- Driving in Washington costs an estimated $1,252 per year in fuel, ranking #17 among all states.
- The average driver in Washington travels 7,859 miles per year, 3,468 miles below the national average.
- Regular gasoline averages $4.143/gal, with a combined state and federal gas tax of 67.8 cents/gal.
- An EV driver in Washington would pay roughly $284/year for electricity, saving about 77% compared to gasoline.
01 Quick Facts
| Metric | Value | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost (26 MPG fleet avg) | $1,252 | $1,280 |
| Regular gas price | $4.143/gal | $2.937/gal |
| Combined gas tax (state + federal) | 67.8¢/gal | — |
| Miles driven per capita | 7,859 | 11,327 |
| Electricity rate (residential) | 11.9¢/kWh | 16.5¢/kWh |
| Driving cost rank | #17 of 51 | — |
02 Gas Prices
Regular gasoline in Washington averages $4.143 per gallon, which is $1.21 above the national average of $2.937. Washington ranks #2 among states for gas prices (1 = most expensive).
U.S. Energy Information Administration, Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices, February 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 2022, Table MF-121T: State Motor-Fuel Tax RatesAt 7,859 miles per year and 26 MPG, the average driver in Washington pays roughly $205 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, 26 MPG) | $205 |
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 | 33 | $987 |
| Midsize SUV | 26 | $1,252 |
| Pickup truck | 20 | $1,628 |
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 $0.159 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 | $0.159 | $0.036 |
| Annual fuel/energy cost (7,859 mi) | $1,252 | $284 |
| Annual savings with EV | $968 (77%) | |
08 Neighboring States
Here is how Washington's driving costs compare to neighboring states:
| State | Gas Price | VMT/Capita | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $4.143 | 7,859 | $1,252 |
| Oregon | $4.111 | 8,826 | $1,396 |
| Idaho | $2.662 | 10,900 | $1,116 |
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