From the deserts of the Southwest to the coasts of New England, America offers some of the most scenic and diverse road trip routes in the world. But as fuel prices fluctuate and tolls rise, not all miles are created equal—especially for travelers watching their wallets.
To find out which states are the most and least expensive for road-tripping, we analyzed the 48 contiguous U.S. states and Washington, D.C. across 12 key factors. These factors include the average gas prices, the existence of toll roads, the average EV charging costs, and even the average price of a fast food meal in each state. Based on the results of our comparative analysis, each state earned a score from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating higher driving expenses.
Whether you’re planning your next cross-country adventure or just curious about where your state ranks, this list reveals where drivers are likely to feel the biggest dent in their travel budget.
The Most and Least Expensive U.S. States to Drive Through on a Road Trip
The Top 5 Most Expensive States
1. California (Score: 82.7)
California ranks as the most expensive state for road-tripping, thanks to the highest gas prices across all four fuel types, including $4.75 for regular gas and $5.14 for premium. It also has the highest gasoline tax rate in the country at $0.68 per gallon, along with the 3rd heaviest traffic volume and widespread toll lanes.
2. Washington (Score: 79.3)
Washington comes in second with high fuel prices, a gasoline tax of $0.53 per gallon, and the highest fast food meal cost at $12.67. The state’s toll lanes and bridges also add to the overall expense.
3. Nevada (Score: 78.5)
Nevada earns the third spot with a similar story to Washington; it has some of the highest gas prices in the country, along with a high average fast food meal cost of $12.10. Additionally, the Silver State is one of only eight states in the country with the highest marked speed limit at 80 miles per hour or more. One benefit that drivers can count on, though, is that there are no toll roads in Nevada.
4. Pennsylvania (Score: 76.6)
Pennsylvania stands out for its high diesel price ($4.12) and a substantial gas tax of $0.59 per gallon. Combined with an extensive toll road network and above-average traffic, the state lands solidly in the top five.
5. Illinois (Score: 76.1)
Illinois rounds out the top five with a gasoline tax of $0.67 per gallon, the second-highest rate in the country. It also has high prices across all fuel types and operates toll roads, contributing to its high score.
The Top 5 Least Expensive States
1. Kansas (Score: 22.7)
Kansas claims the most affordable spot with low prices for both premium gas and EV charging ($0.225/kWh). Its $0.25 gas tax is below the national average, and it offers good access to EV charging infrastructure, with 18.6 charging stations per 100k residents.
2. Missouri (Score: 24.7)
Missouri’s strength lies in its affordable fuel prices and no toll roads. Additionally, its gas tax is also only $0.25 per gallon.
3. Mississippi (Score: 25.3)
Mississippi combines the lowest traffic volume in the country with the most gas stations with convenience stores per capita (59.4 per 100k residents), making it an ideal budget route for travelers.
4. Oklahoma (Score: 33.7)
In Oklahoma, drivers benefit from diesel prices as low as $3.13 and a gas tax of only $0.20 per gallon. Fast food is also among the cheapest, averaging $9.83 per meal.
5. Alabama (Score: 33.9)
Alabama rounds out the most affordable five with low fuel prices and the second-highest number of gas stations with convenience stores per capita (55.6 per 100k residents), helping reduce travel headaches and costs alike.
A Full Look at the Cost to Drive Through Each State
Whether you’re interested in where your state ranks or planning a budget-friendly road trip, explore the full dataset to see how all 48 contiguous U.S. states and Washington, D.C. performed across each of the 12 cost-related factors.
Here are the most and least expensive states for each data point in the study:
Regular Gas Price
Most Expensive: California – $4.748
National Average: $3.055
Least Expensive: Mississippi – $2.648
Mid-Grade Gas Price
Most Expensive: California – $4.965
National Average: $3.474
Least Expensive: Mississippi – $3.075
Premium Gas Price
Most Expensive: California – $5.136
National Average: $3.836
Least Expensive: Kansas – $3.427
Diesel Gas Price
Most Expensive: California – $5.079
National Average: $3.612
Least Expensive: Oklahoma – $3.132
EV Charging Cost (per kWh)
Most Expensive: West Virginia – $0.47
National Average: $0.358
Least Expensive: Kansas – $0.225
EV Chargers per 100k Residents
Most (more cost-effective): Vermont – 50.6
National Average: 13.2
Least (more costly): Louisiana and Wyoming – 1.7
Gas Stations with Convenience Stores per 100k Residents
Most (more cost-effective): Mississippi – 59.4
National Average: 32.7
Least (more costly): District of Columbia and New Jersey – 11.2
Gasoline Tax Rate (per gallon)
Highest: California – $0.68
National Average: $0.33
Lowest: Mississippi – $0.18
Highest Posted Speed Limit
Highest (more costly): Texas – 85 MPH
National Average (most common): 70 MPH
Lowest (more cost-effective): District of Columbia – 55 MPH
Traffic Volume
Highest: District of Columbia – 573
National Average: 150
Lowest: Mississippi – 41
Average Fast Food Meal Cost
Most Expensive: Washington – $12.67
National Average: $10.82
Least Expensive: West Virginia – $9.00
Toll Roads
Operated in 35 states.
Not operated in 14 states.
Closing Thoughts
Whether it’s the price of gas, the presence of toll roads, or traffic volume, this data offers a detailed look at how driving costs shift from state to state to keep drivers updated for their next road trip!
At Murphy & Prachthauser, we know that road trips aren’t just about cost—they also come with risk. Long hours, unfamiliar highways, and congested interstates can all increase the chance of an accident. As personal injury attorneys committed to safe travel for everyone, we’re here to help if you or a loved one has been involved in a crash. Understanding how travel conditions vary from state to state is one way to stay informed and safe. If you need legal support, visit our car accidents page to learn how we can help.
Methodology
We evaluated the 48 contiguous U.S. states and D.C. (excluding Alaska and Hawaii) based on 12 data factors to determine the most and least expensive U.S. states to drive through on a road trip.
We assigned states with a score of 0 to 5 for each factor according to a comparative analysis, with a score of 5 representing the most expensive driving conditions for that factor. We determined each state’s overall score from the total of its individual factor scores, which were weighted according to their impact on the cost of driving through a state. Once totaled, each state earned a final score from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate states are more expensive to drive through.
The specific ranking factors include: