- Driving in Mississippi costs an estimated $1,367 per year in fuel, ranking #7 among all states.
- The average driver in Mississippi travels 14,033 miles per year, 2,706 miles above the national average.
- Regular gasoline averages $2.532/gal (EIA Gulf Coast PADD regional average), with a combined state and federal gas tax of 36.8 cents/gal.
- An EV driver in Mississippi would pay roughly $570/year for electricity, saving about 58% compared to gasoline.
01 Quick Facts
| Metric | Value | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost (26 MPG fleet avg) | $1,367 | $1,280 |
| Regular gas price | $2.532/gal | $2.937/gal |
| Combined gas tax (state + federal) | 36.8¢/gal | — |
| Miles driven per capita | 14,033 | 11,327 |
| Electricity rate (residential) | 13.4¢/kWh | 16.5¢/kWh |
| Driving cost rank | #7 of 51 | — |
02 Gas Prices
Regular gasoline in Mississippi averages $2.532 per gallon (EIA Gulf Coast PADD regional average), which is $0.40 below the national average of $2.937. Mississippi ranks #50 among states for gas prices (1 = most expensive).
U.S. Energy Information Administration, Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices, February 202603 Gas Taxes
Mississippi charges a state gasoline excise tax of 18.4 cents per gallon. Combined with the federal excise tax of 18.4 cents per gallon, drivers in Mississippi pay a total of 36.8 cents per gallon in fuel taxes. This ranks #47 among all states (1 = highest tax).
FHWA, Highway Statistics 2022, Table MF-121T: State Motor-Fuel Tax RatesAt 14,033 miles per year and 26 MPG, the average driver in Mississippi pays roughly $199 in combined gas taxes annually.
| Tax Component | Rate |
|---|---|
| State gasoline tax | 18.4¢/gal |
| Federal gasoline tax | 18.4¢/gal |
| Combined total | 36.8¢/gal |
| Annual tax burden (at 14,033 mi, 26 MPG) | $199 |
04 Miles Driven
The average driver in Mississippi travels 14,033 miles per year, ranking #3 among all states (1 = most miles). This is 2,706 miles above the national average of 11,327.
FHWA, Table PS-1: Selected Measures for Identifying Peer States, 2024Mississippi has a total of 41.6 billion vehicle-miles traveled annually across all road types, with a population of 2,961,279 (46% urban).
FHWA PS-1, 2024; U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census05 Annual Fuel Cost
Based on Mississippi'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 | $1,077 |
| Midsize SUV | 26 | $1,367 |
| Pickup truck | 20 | $1,777 |
Estimate your vehicle's fuel cost using EPA data.
Use the Calculator06 Commuting
The average commute in Mississippi takes 25.2 minutes one way. About 80.3% of workers drive alone to work and 6.4% 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 | 25.2 min |
| Drove alone to work | 80.3% |
| Public transit | 0.2% |
| Worked from home | 6.4% |
07 EV Comparison
The average residential electricity rate in Mississippi is 13.4 cents per kWh, which ranks #37 among states (1 = most expensive). At an average EV efficiency of 3.3 miles per kWh, driving on electricity in Mississippi costs roughly $0.041 per mile compared to $0.097 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 | $0.097 | $0.041 |
| Annual fuel/energy cost (14,033 mi) | $1,367 | $570 |
| Annual savings with EV | $797 (58%) | |
08 Neighboring States
Here is how Mississippi's driving costs compare to neighboring states:
| State | Gas Price | VMT/Capita | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | $2.532 | 14,033 | $1,367 |
| Alabama | $2.532 | 14,510 | $1,413 |
| Tennessee | $2.675 | 11,417 | $1,175 |
| Arkansas | $2.532 | 13,074 | $1,273 |
| Louisiana | $2.532 | 11,832 | $1,152 |
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