The States Where Gas Costs Over $5 Per Gallon

Gas prices are soaring, at least through the summer

A layered graphic of photos related to climbing gas prices with a strong red arrow moving up diagonally across the frame

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Donna Fuscaldo,

AARP

En español

Published June 09, 2022

Gas prices are setting new records daily as demand continues to outstrip supply. And while drivers across the country are feeling the pain at the pump, for residents in several states, it’s far worse. That’s because as of this week, people living in 20 states and the District of Columbia are paying more than $5 per gallon for regular gas. The list is expected to grow in the days and weeks to come, with little action in the immediate future expected to bring prices down.

“We will have a national average of $5 per gallon by the end of next week,” says Robert Sinclair, a spokesperson for AAA Northeast. “The end of the summer driving season is Labor Day. We may see a lessening [of gas prices] then.”

twenty states have gas prices over five dollars a gallon

Getty Images / AARP

Why gas prices vary across the country

There are several reasons why consumers are paying so much at the pump. The war in Ukraine is one. The summer travel season is another. But why are just some states topping $5 per gallon? It boils down to the blend of gasoline, where it comes from and the state’s gasoline tax.

“Some markets use RFG [reformulated gasoline], which is more difficult to refine and has lower vapor pressure in the heat,” Sinclair explains. “Meanwhile, the guys at the refinery are working hard to send fuel to a particular market by train, truck, barge or tanker. All of that adds to the price.” Gasoline in Florida is much cheaper than in Alaska because of the Sunshine State’s closer proximity to oil rigs in Texas and Louisiana. Meanwhile, fuel in Pennsylvania and California is well above $5 per gallon due to high state taxes. Gas is taxed at $0.57 per gallon in Pennsylvania and $0.51 per gallon in California.

With no end in sight to the cost increases, and with a national average of $5 per gallon on the horizon, we’re keeping track of which states are succumbing to record fuel prices. Check back weekly to see if your state lands on the map.

Donna Fuscaldo is a contributing writer and editor focusing on personal finance and health. She has spent over two decades writing and covering news for several national publications including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Investopedia and HerMoney.