives less. This is why Wyoming, despite having moderate gas prices, tops the list.
06 Data Sources
- FHWA: Highway Statistics, Table VM-2 – VMT by State. fhwa.dot.gov
- EIA: Weekly Retail Gasoline and Diesel Prices. eia.gov
- EPA: Automotive Trends Report (2023). epa.gov/automotive-trends
- Census Bureau: State Population Estimates. census.gov