Whether you regularly commute to work in your car or enjoy the occasional road trip across the country, gas prices are an important financial consideration. As things stand, the average price for a gallon of gas exceeds $4 nationwide — the first time that’s been the case since 2022. Unfortunately, you won’t find affordable gas anywhere in the U.S. right now, though there are some states where the cost is more prohibitively expensive than in others. Using data provided by the American Automobile Association (AAA), here’s a look at 10 U.S. states with the highest gas prices on average. (Editor’s note: Prices are accurate as of May 1, 2026, and are subject to daily fluctuations.)

10. Washington, D.C.

Regular: $4.303
Mid-Grade: $4.847
Premium: $5.270
Diesel: $5.800

The first jurisdiction to crack the top 10 is our nation’s capital. The cost for a gallon of regular gasoline in D.C. is more expensive than in 41 states. The price runs even higher for mid-grade and premium gasoline — two categories in which D.C. ranks as having the eighth-highest prices in the nation.

9. Idaho

Regular: $4.381
Mid-Grade: $4.654
Premium: $4.931
Diesel: $5.477

The Gem State may have a reputation for producing high-quality potatoes, but as of late, it’s notorious for high-priced gasoline, too. In Idaho, filling up a gas tank with regular gasoline can run you $50 to $70, depending on capacity. Idaho is slightly more affordable with regard to mid-grade and premium gasoline, as the state doesn’t crack the top 10 in either category.

8. Illinois

Regular: $4.381
Mid-Grade: $4.654
Premium: $4.931
Diesel: $5.477

The Land of Lincoln has the eighth-most-expensive gallons of regular gasoline in the country. Prices are highest in the city of Chicago, where the cost per gallon is roughly 35 cents more than elsewhere in the state. And expect to pay a pretty penny if you rely on premium gasoline, as Illinois ranks sixth-highest in the nation in that specific category. One reason for the high prices? Illinois imposes the second-highest tax on gasoline in the country at 67 cents per gallon.

7. Alaska

Regular: $4.827
Mid-Grade: $5.044
Premium: $5.285
Diesel: $5.939

While Alaska produces some of its own gasoline, that isn’t enough to keep prices down. The current cost per gallon of regular gas exceeds $4.50 — roughly a dollar higher than the price this time last year. Expect to pay more than $5 per gallon in remote areas of the state, such as the western part of the Aleutian Islands, which have the highest average price in Alaska as of May 2026.

6. Arizona

Regular: $4.635
Mid-Grade: $5.002
Premium: $5.323
Diesel: $5.814

The cost per gallon of regular gasoline in Arizona is more than 50 cents higher than the national average. Prices are notably high in Scottsdale, where the current cost is just a few cents shy of the notorious $5 mark. Arizona’s gas prices have jumped more than $1.30 year over year, so be sure to save up some extra cash if you’re planning a family road trip to the Grand Canyon in 2026.

5. Nevada

Regular: $5.069
Mid-Grade: $5.369
Premium: $5.692
Diesel: $6.148

Nevada is one of five U.S. states where the price for a gallon of regular gasoline exceeds $5 on average. There’s little reprieve in other higher-quality categories, as Nevada ranks fourth for mid-grade, premium, and diesel gasoline. Reno has some of the highest gas prices in the state — you’ll currently pay nearly a quarter more per gallon of regular gasoline here than in the rest of Nevada.

4. Oregon

Regular: $5.101
Mid-Grade: $5.316
Premium: $5.588
Diesel: $6.225

The price for regular gasoline in Oregon has jumped about a dollar year over year, resulting in costs that currently exceed $5 per gallon. This sharp rise in cost is partially attributed to a closure of the Olympic Pipeline this past fall, which caused prices to spike long before the ongoing conflict in Iran.

3. Washington

Regular: $5.513
Mid-Grade: $5.750
Premium: $5.996
Diesel: $6.855

Washington has the third-highest cost per gallon of gas in the country, particularly in the western part of the state. The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline currently exceeds $5.50 in the Seattle-Bellevue-Everett metropolitan area. While prices have risen higher during the past few tumultuous months, Washington also levies a year-round gasoline tax of 59 cents per gallon — the third-highest of any state.

2. Hawaii

Regular: $5.641
Mid-Grade: $5.909
Premium: $6.152
Diesel: $7.157

Despite levying the second-lowest gasoline tax in the country (19 cents per gallon), Hawaii has the second-highest average gas prices nationwide. This is due, in part, to the high shipping costs for delivering gas to the Hawaiian Islands, which are isolated from the rest of the country. In Hawaii, gas prices are currently highest on the island of Kauai, where they are approaching $6 for a gallon of regular gasoline.

1. California

Regular: $5.965
Mid-Grade: $6.194
Premium: $6.386
Diesel: $7.480

Aside from the ongoing turmoil in acquiring gas from the Middle East, Californians regularly pay the highest prices at the pump of any state due to a combination of factors. These include the highest tax on gas in the country at 71 cents per gallon, requirements for a special blend of gasoline designed to reduce pollution and improve air quality, and additional environmental compliance costs. There are a number of metropolitan areas throughout the state where regular gas currently exceeds $6 per gallon, such as the Bay Area cities of San Rafael, Napa, Santa Rosa, and San Francisco.