- 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 48.4 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) | 48.4¢/gal | n/a |
| Miles driven per capita | 10,600 | 11,327 |
| Electricity rate (residential) | 13.4¢/kWh | 16.5¢/kWh |
| Driving cost rank | #30 of 51 | n/a |
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 #27 among states for gas prices (1 = most expensive; tied with 12 other states).
U.S. Energy Information Administration, Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices, August 202603 Gas Taxes
Iowa charges a state gasoline excise tax of 30.0 cents per gallon. Combined with the federal excise tax of 18.4 cents per gallon, drivers in Iowa pay a total of 48.4 cents per gallon in fuel taxes. This ranks #20 among all states (1 = highest tax; tied with 2 other states).
FHWA, Highway Statistics 2024, 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 $216 in combined gas taxes annually.
| Tax Component | Rate |
|---|---|
| State gasoline tax | 30.0¢/gal |
| Federal gasoline tax | 18.4¢/gal |
| Combined total | 48.4¢/gal |
| Annual tax burden (at 10,600 mi, 23.7 MPG) | $216 |
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 Toll Roads
Iowa has toll facilities (bridges, roads, tunnels, or ferries) in operation, according to the Federal Highway Administration's July 2023 report on toll facilities in the United States, one of 39 states with at least one toll facility.
Federal Highway Administration, Toll Facilities in the United States, July 2023, Table T-1.10 Data Sources
- Federal Highway Administration: Table PS-1, Selected Measures for Identifying Peer States, 2024. fhwa.dot.gov
- Federal Highway Administration: Highway Statistics 2024, 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
- Federal Highway Administration: Toll Facilities in the United States, July 2023, Table T-1. fhwa.dot.gov