- Driving in South Dakota costs an estimated $1,213 per year in fuel, ranking #20 among all states.
- The average driver in South Dakota travels 11,786 miles per year, 459 miles above the national average.
- Regular gasoline averages $2.675/gal (EIA Midwest PADD regional average), with a combined state and federal gas tax of 48.4 cents/gal.
- An EV driver in South Dakota would pay roughly $460/year for electricity, saving about 62% compared to gasoline.
01 Quick Facts
| Metric | Value | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost (26 MPG fleet avg) | $1,213 | $1,280 |
| Regular gas price | $2.675/gal | $2.937/gal |
| Combined gas tax (state + federal) | 48.4¢/gal | — |
| Miles driven per capita | 11,786 | 11,327 |
| Electricity rate (residential) | 12.9¢/kWh | 16.5¢/kWh |
| Driving cost rank | #20 of 51 | — |
02 Gas Prices
Regular gasoline in South Dakota averages $2.675 per gallon (EIA Midwest PADD regional average), which is $0.26 below the national average of $2.937. South Dakota ranks #37 among states for gas prices (1 = most expensive).
U.S. Energy Information Administration, Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices, February 202603 Gas Taxes
South Dakota 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 South Dakota pay a total of 48.4 cents per gallon in fuel taxes. This ranks #21 among all states (1 = highest tax).
FHWA, Highway Statistics 2022, Table MF-121T: State Motor-Fuel Tax RatesAt 11,786 miles per year and 26 MPG, the average driver in South Dakota pays roughly $219 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 11,786 mi, 26 MPG) | $219 |
04 Miles Driven
The average driver in South Dakota travels 11,786 miles per year, ranking #13 among all states (1 = most miles). This is 459 miles above the national average of 11,327.
FHWA, Table PS-1: Selected Measures for Identifying Peer States, 2024South Dakota has a total of 10.5 billion vehicle-miles traveled annually across all road types, with a population of 886,667 (57% urban).
FHWA PS-1, 2024; U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census05 Annual Fuel Cost
Based on South Dakota'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 | $955 |
| Midsize SUV | 26 | $1,213 |
| Pickup truck | 20 | $1,576 |
Estimate your vehicle's fuel cost using EPA data.
Use the Calculator06 Commuting
The average commute in South Dakota takes 18.4 minutes one way. About 76.0% of workers drive alone to work and 9.8% 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 | 18.4 min |
| Drove alone to work | 76.0% |
| Public transit | 0.7% |
| Worked from home | 9.8% |
07 EV Comparison
The average residential electricity rate in South Dakota is 12.9 cents per kWh, which ranks #39 among states (1 = most expensive). At an average EV efficiency of 3.3 miles per kWh, driving on electricity in South Dakota costs roughly $0.039 per mile compared to $0.103 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 | $0.103 | $0.039 |
| Annual fuel/energy cost (11,786 mi) | $1,213 | $460 |
| Annual savings with EV | $753 (62%) | |
08 Neighboring States
Here is how South Dakota's driving costs compare to neighboring states:
| State | Gas Price | VMT/Capita | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | $2.675 | 11,786 | $1,213 |
| North Dakota | $2.675 | 12,874 | $1,325 |
| Minnesota | $2.661 | 10,371 | $1,061 |
| Iowa | $2.675 | 10,600 | $1,091 |
| Nebraska | $2.675 | 11,165 | $1,149 |
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