- Driving in Iowa costs an estimated $1,757 per year in fuel, ranking #30 among all states.
- The average driver in Iowa travels 10,600 miles per year, 727 miles below the national average.
- Regular gasoline averages $3.929/gal (EIA Midwest PADD regional average), with a combined state and federal gas tax of 49.4 cents/gal.
- An EV driver in Iowa would pay roughly $430/year for electricity, saving about 76% compared to gasoline.
01 Quick Facts
| Metric | Value | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost (23.7 MPG on-road fleet avg) | $1,757 | $1,949 |
| Regular gas price | $3.929/gal | $4.079/gal |
| Combined gas tax (state + federal) | 49.4¢/gal | — |
| Miles driven per capita | 10,600 | 11,327 |
| Electricity rate (residential) | 13.4¢/kWh | 16.5¢/kWh |
| Driving cost rank | #30 of 51 | — |
02 Gas Prices
Regular gasoline in Iowa averages $3.929 per gallon (EIA Midwest PADD regional average), which is $0.15 below the national average of $4.079. Iowa ranks #29 among states for gas prices (1 = most expensive).
U.S. Energy Information Administration, Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices, August 202603 Gas Taxes
Iowa charges a state gasoline excise tax of 31.0 cents per gallon. Combined with the federal excise tax of 18.4 cents per gallon, drivers in Iowa pay a total of 49.4 cents per gallon in fuel taxes. This ranks #16 among all states (1 = highest tax).
FHWA, Highway Statistics 2022, Table MF-121T: State Motor-Fuel Tax RatesAt 10,600 miles per year and 23.7 MPG (on-road fleet average), the average driver in Iowa pays roughly $221 in combined gas taxes annually.
| Tax Component | Rate |
|---|---|
| State gasoline tax | 31.0¢/gal |
| Federal gasoline tax | 18.4¢/gal |
| Combined total | 49.4¢/gal |
| Annual tax burden (at 10,600 mi, 23.7 MPG) | $221 |
04 Miles Driven
The average driver in Iowa travels 10,600 miles per year, ranking #26 among all states (1 = most miles). This is 727 miles below the national average of 11,327.
FHWA, Table PS-1: Selected Measures for Identifying Peer States, 2024Iowa has a total of 33.8 billion vehicle-miles traveled annually across all road types, with a population of 3,190,369 (63% urban).
FHWA PS-1, 2024; U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census05 Annual Fuel Cost
Based on Iowa'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 | 28.2 | $1,477 |
| Midsize SUV | 19.6 | $2,125 |
| Pickup truck | 18.3 | $2,276 |
Estimate your vehicle's fuel cost using EPA data.
Use the Calculator06 Commuting
The average commute in Iowa takes 20.0 minutes one way. About 76.2% of workers drive alone to work and 10.5% 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 | 20.0 min |
| Drove alone to work | 76.2% |
| Public transit | 0.8% |
| Worked from home | 10.5% |
07 EV Comparison
The average residential electricity rate in Iowa is 13.4 cents per kWh, which ranks #36 among states (1 = most expensive). At an average EV efficiency of 3.3 miles per kWh, driving on electricity in Iowa costs roughly $0.041 per mile compared to $0.166 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 | $0.166 | $0.041 |
| Annual fuel/energy cost (10,600 mi) | $1,757 | $430 |
| Annual savings with EV | $1,327 (76%) | |
08 Neighboring States
Here is how Iowa's driving costs compare to neighboring states:
| State | Gas Price | VMT/Capita | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | $3.929 | 10,600 | $1,757 |
| Minnesota | $3.937 | 10,371 | $1,723 |
| Wisconsin | $3.929 | 11,746 | $1,947 |
| Illinois | $3.929 | 8,140 | $1,349 |
| Missouri | $3.929 | 13,291 | $2,203 |
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, August 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 / Department of Energy: Fuel Economy Guide database, model years 2024–2025 (vehicle-type MPG); The 2025 Automotive Trends Report, EPA-420-R-26-001 (fleet trends). epa.gov
- DOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory: Transportation Energy Data Book, Edition 40, Table 4.3: on-road fuel economy of the light-duty vehicle fleet, 23.7 MPG (2020, the most recent year published). tedb.ornl.gov