Statewide average updated daily • Source: AAA
Ohio gas prices typically run near or slightly below the national average, making it a reasonably affordable fuel market by Midwestern standards. The state has a moderate tax rate, good pipeline access, and a large competitive retail fuel market driven by its position as one of the most heavily traveled crossroads states in the country. Ohio sits at the intersection of several major interstate highways connecting the East Coast to the Midwest, creating consistent competition among fuel retailers along these corridors.
Ohio’s state gas tax is 38.5 cents per gallon, above the national median but not in the top tier of high-tax states. The tax was increased in 2019 as part of a transportation funding package, adding 10.5 cents to what had been a longstanding flat rate.
Ohio is well-positioned for fuel supply, sitting within reach of both Gulf Coast pipeline supply via the Midwest pipeline network and refineries in the Great Lakes region. The state also has its own modest refining capacity and benefits from proximity to major pipeline infrastructure that distributes fuel throughout the Midwest.
The sheer volume of highway traffic through Ohio — particularly on the Ohio Turnpike and along I-70, I-71, and I-75 — creates a highly competitive interstate station market. Truck stops and travel centers competing for long-haul traffic keep prices along major corridors competitive, which pulls down the statewide average.
Did you know? Ohio is one of only a handful of states reachable within a day’s drive by over 60 percent of the U.S. population. Ohio raised its gas tax by 10.5 cents per gallon in 2019 — the first increase in 10 years — specifically to fund a backlog of highway and bridge repair projects. Greater Cleveland and Columbus are designated reformulated gasoline areas, meaning drivers in those metro areas pay slightly more for a cleaner-burning fuel blend.
Compare today’s average in Ohio 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.