- Driving in Washington costs an estimated $1,673 per year in fuel, ranking #35 among all states.
- The average driver in Washington travels 7,859 miles per year, 3,468 miles below the national average.
- Regular gasoline averages $5.045/gal, with a combined state and federal gas tax of 67.8 cents/gal.
- An EV driver in Washington would pay roughly $283/year for electricity, saving about 83% compared to gasoline.
01 Quick Facts
| Metric | Value | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost (23.7 MPG on-road fleet avg) | $1,673 | $1,949 |
| Regular gas price | $5.045/gal | $4.079/gal |
| Combined gas tax (state + federal) | 67.8¢/gal | n/a |
| Miles driven per capita | 7,859 | 11,327 |
| Electricity rate (residential) | 11.9¢/kWh | 16.5¢/kWh |
| Driving cost rank | #35 of 51 | n/a |
02 Gas Prices
Regular gasoline in Washington averages $5.045 per gallon, which is $0.97 above the national average of $4.079. Washington ranks #7 among states for gas prices (1 = most expensive).
U.S. Energy Information Administration, Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices, August 202603 Gas Taxes
Washington charges a state gasoline excise tax of 49.4 cents per gallon. Combined with the federal excise tax of 18.4 cents per gallon, drivers in Washington pay a total of 67.8 cents per gallon in fuel taxes. This ranks #3 among all states (1 = highest tax).
FHWA, Highway Statistics 2024, Table MF-121T: State Motor-Fuel Tax RatesAt 7,859 miles per year and 23.7 MPG (on-road fleet average), the average driver in Washington pays roughly $225 in combined gas taxes annually.
| Tax Component | Rate |
|---|---|
| State gasoline tax | 49.4¢/gal |
| Federal gasoline tax | 18.4¢/gal |
| Combined total | 67.8¢/gal |
| Annual tax burden (at 7,859 mi, 23.7 MPG) | $225 |
04 Miles Driven
The average driver in Washington travels 7,859 miles per year, ranking #45 among all states (1 = most miles). This is 3,468 miles below the national average of 11,327.
FHWA, Table PS-1: Selected Measures for Identifying Peer States, 2024Washington has a total of 60.6 billion vehicle-miles traveled annually across all road types, with a population of 7,705,281 (83% urban).
FHWA PS-1, 2024; U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census05 Annual Fuel Cost
Based on Washington'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 | $1,406 |
| Midsize SUV | 19.6 | $2,023 |
| Pickup truck | 18.3 | $2,167 |
Estimate your vehicle's fuel cost using EPA data.
Use the Calculator06 Commuting
The average commute in Washington takes 26.7 minutes one way. About 64.9% of workers drive alone to work, while 4.0% use public transit and 17.3% 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 | 26.7 min |
| Drove alone to work | 64.9% |
| Public transit | 4.0% |
| Worked from home | 17.3% |
07 EV Comparison
The average residential electricity rate in Washington is 11.9 cents per kWh, which ranks #47 among states (1 = most expensive). At an average EV efficiency of 3.3 miles per kWh, driving on electricity in Washington costs roughly $0.036 per mile compared to $0.213 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 | $0.213 | $0.036 |
| Annual fuel/energy cost (7,859 mi) | $1,673 | $283 |
| Annual savings with EV | $1,390 (83%) | |
08 Neighboring States
Here is how Washington's driving costs compare to neighboring states:
| State | Gas Price | VMT/Capita | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $5.045 | 7,859 | $1,673 |
| Oregon | $5.130 | 8,826 | $1,910 |
| Idaho | $4.139 | 10,900 | $1,904 |
09 Toll Roads
Washington 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