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 7, 2026, and are subject to daily fluctuations.)

10. Michigan

Regular: $4.781
Mid-Grade: $5.384
Premium: $5.939
Diesel: $5.982

The first state to crack the top 10 is Michigan, where the cost for a gallon of regular gasoline is more expensive than in 80% of the country. Statewide, the average is around $4.75 per gallon if you’re filling up a tank of regular, but Michigan is even more expensive for premium gas, ranking No. 5 in the country.

9. Ohio

Regular: $4.782
Mid-Grade: $5.313
Premium: $5.823
Diesel: $5.933

Like in many parts of the country, gas prices in Ohio have spiked considerably in recent weeks, with gas in most areas approaching $5 per gallon for regular. The Buckeye State also ranks in the top 10 for mid-grade and premium gasoline.

8. Arizona

Regular: $4.842
Mid-Grade: $5.209
Premium: $5.532
Diesel: $5.786

The cost per gallon of regular gasoline in Arizona is around 30 cents higher than the national average. Prices are notably high in Scottsdale, where the current cost is around 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.

7. Illinois

Regular: $4.997
Mid-Grade: $5.541
Premium: $6.024
Diesel: $5.992

The Land of Lincoln has the seventh-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 fourth-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.

6. Alaska

Regular: $5.213
Mid-Grade: $5.409
Premium: $5.665
Diesel: $5.935

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

5. Nevada

Regular: $5.239
Mid-Grade: $5.537
Premium: $5.841
Diesel: $6.172

Nevada is one of six U.S. states where the price for a gallon of regular gasoline currently exceeds $5 on average. There’s little reprieve in other higher-quality categories, as Nevada also ranks in the top 10 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: $5.346
Mid-Grade: $5.551
Premium: $5.832
Diesel: $6.243

The price for regular gasoline in Oregon has jumped over 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. Hawaii

Regular: $5.662
Mid-Grade: $5.904
Premium: $6.158
Diesel: $7.139

Despite levying the second-lowest gasoline tax in the country (19 cents per gallon), Hawaii has the third-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.

2. Washington

Regular: $5.763
Mid-Grade: $6.002
Premium: $6.26
Diesel: $6.845

Washington has the second-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 is now approaching $6 per gallon 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.

1. California

Regular: $6.165
Mid-Grade: $6.397
Premium: $6.585
Diesel: $7.493

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. California is the only state in the country where the average price of regular gas exceeds $6 per gallon.