Statewide average updated daily • Source: AAA
Massachusetts gas prices consistently run above the national average, typically 20 to 45 cents higher, driven by above-average taxes, reformulated fuel requirements, high retail operating costs, and distance from major refining centers. The Boston metro area tends to run at the higher end of the state range while Western Massachusetts and the Pioneer Valley offer modestly more affordable options. Massachusetts drivers also face some of the most congested roads in the country, meaning fuel efficiency suffers from stop-and-go traffic that effectively increases the cost per mile driven.
Massachusetts’ state gas tax is 24 cents per gallon — a rate that has been unchanged since 1991, making it one of the longest frozen fuel tax rates in the country. Despite the low nominal rate, total fuel costs in Massachusetts run high because of the statewide reformulated fuel requirement, high dealer margins driven by expensive real estate and labor, and marine terminal supply infrastructure that adds logistical cost compared to pipeline-served states.
Massachusetts receives most of its fuel via marine shipments to terminals in Boston Harbor and other coastal points, as well as pipeline connections from the broader Northeast distribution network. This marine-dependent supply chain is more expensive than pipeline delivery and makes Massachusetts prices more sensitive to marine shipping costs and terminal capacity constraints.
The Boston metro area has high station operating costs that are reflected in wider retail margins. Route 128 and the suburban corridors around Boston tend to have more competitive pricing than the city itself, where real estate constraints limit station numbers and competition.
Did you know? Massachusetts has not raised its state gas tax since 1991 — over 30 years without an increase — yet still manages to have among the higher total fuel costs in the country due to other cost factors stacked on top. Boston has one of the oldest and most used public transit systems in the United States — the MBTA — and a significant portion of Boston residents commute without a car, reducing the per-household impact of high gas prices. Massachusetts is one of the leading states for electric vehicle adoption on the East Coast, driven by high gas prices and a tech-sector workforce that tends toward early EV adoption.
Compare today’s average in Massachusetts with nearby states to understand regional price differences.
Learn more about what drives gas prices across the United States.
Crude oil prices are the biggest driver of what you pay at the pump. For U.S. and global crude oil production data updated from EIA figures, see Oil Production Live.