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 (10/23/26), with the fill-up saving on a 15-gallon tank and an estimated state tax difference for comparison.
$4.54 vs $6.06 — a $1.52/gal jump at the line, worth $22.80 on a 15-gallon fill-up. The estimated tax difference on that border is 55¢/gal.
The biggest crossings, metro to metro
Closest mapped metros: Yuma ($4.58) ↔ El Centro ($5.84), roughly 75 mi apart by road (approx.) — the metro-level gap there is $1.26/gal. Estimated tax difference: 55¢/gal (equal to 36% of the price gap; not a causal estimate).
Closest mapped metros: Medford-Ashland ($4.89) ↔ Redding ($5.92), roughly 147 mi apart by road (approx.) — the metro-level gap there is $1.03/gal. Estimated tax difference: 34¢/gal (equal to 29% of the price gap; not a causal estimate).
Closest mapped metros: St. Louis (MO only) ($3.81) ↔ East Saint Louis ($4.54), roughly 7 mi apart by road (approx.) — the metro-level gap there is $0.73/gal. Estimated tax difference: 42¢/gal (equal to 48% of the price gap; not a causal estimate).
Closest mapped metros: Gary ($4.08) ↔ Chicago Metro ($4.99), roughly 29 mi apart by road (approx.) — the metro-level gap there is $0.91/gal. Estimated tax difference: 7¢/gal (equal to 9% of the price gap; not a causal estimate).
Closest mapped metros: South Bend ($4.04) ↔ Benton Harbor ($4.75), roughly 37 mi apart by road (approx.) — the metro-level gap there is $0.70/gal. Estimated tax difference: 11¢/gal (the state with cheaper gas has the higher listed tax).
Closest mapped metros: Lake Havasu-Kingman ($4.75) ↔ Las Vegas (NV only) ($5.36), roughly 155 mi apart by road (approx.) — the metro-level gap there is $0.61/gal. Estimated tax difference: 5¢/gal (equal to 6% of the price gap; not a causal estimate).
Closest mapped metros: Henderson ($3.62) ↔ Carbondale-Marion ($4.65), roughly 106 mi apart by road (approx.) — the metro-level gap there is $1.02/gal. Estimated tax difference: 45¢/gal (equal to 59% of the price gap; not a causal estimate).
Closest mapped metros: Reno ($5.51) ↔ Yuba City ($5.83), roughly 118 mi apart by road (approx.) — the metro-level gap there is $0.32/gal. Estimated tax difference: 50¢/gal (equal to 67% of the price gap; not a causal estimate).
All 107 drivable borders
| # | Cheaper side | Pricier side | Gap $/gal | Save/15 gal | Est. tax gap ¢ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona $4.54 | California $6.06 | $1.52 | $22.80 | 55¢ |
| 2 | Oregon $4.89 | California $6.06 | $1.17 | $17.55 | 34¢ |
| 3 | Missouri $3.95 | Illinois $4.81 | $0.86 | $12.93 | 42¢ |
| 4 | Indiana $3.98 | Illinois $4.81 | $0.83 | $12.43 | 7¢ |
| 5 | Indiana $3.98 | Michigan $4.77 | $0.79 | $11.80 | 11¢ |
| 6 | Arizona $4.54 | Nevada $5.32 | $0.78 | $11.68 | 5¢ |
| 7 | Kentucky $4.04 | Illinois $4.81 | $0.77 | $11.48 | 45¢ |
| 8 | Nevada $5.32 | California $6.06 | $0.74 | $11.12 | 50¢ |
| 9 | Iowa $4.18 | Illinois $4.81 | $0.63 | $9.45 | 42¢ |
| 10 | Utah $4.70 | Nevada $5.32 | $0.61 | $9.20 | 15¢ |
| 11 | Idaho $4.72 | Washington $5.33 | $0.61 | $9.16 | 27¢ |
| 12 | Idaho $4.72 | Nevada $5.32 | $0.60 | $8.97 | 9¢ |
| 13 | North Carolina $3.53 | Virginia $4.09 | $0.56 | $8.34 | 1¢ |
| 14 | Texas $3.75 | New Mexico $4.27 | $0.52 | $7.79 | 1¢ |
| 15 | Delaware $3.98 | Pennsylvania $4.47 | $0.49 | $7.32 | 36¢ |
| 16 | Wisconsin $4.33 | Illinois $4.81 | $0.48 | $7.25 | 39¢ |
| 17 | Oregon $4.89 | Washington $5.33 | $0.44 | $6.63 | 20¢ |
| 18 | Wisconsin $4.33 | Michigan $4.77 | $0.44 | $6.62 | 21¢ |
| 19 | Georgia $3.69 | Florida $4.13 | $0.44 | $6.62 | 6¢ |
| 20 | Maryland $4.04 | Pennsylvania $4.47 | $0.43 | $6.45 | 12¢ |
| 21 | Oregon $4.89 | Nevada $5.32 | $0.43 | $6.44 | 16¢ |
| 22 | Colorado $4.28 | Utah $4.70 | $0.42 | $6.36 | 8¢ |
| 23 | Ohio $4.37 | Michigan $4.77 | $0.40 | $6.01 | 15¢ |
| 24 | Missouri $3.95 | Nebraska $4.34 | $0.40 | $5.94 | 3¢ |
| 25 | Indiana $3.98 | Ohio $4.37 | $0.39 | $5.79 | 26¢ |
| 26 | Kansas $3.96 | Nebraska $4.34 | $0.38 | $5.76 | 8¢ |
| 27 | Oklahoma $3.95 | Colorado $4.28 | $0.33 | $4.98 | 10¢ |
| 28 | Kentucky $4.04 | Ohio $4.37 | $0.32 | $4.84 | 12¢ |
| 29 | Kansas $3.96 | Colorado $4.28 | $0.32 | $4.82 | 5¢ |
| 30 | Oklahoma $3.95 | New Mexico $4.27 | $0.32 | $4.80 | 1¢ |
| 31 | Maryland $4.04 | District of Columbia $4.35 | $0.32 | $4.78 | 11¢ |
| 32 | North Carolina $3.53 | Tennessee $3.84 | $0.31 | $4.58 | 14¢ |
| 33 | North Dakota $4.13 | Montana $4.43 | $0.30 | $4.54 | 11¢ |
| 34 | North Carolina $3.53 | South Carolina $3.83 | $0.30 | $4.48 | 12¢ |
| 35 | Montana $4.43 | Idaho $4.72 | $0.29 | $4.36 | 1¢ |
| 36 | Wyoming $4.43 | Idaho $4.72 | $0.28 | $4.27 | 9¢ |
| 37 | Alabama $3.85 | Florida $4.13 | $0.28 | $4.23 | 9¢ |
| 38 | New Jersey $4.19 | Pennsylvania $4.47 | $0.27 | $4.12 | 10¢ |
| 39 | New Mexico $4.27 | Arizona $4.54 | $0.27 | $4.06 | 0¢ |
| 40 | Wyoming $4.43 | Utah $4.70 | $0.27 | $4.04 | 15¢ |
| 41 | Virginia $4.09 | District of Columbia $4.35 | $0.27 | $4.01 | 7¢ |
| 42 | Tennessee $3.84 | Virginia $4.09 | $0.25 | $3.77 | 15¢ |
| 43 | West Virginia $4.23 | Pennsylvania $4.47 | $0.24 | $3.61 | 23¢ |
| 44 | Missouri $3.95 | Iowa $4.18 | $0.23 | $3.48 | 0¢ |
| 45 | Delaware $3.98 | New Jersey $4.19 | $0.21 | $3.21 | 26¢ |
| 46 | Tennessee $3.84 | Kentucky $4.04 | $0.21 | $3.12 | 1¢ |
| 47 | New Jersey $4.19 | New York $4.40 | $0.21 | $3.08 | 25¢ |
| 48 | South Dakota $4.23 | Wyoming $4.43 | $0.20 | $3.02 | 6¢ |
| 49 | Texas $3.75 | Oklahoma $3.95 | $0.20 | $2.99 | 0¢ |
| 50 | South Dakota $4.23 | Montana $4.43 | $0.20 | $2.93 | 4¢ |
| 51 | Maryland $4.04 | West Virginia $4.23 | $0.19 | $2.84 | 11¢ |
| 52 | Kentucky $4.04 | West Virginia $4.23 | $0.18 | $2.73 | 9¢ |
| 53 | Idaho $4.72 | Oregon $4.89 | $0.17 | $2.53 | 7¢ |
| 54 | Arizona $4.54 | Utah $4.70 | $0.17 | $2.48 | 20¢ |
| 55 | Iowa $4.18 | Nebraska $4.34 | $0.16 | $2.46 | 3¢ |
| 56 | Massachusetts $4.23 | New York $4.40 | $0.16 | $2.45 | 3¢ |
| 57 | Georgia $3.69 | Alabama $3.85 | $0.16 | $2.39 | 3¢ |
| 58 | North Carolina $3.53 | Georgia $3.69 | $0.16 | $2.33 | 7¢ |
| 59 | Colorado $4.28 | Wyoming $4.43 | $0.15 | $2.32 | 6¢ |
| 60 | Georgia $3.69 | Tennessee $3.84 | $0.15 | $2.25 | 7¢ |
| 61 | Rhode Island $4.17 | Connecticut $4.31 | $0.15 | $2.24 | 16¢ |
| 62 | Iowa $4.18 | Wisconsin $4.33 | $0.15 | $2.20 | 3¢ |
| 63 | Georgia $3.69 | South Carolina $3.83 | $0.14 | $2.15 | 5¢ |
| 64 | West Virginia $4.23 | Ohio $4.37 | $0.14 | $2.11 | 3¢ |
| 65 | New Hampshire $4.22 | Vermont $4.36 | $0.14 | $2.10 | 8¢ |
| 66 | Virginia $4.09 | West Virginia $4.23 | $0.14 | $2.08 | 7¢ |
| 67 | Massachusetts $4.23 | Vermont $4.36 | $0.13 | $1.97 | 4¢ |
| 68 | Texas $3.75 | Arkansas $3.87 | $0.12 | $1.80 | 5¢ |
| 69 | Minnesota $4.21 | Wisconsin $4.33 | $0.12 | $1.73 | 0¢ |
| 70 | Tennessee $3.84 | Missouri $3.95 | $0.11 | $1.66 | 3¢ |
| 71 | South Dakota $4.23 | Nebraska $4.34 | $0.11 | $1.64 | 3¢ |
| 72 | North Dakota $4.13 | South Dakota $4.23 | $0.11 | $1.62 | 7¢ |
| 73 | Ohio $4.37 | Pennsylvania $4.47 | $0.10 | $1.50 | 20¢ |
| 74 | Missouri $3.95 | Kentucky $4.04 | $0.10 | $1.45 | 4¢ |
| 75 | Nebraska $4.34 | Wyoming $4.43 | $0.09 | $1.38 | 9¢ |
| 76 | New Hampshire $4.22 | Maine $4.31 | $0.08 | $1.26 | 8¢ |
| 77 | North Dakota $4.13 | Minnesota $4.21 | $0.08 | $1.26 | 10¢ |
| 78 | Connecticut $4.31 | New York $4.40 | $0.08 | $1.23 | 1¢ |
| 79 | Massachusetts $4.23 | Connecticut $4.31 | $0.08 | $1.22 | 3¢ |
| 80 | Arkansas $3.87 | Oklahoma $3.95 | $0.08 | $1.19 | 5¢ |
| 81 | Arkansas $3.87 | Missouri $3.95 | $0.08 | $1.17 | 5¢ |
| 82 | Texas $3.75 | Louisiana $3.82 | $0.07 | $1.06 | 1¢ |
| 83 | New York $4.40 | Pennsylvania $4.47 | $0.07 | $1.04 | 35¢ |
| 84 | Rhode Island $4.17 | Massachusetts $4.23 | $0.07 | $1.02 | 14¢ |
| 85 | Indiana $3.98 | Kentucky $4.04 | $0.06 | $0.95 | 38¢ |
| 86 | Colorado $4.28 | Nebraska $4.34 | $0.06 | $0.94 | 3¢ |
| 87 | Delaware $3.98 | Maryland $4.04 | $0.06 | $0.87 | 24¢ |
| 88 | Iowa $4.18 | South Dakota $4.23 | $0.05 | $0.82 | 0¢ |
| 89 | Maryland $4.04 | Virginia $4.09 | $0.05 | $0.77 | 4¢ |
| 90 | Louisiana $3.82 | Arkansas $3.87 | $0.05 | $0.74 | 4¢ |
| 91 | Kentucky $4.04 | Virginia $4.09 | $0.04 | $0.65 | 16¢ |
| 92 | Louisiana $3.82 | Mississippi $3.86 | $0.04 | $0.59 | 4¢ |
| 93 | Tennessee $3.84 | Arkansas $3.87 | $0.03 | $0.49 | 2¢ |
| 94 | Vermont $4.36 | New York $4.40 | $0.03 | $0.49 | 7¢ |
| 95 | Iowa $4.18 | Minnesota $4.21 | $0.03 | $0.47 | 3¢ |
| 96 | Minnesota $4.21 | South Dakota $4.23 | $0.02 | $0.36 | 3¢ |
| 97 | Tennessee $3.84 | Mississippi $3.86 | $0.02 | $0.34 | 3¢ |
| 98 | Utah $4.70 | Idaho $4.72 | $0.02 | $0.23 | 6¢ |
| 99 | Alabama $3.85 | Mississippi $3.86 | $0.01 | $0.19 | 7¢ |
| 100 | Missouri $3.95 | Kansas $3.96 | $0.01 | $0.19 | 5¢ |
| 101 | New Mexico $4.27 | Colorado $4.28 | $0.01 | $0.18 | 11¢ |
| 102 | Oklahoma $3.95 | Kansas $3.96 | $0.01 | $0.16 | 5¢ |
| 103 | Mississippi $3.86 | Arkansas $3.87 | $0.01 | $0.15 | 1¢ |
| 104 | Tennessee $3.84 | Alabama $3.85 | $0.01 | $0.15 | 4¢ |
| 105 | New Hampshire $4.22 | Massachusetts $4.23 | $0.01 | $0.13 | 4¢ |
| 106 | Montana $4.43 | Wyoming $4.43 | $0.01 | $0.09 | 10¢ |
| 107 | Missouri $3.95 | Oklahoma $3.95 | $0.00 | $0.02 | 10¢ |
Prices: AAA state averages, 10/23/26. Tax gap: estimated difference using July 1, 2026 (EIA; revised August 2026), with dated suspensions counted at their reduced amount — see gas taxes. Variable taxes can change between EIA editions; county/local taxes and state taxes based on gross or net receipts are excluded. Excludes AK/HI (no land borders), Four Corners point-touches, and water-only adjacency.
Common questions
Why do prices jump at state lines?
Taxes can contribute, alongside fuel-blend requirements, distribution costs, and competition. The estimated tax gap compares EIA's dated state rates with documented suspensions applied; it is not a measurement of how much taxes caused the pump-price difference.
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 with reviewed map coordinates 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