Statewide average updated daily • Source: AAA
South Carolina consistently ranks among the cheapest states for gasoline in the country, typically running 15 to 35 cents below the national average. The state has one of the lower gas tax rates on the East Coast, excellent access to Colonial Pipeline supply, and low retail operating costs that allow stations to maintain competitive prices. South Carolina’s major interstate corridors — particularly I-95 and I-26 — are among the most heavily traveled in the Southeast, creating strong retail competition that benefits all drivers in the state.
South Carolina’s state gas tax is just 28 cents per gallon — among the lowest on the East Coast. The state has historically maintained a low-tax approach to fuel and does not apply general sales tax to gasoline purchases, keeping the total effective burden well below most East Coast states.
South Carolina sits directly on the Colonial Pipeline route, giving it excellent access to Gulf Coast refinery supply at competitive wholesale prices. Columbia and Spartanburg serve as primary distribution hubs, and the density of fuel terminals along the pipeline route means reliable supply throughout the state.
The I-95 corridor through South Carolina is one of the busiest highway segments on the East Coast — millions of vehicles travel it annually heading to and from Florida — creating intense competition among travel centers and fuel retailers that keeps prices along this corridor among the most competitive in the state. Coastal areas like Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head can run higher during peak tourist season.
Did you know? South Carolina’s section of I-95 carries more Florida-bound tourist traffic than almost any other highway segment in the Southeast, creating a fuel retail market of enormous scale that drives aggressive price competition. South Carolina’s gas tax was only modestly increased in 2017 — the first increase in 28 years — as part of a road repair funding package, yet it remains well below most East Coast states. The Grand Strand area around Myrtle Beach receives over 14 million visitors per year, creating significant seasonal fuel demand that pushes coastal prices above the state average during summer months.
Compare today’s average in South 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.