- Driving in Alaska costs an estimated $1,186 per year in fuel, ranking #24 among all states.
- The average driver in Alaska travels 7,503 miles per year, 3,824 miles below the national average.
- Regular gasoline averages $4.111/gal (EIA West Coast PADD regional average), with a combined state and federal gas tax of 26.4 cents/gal.
- An EV driver in Alaska would pay roughly $564/year for electricity, saving about 52% compared to gasoline.
01 Quick Facts
| Metric | Value | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost (26 MPG fleet avg) | $1,186 | $1,280 |
| Regular gas price | $4.111/gal | $2.937/gal |
| Combined gas tax (state + federal) | 26.4¢/gal | — |
| Miles driven per capita | 7,503 | 11,327 |
| Electricity rate (residential) | 24.8¢/kWh | 16.5¢/kWh |
| Driving cost rank | #24 of 51 | — |
02 Gas Prices
Regular gasoline in Alaska averages $4.111 per gallon (EIA West Coast PADD regional average), which is $1.17 above the national average of $2.937. Alaska ranks #3 among states for gas prices (1 = most expensive).
U.S. Energy Information Administration, Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices, February 202603 Gas Taxes
Alaska charges a state gasoline excise tax of 8.0 cents per gallon. Combined with the federal excise tax of 18.4 cents per gallon, drivers in Alaska pay a total of 26.4 cents per gallon in fuel taxes. This ranks #51 among all states (1 = highest tax).
FHWA, Highway Statistics 2022, Table MF-121T: State Motor-Fuel Tax RatesAt 7,503 miles per year and 26 MPG, the average driver in Alaska pays roughly $76 in combined gas taxes annually.
| Tax Component | Rate |
|---|---|
| State gasoline tax | 8.0¢/gal |
| Federal gasoline tax | 18.4¢/gal |
| Combined total | 26.4¢/gal |
| Annual tax burden (at 7,503 mi, 26 MPG) | $76 |
04 Miles Driven
The average driver in Alaska travels 7,503 miles per year, ranking #46 among all states (1 = most miles). This is 3,824 miles below the national average of 11,327.
FHWA, Table PS-1: Selected Measures for Identifying Peer States, 2024Alaska has a total of 5.5 billion vehicle-miles traveled annually across all road types, with a population of 733,391 (65% urban).
FHWA PS-1, 2024; U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census05 Annual Fuel Cost
Based on Alaska's average gas price and miles driven, here is the estimated annual fuel cost by vehicle type:
| Vehicle Type | MPG | Annual Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Compact sedan | 33 | $935 |
| Midsize SUV | 26 | $1,186 |
| Pickup truck | 20 | $1,542 |
Estimate your vehicle's fuel cost using EPA data.
Use the Calculator06 Commuting
The average commute in Alaska takes 19.8 minutes one way. About 65.5% of workers drive alone to work and 9.0% work from home.
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-Year Estimates, Table S0801: Commuting Characteristics by Sex, 2023| Commute Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Mean travel time to work | 19.8 min |
| Drove alone to work | 65.5% |
| Public transit | 0.8% |
| Worked from home | 9.0% |
07 EV Comparison
The average residential electricity rate in Alaska is 24.8 cents per kWh, which ranks #6 among states (1 = most expensive). At an average EV efficiency of 3.3 miles per kWh, driving on electricity in Alaska costs roughly $0.075 per mile compared to $0.158 per mile for gasoline.
EIA Form 861, Table 5A: Average Monthly Bill — Residential, 2024; EPA average EV efficiency ~3.3 mi/kWh| Metric | Gasoline | Electric |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.158 | $0.075 |
| Annual fuel/energy cost (7,503 mi) | $1,186 | $564 |
| Annual savings with EV | $622 (52%) | |
08 Neighboring States
Here is how Alaska's driving costs compare to neighboring states:
| State | Gas Price | VMT/Capita | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $4.111 | 7,503 | $1,186 |
| Washington | $4.143 | 7,859 | $1,252 |
| Hawaii | $4.111 | 7,316 | $1,157 |
09 Data Sources
- Federal Highway Administration: Table PS-1, Selected Measures for Identifying Peer States, 2024. fhwa.dot.gov
- Federal Highway Administration: Highway Statistics 2022, Table MF-121T: State Motor-Fuel Tax Rates. fhwa.dot.gov
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices by State/Region, February 2026. eia.gov
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: Form EIA-861, Table 5A: Average Monthly Bill — Residential, 2024. eia.gov
- U.S. Census Bureau: ACS 1-Year Estimates, Table S0801: Commuting Characteristics by Sex, 2023. data.census.gov
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Automotive Trends Report, 2023. epa.gov