Planning Your Thanksgiving Road Trip? See Average Gas Prices in Every State

John Csiszar
·6 min read
Happy couple on a vacations, taking their luggage out of car boot.
Happy couple on a vacations, taking their luggage out of car boot.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and in spite of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, it seems likely that many Americans will still be hitting the road for the holiday. The good news is that gas prices remain relatively low by historic standards. Travel restrictions and the work-from-home movement accelerated by COVID-19 have both helped to keep a lid on prices in 2020. Even if there is a surge in travel around Thanksgiving, prices will likely remain relatively low, as overall demand is still well below pre-pandemic levels.

The national average for gas prices is $2.17 per gallon as of Oct. 23, but the final price you pay might be drastically higher ? or lower ? depending on the state that you live in. For example, gas costs $3.19 per gallon in California, whereas it?s just $1.84 per gallon in Missouri. To help you figure out the average in your state, GOBankingRates compiled state gas price averages from AAA and ranked each state from the least to most expensive price for regular gasoline.

While consumers can?t control gas prices, you can get the most bang for your buck by making a few changes. For example, according to AAA, there?s very little benefit to buying expensive, premium gasoline unless your car?s manufacturer recommends it. Additionally, you can look into eco-friendly vehicles that get more miles to the gallon.

Last updated: Oct. 30, 2020

Gulfport, MS, USA ? February 7, 2015: Pedestrian and automotive traffic in Downtown Gulfport on Highway 90 next to the beach.
Gulfport, MS, USA ? February 7, 2015: Pedestrian and automotive traffic in Downtown Gulfport on Highway 90 next to the beach.

50. Mississippi

  • Regular gas: $1.84

  • Midgrade gas:$2.15

  • Premium gas:$2.48

  • Diesel gas:$2.07

unique view of downtown.
unique view of downtown.

49. Missouri

  • Regular gas: $1.84

  • Midgrade gas: $2.09

  • Premium gas: $2.35

  • Diesel gas: $1.99

Little Rock downtown skyline with the Arkansas river in the foreground and soft wispy clouds in the background.
Little Rock downtown skyline with the Arkansas river in the foreground and soft wispy clouds in the background.

48. Arkansas

  • Regular gas: $1.87

  • Midgrade gas: $2.18

  • Premium gas: $2.47

  • Diesel gas: $2.13

Dallas Texas golden sunrise over Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge.
Dallas Texas golden sunrise over Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge.

47. Texas

  • Regular gas: $1.87

  • Midgrade gas: $2.20

  • Premium gas: $2.49

  • Diesel gas: $2.02

See: These Traffic-Packed Cities Spend the Most on Gas

Oklahoma-City
Oklahoma-City

46. Oklahoma

  • Regular gas: $1.87

  • Midgrade gas: $2.12

  • Premium gas: $2.32

  • Diesel gas: $1.99

Louisiana Shreveport
Louisiana Shreveport

45. Louisiana

  • Regular gas: $1.89

  • Midgrade gas:$2.20

  • Premium gas: $2.52

  • Diesel gas: $2.20

Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina

44. South Carolina

  • Regular gas: $1.89

  • Midgrade gas: $2.23

  • Premium gas: $2.54

  • Diesel gas: $2.14

Alabama Birmingham
Alabama Birmingham

43. Alabama

  • Regular gas: $1.90

  • Midgrade gas: $2.23

  • Premium gas: $2.56

  • Diesel gas: $2.24

Memphis, Tennessee, USA downtown skyline at dusk.
Memphis, Tennessee, USA downtown skyline at dusk.

42. Tennessee

  • Regular gas: $1.92

  • Midgrade gas: $2.26

  • Premium gas: $2.58

  • Diesel gas: $2.27

Lawrence, Kansas skyline 2018.
Lawrence, Kansas skyline 2018.

41. Kansas

  • Regular gas: $1.93

  • Midgrade gas: $2.19

  • Premium gas: $2.42

  • Diesel gas: $2.11

Skyline of the city of Milwaukee, WI.
Skyline of the city of Milwaukee, WI.

40. Wisconsin

  • Regular gas: $1.95

  • Midgrade gas: $2.29

  • Premium gas: $2.67

  • Diesel gas: $2.11

View of the Atlanta skyline on a beautiful night.
View of the Atlanta skyline on a beautiful night.

39. Georgia

  • Regular gas: $1.99

  • Midgrade gas: $2.33

  • Premium gas: $2.64

  • Diesel gas: $2.42

Drone Aerial of Downtown Charlotte, North Carolina, NC, USA Skyline.
Drone Aerial of Downtown Charlotte, North Carolina, NC, USA Skyline.

38. North Carolina

  • Regular gas: $1.99

  • Midgrade gas: $2.34

  • Premium gas: $2.67

  • Diesel gas: $2.30

Minneapolis, Minnesota, FHA, insurance, real estate, homebuyers, foreclosure, single-family, home median price, mortgage, down payment
Minneapolis, Minnesota, FHA, insurance, real estate, homebuyers, foreclosure, single-family, home median price, mortgage, down payment

37. Minnesota

  • Regular gas: $1.99

  • Midgrade gas: $2.23

  • Premium gas: $2.53

  • Diesel gas: $2.30

This scenic view shows the city of Las Cruces, New Mexico and the distant Organ Mountains.
This scenic view shows the city of Las Cruces, New Mexico and the distant Organ Mountains.

36. New Mexico

  • Regular gas: $2.01

  • Midgrade gas: $2.32

  • Premium gas: $2.57

  • Diesel gas: $2.29

Louisville downtown skyline view with a park with trees in the foreground.
Louisville downtown skyline view with a park with trees in the foreground.

35. Kentucky

  • Regular gas: $2.03

  • Midgrade gas: $2.35

  • Premium gas: $2.66

  • Diesel gas: $2.22

Des Moines Iowa skyline taken from the bike path next to the Des Moines River in Autumn - Image.
Des Moines Iowa skyline taken from the bike path next to the Des Moines River in Autumn - Image.

34. Iowa

  • Regular gas: $2.04

  • Midgrade gas: $2.20

  • Premium gas: $2.60

  • Diesel gas: $2.17

Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire.
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire.

33. New Hampshire

  • Regular gas: $2.06

  • Midgrade gas: $2.45

  • Premium gas: $2.71

  • Diesel gas: $2.45

downtown Fargo North Dakota
downtown Fargo North Dakota

32. North Dakota

  • Regular gas: $2.06

  • Midgrade gas: $2.28

  • Premium gas: $2.50

  • Diesel gas: $2.21

Virginia
Virginia

31. Virginia

  • Regular gas: $2.07

  • Midgrade gas: $2.45

  • Premium gas: $2.74

  • Diesel gas: $2.32

Indianapolis Indiana skyline at dusk
Indianapolis Indiana skyline at dusk

30. Indiana

  • Regular gas: $2.08

  • Midgrade gas: $2.39

  • Premium gas: $2.71

  • Diesel gas: $2.42

Cars come and go at sunrise before rush hour in Clevland Ohio on Lake Erie.
Cars come and go at sunrise before rush hour in Clevland Ohio on Lake Erie.

29. Ohio

  • Regular gas: $2.08

  • Midgrade gas: $2.40

  • Premium gas: $2.73

  • Diesel gas: $2.38

Tampa Florida River Boat
Tampa Florida River Boat

28. Florida

  • Regular gas: $2.09

  • Midgrade gas: $2.45

  • Premium gas: $2.75

  • Diesel gas: $2.31

Deadwood, South Dakota
Deadwood, South Dakota

27. South Dakota

  • Regular gas: $2.11

  • Midgrade gas: $2.23

  • Premium gas: $2.56

  • Diesel gas: $2.22

US route 1 traffic leading into downtown Boston, Massachusetts during rush hour.
US route 1 traffic leading into downtown Boston, Massachusetts during rush hour.

26. Massachusetts

  • Regular gas: $2.11

  • Midgrade gas: $2.47

  • Premium gas: $2.68

  • Diesel gas: $2.55

Downtown Detroit skyline reflection on the Detroit River.
Downtown Detroit skyline reflection on the Detroit River.

25. Michigan

  • Regular gas: $2.11

  • Midgrade gas: $2.40

  • Premium gas: $2.74

  • Diesel gas: $2.37

Aerial Drone Photography of Downtown Omaha Nebraska.
Aerial Drone Photography of Downtown Omaha Nebraska.

24. Nebraska

  • Regular gas: $2.12

  • Midgrade gas: $2.23

  • Premium gas: $2.57

  • Diesel gas: $2.19

Providence, Rhode Island, USA park and skyline.
Providence, Rhode Island, USA park and skyline.

23. Rhode Island

  • Regular gas: $2.12

  • Midgrade gas: $2.52

  • Premium gas: $2.73

  • Diesel gas: $2.61

Montpelier, Vermont, USA town skyline.
Montpelier, Vermont, USA town skyline.

22. Vermont

  • Regular gas: $2.14

  • Midgrade gas: $2.50

  • Premium gas: $2.78

  • Diesel gas: $2.50

Casco Bay Bridge spans Fore River connecting South Portland and Portland in Maine.
Casco Bay Bridge spans Fore River connecting South Portland and Portland in Maine.

21. Maine

  • Regular gas: $2.17

  • Midgrade gas: $2.49

  • Premium gas: $2.74

  • Diesel gas: $2.48

Hartford Connecticut
Hartford Connecticut

20. Connecticut

  • Regular gas: $2.17

  • Midgrade gas: $2.53

  • Premium gas: $2.75

  • Diesel gas: $2.68

West Virginia at dusk
West Virginia at dusk

19. West Virginia

  • Regular gas: $2.18

  • Midgrade gas: $2.46

  • Premium gas: $2.75

  • Diesel gas: $2.37

Jackson Hole, Wyoming downtown
Jackson Hole, Wyoming downtown

18. Wyoming

  • Regular gas: $2.20

  • Midgrade gas: $2.41

  • Premium gas: $2.64

  • Diesel gas: $2.34

Colorado Denver
Colorado Denver

17. Colorado

  • Regular gas: $2.23

  • Midgrade gas: $2.54

  • Premium gas: $2.83

  • Diesel gas: $2.17

Exchange Place, Jersey City, New Jersey skyline.
Exchange Place, Jersey City, New Jersey skyline.

16. New Jersey

  • Regular gas: $2.24

  • Midgrade gas: $2.62

  • Premium gas: $2.80

  • Diesel gas: $2.51

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Billings Montana downtown
Billings Montana downtown

15. Montana

  • Regular gas: $2.24

  • Midgrade gas: $2.50

  • Premium gas: $2.76

  • Diesel gas: $2.27

Brooklyn Bridge traffic in Manhattan New York
Brooklyn Bridge traffic in Manhattan New York

14. New York

  • Regular gas: $2.25

  • Midgrade gas: $2.57

  • Premium gas: $2.81

  • Diesel gas: $2.78

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Tucson, Arizona, USA downtown skyline with Sentinel Peak at dusk.
Tucson, Arizona, USA downtown skyline with Sentinel Peak at dusk.

13. Arizona

  • Regular gas: $2.26

  • Midgrade gas: $2.54

  • Premium gas: $2.79

  • Diesel gas: $2.41

Chicago Skyline aerial view skyscrapers bythe beach , vintage colors.
Chicago Skyline aerial view skyscrapers bythe beach , vintage colors.

12. Illinois

  • Regular gas: $2.27

  • Midgrade gas: $2.62

  • Premium gas: $3.02

  • Diesel gas: $2.39

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Delaware, STATES
Delaware, STATES

11. Delaware

  • Regular gas: $2.28

  • Midgrade gas: $2.69

  • Premium gas: $2.91

  • Diesel gas: $2.31

Maryland, baltimore
Maryland, baltimore

10. Maryland

  • Regular gas: $2.28

  • Midgrade gas: $2.73

  • Premium gas: $2.96

  • Diesel gas: $2.40

Boise Idaho
Boise Idaho

9. Idaho

  • Regular gas: $2.35

  • Midgrade gas: $2.53

  • Premium gas: $2.72

  • Diesel gas: $2.35

Salt lake City downtown and snow capped mountain.
Salt lake City downtown and snow capped mountain.

8. Utah

  • Regular gas: $2.38

  • Midgrade gas: $2.55

  • Premium gas: $2.72

  • Diesel gas: $2.35

Skyline of downtown Philadelphia at sunset USA.
Skyline of downtown Philadelphia at sunset USA.

7. Pennsylvania

  • Regular gas: $2.48

  • Midgrade gas: $2.79

  • Premium gas: $3.07

  • Diesel gas: $2.75

The city of Sitka, Alaska at dawn.
The city of Sitka, Alaska at dawn.

6. Alaska

  • Regular gas: $2.51

  • Midgrade gas: $2.64

  • Premium gas: $2.81

  • Diesel gas: $2.39

Hawthorne Bridge in Portland during sunset.
Hawthorne Bridge in Portland during sunset.

5. Oregon

  • Regular gas: $2.58

  • Midgrade gas: $2.77

  • Premium gas: $2.94

  • Diesel gas: $2.58

Aerial view of Las Vegas strip at sunrise on July 24, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Aerial view of Las Vegas strip at sunrise on July 24, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

4. Nevada

  • Regular gas: $2.62

  • Midgrade gas: $2.84

  • Premium gas: $3.01

  • Diesel gas: $2.59

A scenic view of the Space Needle in Seattle, WA and the Mt. Rainier
A scenic view of the Space Needle in Seattle, WA and the Mt. Rainier

3. Washington

  • Regular gas: $2.77

  • Midgrade gas: $2.99

  • Premium gas: $3.15

  • Diesel gas: $2.70

Aerial image of downtown Los Angeles, California at night.
Aerial image of downtown Los Angeles, California at night.

2. California

  • Regular gas: $3.19

  • Midgrade gas: $3.38

  • Premium gas: $3.49

  • Diesel gas: $3.34

Honolulu, Hawaii.
Honolulu, Hawaii.

1. Hawaii

  • Regular gas: $3.27

  • Midgrade gas: $3.46

  • Premium gas: $3.69

  • Diesel gas: $4.04

More From GOBankingRates

Levi Leidy contributed to the reporting for this article.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Planning Your Thanksgiving Road Trip? See Average Gas Prices in Every State