Statewide average updated daily • Source: AAA
Virginia gas prices typically run close to the national average, occasionally dipping slightly below it in the western and rural parts of the state while running modestly above average in Northern Virginia near Washington D.C. The state sits in a favorable geographic position on the Colonial Pipeline route and has a moderate tax structure, making it a middle-of-the-road fuel market by most measures.
Virginia’s state gas tax is around 28 cents per gallon, moderate by national standards. The state restructured its fuel tax in recent years, moving away from a flat rate toward a rate tied partially to the wholesale price of fuel. This means Virginia’s effective tax rate fluctuates somewhat with wholesale market conditions rather than being fully fixed.
Virginia is well-served by the Colonial Pipeline, with fuel terminals in the Richmond area distributing supply throughout the state. Northern Virginia receives additional supply from terminals serving the broader Washington D.C. metropolitan market. The I-95 corridor through Virginia is one of the busiest highway segments on the East Coast and has a dense and competitive station market that helps keep prices in check along that route.
Northern Virginia consistently runs above the state average due to higher real estate and operating costs, proximity to the D.C. market where additional local factors influence pricing, and strong sustained demand from one of the most densely populated and affluent suburbs in the country.
Did you know? The stretch of I-95 through Virginia is one of the most heavily traveled highway segments in the country, with tens of millions of vehicles passing through annually — creating one of the most competitive roadside gas station markets on the East Coast. Virginia raised its gas tax significantly in 2020 as part of the largest transportation investment in the state’s history, adding roughly 10 cents per gallon to what drivers pay.
Compare today’s average in Virginia 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.