Lots of folks are traveling for the holiday season, and that means lots of us are gawking at gas prices. Though they are trending down a hair, long trips can definitely lead to a hefty spend on gas. If you’re lucky, though, you just might be passing through the three cheapest states to buy gas. On the contrary, you just might encounter the most expensive three. Let’s take a look at what those states are!

Heading to The South or The Midwest? You’re in luck!

According to AAA, Southern and Midwestern states are the places to be if you’re looking for affordable gas. The three cheapest states for gasoline are Texas, Mississippi, and Georgia. Let’s take a look at each of these states and their respective average gas prices at the time of writing.

Texas

According to Way, gas is cheap in Texas because of the state’s low fuel taxes and its proximity to major oil refineries. It has the most refining capacity of any state and produces a huge portion of the nation’s gasoline. Here are Texas’s average gas prices as of 11/27/2023:

In addition, Georgia and Mississippi both have cheap gas for similar reasons. Namely, the low gas taxes.

Georgia

Here are Georgia’s average gas prices as of 11/27/2023:

Regular	$2.78
Mid-Grade	$3.21
Premium	$3.60

Mississippi

Here are Mississippi’s average gas prices as of 11/27/2023:

Regular	$2.75
Mid-Grade	$3.12
Premium	$3.49

Now, let’s take a look at the less fortunate states when it comes to gas prices.

Why is gas so expensive in California?

It’s likely to nobody’s surprise that California has the most expensive gas in the U.S. right now. This is typically the case, too. California’s gas prices are through the roof because of the taxes associated with buying gas.

Taxfoundation.org states that folks buying gas in California pay over 77 cents per gallon in taxes. For reference, residents in Texas pay 20 cents per gallon in taxes. California undoubtedly has the highest tax rate in the country per gallon.

Here are California’s average gas prices as of 11/27/2023:

Regular	$4.90
Mid-Grade	$5.10
Premium	$5.27

Hawaii

Incidentally, Hawaii’s taxes-per-gallon rate is actually lower than Texas’s. However, Hawaii’s location sends gas prices through the roof due to its need to be brought into the state. So, if you’re planning a warm Hawaiian getaway for the holidays, make sure to budget pretty heavily for gas.

Here are Hawaii’s average gas prices as of 11/27/2023:

Regular	$4.71
Mid-Grade	$4.93
Premium	$5.18

Washington

Washington, like California, has incredibly high taxes at over 49 cents per gallon.

Here are Washington’s average gas prices as of 11/27/2023:

Regular	$4.39
Mid-Grade	$4.62
Premium	$4.81

Overall, whether or not you’re traveling to one of the states with the cheapest gas, you can take solace in the fact that AAA also reports that gas is at a three-year low for this time of year. So, at least it’s cheaper than last year, right?