Gas Price Border Gaps
Gas prices don’t fade gently at state lines — they jump. Every drivable border between two states, ranked by today’s gap in AAA regular averages (9/7/26), with the fill-up saving on a 15-gallon tank and how much of each gap today’s tax difference accounts for.
$4.54 vs $5.86 — a $1.32/gal jump at the line, worth $19.75 on a 15-gallon fill-up. Today’s tax difference on that border is 55¢/gal.
The biggest crossings, metro to metro
Closest tracked metros: Phoenix ($4.61) ↔ Los Angeles ($5.91), roughly 421 mi apart by road (approx.) — the metro-level gap there is $1.30/gal. Tax difference: 55¢/gal (41% of the gap).
Closest tracked metros: Boise ($4.59) ↔ Spokane ($5.32), roughly 337 mi apart by road (approx.) — the metro-level gap there is $0.73/gal. Tax difference: 28¢/gal (32% of the gap).
Closest tracked metros: Reno ($5.25) ↔ Sacramento ($5.79), roughly 132 mi apart by road (approx.) — the metro-level gap there is $0.54/gal. Tax difference: 50¢/gal (56% of the gap).
Closest tracked metros: South Bend ($3.42) ↔ Chicago ($4.43), roughly 85 mi apart by road (approx.) — the metro-level gap there is $1.01/gal. Tax difference: 7¢/gal (8% of the gap).
Closest tracked metros: Bend ($4.96) ↔ Sacramento ($5.79), roughly 447 mi apart by road (approx.) — the metro-level gap there is $0.83/gal. Tax difference: 34¢/gal (40% of the gap).
Closest tracked metros: South Bend ($3.42) ↔ Grand Rapids ($3.89), roughly 110 mi apart by road (approx.) — the metro-level gap there is $0.47/gal. Tax difference: 11¢/gal (the tax gap runs the other way — other factors drive this border).
Closest tracked metros: St. George ($4.47) ↔ Las Vegas ($4.96), roughly 127 mi apart by road (approx.) — the metro-level gap there is $0.49/gal. Tax difference: 15¢/gal (the tax gap runs the other way — other factors drive this border).
Closest tracked metros: Las Cruces ($4.02) ↔ Tucson ($4.42), roughly 289 mi apart by road (approx.) — the metro-level gap there is $0.40/gal. Tax difference: 0¢/gal (0% of the gap).
All 107 drivable borders
| # | Cheaper side | Pricier side | Gap $/gal | Save/15 gal | Tax gap ¢ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona $4.54 | California $5.86 | $1.32 | $19.75 | 55¢ |
| 2 | Idaho $4.63 | Washington $5.51 | $0.89 | $13.32 | 28¢ |
| 3 | Nevada $4.97 | California $5.86 | $0.89 | $13.29 | 50¢ |
| 4 | Indiana $3.43 | Illinois $4.29 | $0.86 | $12.83 | 7¢ |
| 5 | Oregon $5.02 | California $5.86 | $0.84 | $12.60 | 34¢ |
| 6 | Indiana $3.43 | Michigan $4.03 | $0.60 | $8.94 | 11¢ |
| 7 | Utah $4.41 | Nevada $4.97 | $0.57 | $8.48 | 15¢ |
| 8 | New Mexico $4.04 | Arizona $4.54 | $0.50 | $7.56 | 0¢ |
| 9 | Nebraska $3.86 | Wyoming $4.36 | $0.50 | $7.51 | 9¢ |
| 10 | Oregon $5.02 | Washington $5.51 | $0.49 | $7.42 | 21¢ |
| 11 | Oklahoma $3.70 | Colorado $4.19 | $0.48 | $7.27 | 10¢ |
| 12 | Indiana $3.43 | Ohio $3.91 | $0.48 | $7.24 | 26¢ |
| 13 | Missouri $3.82 | Illinois $4.29 | $0.47 | $7.06 | 42¢ |
| 14 | Wisconsin $3.82 | Illinois $4.29 | $0.47 | $7.06 | 39¢ |
| 15 | Kentucky $3.83 | Illinois $4.29 | $0.45 | $6.82 | 45¢ |
| 16 | Arizona $4.54 | Nevada $4.97 | $0.43 | $6.47 | 5¢ |
| 17 | North Dakota $3.97 | Montana $4.40 | $0.43 | $6.46 | 11¢ |
| 18 | Kansas $3.77 | Colorado $4.19 | $0.42 | $6.27 | 5¢ |
| 19 | Iowa $3.88 | Illinois $4.29 | $0.41 | $6.11 | 42¢ |
| 20 | Indiana $3.43 | Kentucky $3.83 | $0.40 | $6.01 | 38¢ |
| 21 | South Dakota $4.00 | Montana $4.40 | $0.40 | $5.94 | 4¢ |
| 22 | Idaho $4.63 | Oregon $5.02 | $0.39 | $5.90 | 7¢ |
| 23 | Ohio $3.91 | Pennsylvania $4.30 | $0.39 | $5.82 | 20¢ |
| 24 | West Virginia $3.93 | Pennsylvania $4.30 | $0.37 | $5.58 | 23¢ |
| 25 | Texas $3.67 | New Mexico $4.04 | $0.37 | $5.58 | 1¢ |
| 26 | South Dakota $4.00 | Wyoming $4.36 | $0.36 | $5.40 | 6¢ |
| 27 | Idaho $4.63 | Nevada $4.97 | $0.35 | $5.22 | 9¢ |
| 28 | Oklahoma $3.70 | New Mexico $4.04 | $0.34 | $5.07 | 1¢ |
| 29 | Nebraska $3.86 | Colorado $4.19 | $0.32 | $4.86 | 3¢ |
| 30 | Maryland $4.02 | Pennsylvania $4.30 | $0.28 | $4.24 | 12¢ |
| 31 | Wyoming $4.36 | Idaho $4.63 | $0.26 | $3.96 | 9¢ |
| 32 | Virginia $3.97 | District of Columbia $4.22 | $0.25 | $3.77 | 7¢ |
| 33 | Montana $4.40 | Idaho $4.63 | $0.23 | $3.42 | 1¢ |
| 34 | Colorado $4.19 | Utah $4.41 | $0.22 | $3.35 | 8¢ |
| 35 | Utah $4.41 | Idaho $4.63 | $0.22 | $3.26 | 6¢ |
| 36 | Wisconsin $3.82 | Michigan $4.03 | $0.21 | $3.17 | 21¢ |
| 37 | Maryland $4.02 | District of Columbia $4.22 | $0.20 | $2.96 | 11¢ |
| 38 | Colorado $4.19 | Wyoming $4.36 | $0.18 | $2.65 | 6¢ |
| 39 | Wisconsin $3.82 | Minnesota $3.97 | $0.15 | $2.27 | 0¢ |
| 40 | Tennessee $3.81 | Virginia $3.97 | $0.15 | $2.26 | 15¢ |
| 41 | New Mexico $4.04 | Colorado $4.19 | $0.15 | $2.19 | 11¢ |
| 42 | South Carolina $3.75 | Georgia $3.89 | $0.14 | $2.16 | 5¢ |
| 43 | Delaware $4.16 | Pennsylvania $4.30 | $0.14 | $2.14 | 36¢ |
| 44 | New Hampshire $4.16 | Vermont $4.30 | $0.14 | $2.14 | 8¢ |
| 45 | Nebraska $3.86 | South Dakota $4.00 | $0.14 | $2.11 | 3¢ |
| 46 | Maryland $4.02 | Delaware $4.16 | $0.14 | $2.10 | 24¢ |
| 47 | Utah $4.41 | Arizona $4.54 | $0.13 | $2.01 | 20¢ |
| 48 | Kentucky $3.83 | Virginia $3.97 | $0.13 | $2.00 | 16¢ |
| 49 | North Carolina $3.84 | Virginia $3.97 | $0.13 | $1.91 | 1¢ |
| 50 | Iowa $3.88 | South Dakota $4.00 | $0.12 | $1.84 | 0¢ |
| 51 | Massachusetts $4.21 | Connecticut $4.33 | $0.12 | $1.73 | 3¢ |
| 52 | Oklahoma $3.70 | Missouri $3.82 | $0.11 | $1.72 | 10¢ |
| 53 | Ohio $3.91 | Michigan $4.03 | $0.11 | $1.70 | 15¢ |
| 54 | Delaware $4.16 | New Jersey $4.27 | $0.11 | $1.66 | 26¢ |
| 55 | Texas $3.67 | Louisiana $3.77 | $0.11 | $1.60 | 1¢ |
| 56 | Texas $3.67 | Arkansas $3.77 | $0.11 | $1.59 | 5¢ |
| 57 | Alabama $3.80 | Florida $3.91 | $0.10 | $1.56 | 9¢ |
| 58 | Massachusetts $4.21 | New York $4.32 | $0.10 | $1.51 | 3¢ |
| 59 | Kentucky $3.83 | West Virginia $3.93 | $0.10 | $1.46 | 9¢ |
| 60 | Kansas $3.77 | Nebraska $3.86 | $0.09 | $1.41 | 8¢ |
| 61 | Alabama $3.80 | Georgia $3.89 | $0.09 | $1.39 | 3¢ |
| 62 | West Virginia $3.93 | Maryland $4.02 | $0.09 | $1.35 | 11¢ |
| 63 | Iowa $3.88 | Minnesota $3.97 | $0.09 | $1.32 | 3¢ |
| 64 | South Carolina $3.75 | North Carolina $3.84 | $0.09 | $1.32 | 12¢ |
| 65 | Mississippi $3.73 | Tennessee $3.81 | $0.09 | $1.31 | 3¢ |
| 66 | Massachusetts $4.21 | Vermont $4.30 | $0.08 | $1.26 | 4¢ |
| 67 | Kentucky $3.83 | Ohio $3.91 | $0.08 | $1.23 | 12¢ |
| 68 | Tennessee $3.81 | Georgia $3.89 | $0.08 | $1.19 | 7¢ |
| 69 | Rhode Island $4.25 | Connecticut $4.33 | $0.08 | $1.15 | 16¢ |
| 70 | Mississippi $3.73 | Alabama $3.80 | $0.07 | $1.12 | 7¢ |
| 71 | Oklahoma $3.70 | Arkansas $3.77 | $0.07 | $1.08 | 5¢ |
| 72 | Oklahoma $3.70 | Kansas $3.77 | $0.07 | $1.00 | 5¢ |
| 73 | Missouri $3.82 | Iowa $3.88 | $0.06 | $0.95 | 0¢ |
| 74 | Wisconsin $3.82 | Iowa $3.88 | $0.06 | $0.95 | 3¢ |
| 75 | New Hampshire $4.16 | Massachusetts $4.21 | $0.06 | $0.88 | 4¢ |
| 76 | North Carolina $3.84 | Georgia $3.89 | $0.06 | $0.84 | 7¢ |
| 77 | Virginia $3.97 | Maryland $4.02 | $0.05 | $0.81 | 4¢ |
| 78 | Kansas $3.77 | Missouri $3.82 | $0.05 | $0.72 | 5¢ |
| 79 | Mississippi $3.73 | Louisiana $3.77 | $0.05 | $0.71 | 4¢ |
| 80 | Wyoming $4.36 | Utah $4.41 | $0.05 | $0.70 | 15¢ |
| 81 | Mississippi $3.73 | Arkansas $3.77 | $0.05 | $0.69 | 1¢ |
| 82 | Missouri $3.82 | Nebraska $3.86 | $0.05 | $0.69 | 3¢ |
| 83 | Nevada $4.97 | Oregon $5.02 | $0.05 | $0.68 | 16¢ |
| 84 | New Jersey $4.27 | New York $4.32 | $0.05 | $0.68 | 25¢ |
| 85 | Arkansas $3.77 | Missouri $3.82 | $0.04 | $0.64 | 5¢ |
| 86 | Arkansas $3.77 | Tennessee $3.81 | $0.04 | $0.62 | 2¢ |
| 87 | New Hampshire $4.16 | Maine $4.20 | $0.04 | $0.60 | 8¢ |
| 88 | Massachusetts $4.21 | Rhode Island $4.25 | $0.04 | $0.57 | 14¢ |
| 89 | Wyoming $4.36 | Montana $4.40 | $0.04 | $0.54 | 10¢ |
| 90 | West Virginia $3.93 | Virginia $3.97 | $0.04 | $0.54 | 7¢ |
| 91 | Minnesota $3.97 | South Dakota $4.00 | $0.03 | $0.52 | 3¢ |
| 92 | North Dakota $3.97 | South Dakota $4.00 | $0.03 | $0.52 | 7¢ |
| 93 | Texas $3.67 | Oklahoma $3.70 | $0.03 | $0.51 | 0¢ |
| 94 | New Jersey $4.27 | Pennsylvania $4.30 | $0.03 | $0.48 | 10¢ |
| 95 | Tennessee $3.81 | North Carolina $3.84 | $0.02 | $0.35 | 14¢ |
| 96 | Nebraska $3.86 | Iowa $3.88 | $0.02 | $0.26 | 3¢ |
| 97 | Tennessee $3.81 | Kentucky $3.83 | $0.02 | $0.26 | 1¢ |
| 98 | Vermont $4.30 | New York $4.32 | $0.02 | $0.26 | 7¢ |
| 99 | Missouri $3.82 | Kentucky $3.83 | $0.02 | $0.25 | 4¢ |
| 100 | Ohio $3.91 | West Virginia $3.93 | $0.02 | $0.24 | 3¢ |
| 101 | New York $4.32 | Connecticut $4.33 | $0.01 | $0.21 | 1¢ |
| 102 | Pennsylvania $4.30 | New York $4.32 | $0.01 | $0.20 | 35¢ |
| 103 | Alabama $3.80 | Tennessee $3.81 | $0.01 | $0.20 | 4¢ |
| 104 | Georgia $3.89 | Florida $3.91 | $0.01 | $0.17 | 6¢ |
| 105 | Arkansas $3.77 | Louisiana $3.77 | $0.00 | $0.01 | 4¢ |
| 106 | Tennessee $3.81 | Missouri $3.82 | $0.00 | $0.01 | 3¢ |
| 107 | Minnesota $3.97 | North Dakota $3.97 | $0.00 | $0.01 | 10¢ |
Prices: AAA state averages, 9/7/26. Tax gap: difference in state taxes actually collected today (statutory EIA rates; suspensions counted at their reduced amount — see gas taxes). Excludes AK/HI (no land borders), Four Corners point-touches, and water-only adjacency.
Common questions
Why do prices jump at state lines?
Mostly taxes: state gas taxes range from 9¢ to 74¢ per gallon, and that difference shows up at the pump within a few miles of the border. Fuel-blend requirements and distribution logistics add smaller gaps. The tax-gap column shows how much of each border's gap the current tax difference accounts for.
Is it worth driving across the line for gas?
Usually only if you're crossing anyway. A 15-gallon fill-up across a 40¢/gal gap saves about $6 — a special 20-mile round trip burns a gallon or two of that back, plus your time. Commuters and road-trippers who time their fill-ups to the cheap side of a border capture the gap for free.
Which borders are missing?
Alaska and Hawaii have no drivable borders with other states. Corner-touch pairs (Arizona–Colorado and New Mexico–Utah meet at the Four Corners point) and water-only adjacency (Michigan–Minnesota across Lake Superior) are excluded — you can't drive across them.
How are the metro pairs picked?
For the biggest gaps, we take AAA's metro-level averages on each side and show the closest cross-border pair by straight-line distance (driving estimates use a ×1.18 road factor and are approximate). Metro coverage varies by state, so some borders show state averages only.
See also: gas taxes by state · trip calculator · methodology