Statewide average updated daily • Source: AAA
North Carolina gas prices typically run near or slightly below the national average, making it one of the more affordable states for fuel in the Southeast. The state has a moderate tax structure, good pipeline access via the Colonial Pipeline, and a competitive retail market along its major interstate corridors. North Carolina’s position along the I-95 and I-85 corridors — two of the most heavily traveled highways on the East Coast — creates strong retail competition that benefits consumers.
North Carolina’s state gas tax is approximately 38 cents per gallon, calculated using a formula that adjusts based on the wholesale price of fuel. When wholesale prices are high the effective rate increases modestly, and when they fall the rate decreases — creating a slightly variable tax burden tied to market conditions.
North Carolina is well-served by the Colonial Pipeline, which runs directly through the state carrying refined fuel from Gulf Coast refineries to the Northeast. Multiple terminal locations in the state provide good distribution coverage, and the competitive interstate station market along I-95, I-85, and I-40 keeps retail margins tight in the densely traveled corridors.
The Research Triangle area — Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill — and Charlotte tend to have competitive pricing due to high station density. The western mountain communities around Asheville and the Outer Banks coastal areas tend to run higher due to geographic challenges and seasonal tourist demand.
Did you know? North Carolina is one of the fastest growing states in the country, with Charlotte and the Research Triangle among the most rapidly expanding metro markets in the Southeast — driving consistently rising fuel demand. The Colonial Pipeline runs directly through North Carolina, making it one of the best-positioned states on the Eastern Seaboard for reliable supply. During the 2021 Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack, North Carolina gas stations experienced some of the most severe shortages on the East Coast.
Compare today’s average in North Carolina 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.