Colorado Gas Prices and Why They Are What They Are
Prices as of August 13, 2026, per AAA · Updated August 15, 2026
As of August 13, 2026, regular gasoline in Colorado averages $4.32/gallon (the 10th-highest in the U.S.), per AAA — 0.31 above the national average of $4.01. Diesel averages $5.56. State fuel taxes and fees add 29.2¢/gallon on top of the 18.4¢ federal excise.
Where the $4.32 goes
| Component | $/gallon | Share | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crude oil (national cost, WTI July 2026) | 1.92 | 44% | EIA |
| Federal + Colorado fuel taxes (18.4¢ + 29.2¢) | 0.48 | 11% | Tax Foundation |
| Refining, distribution, margins & embedded program costs (residual) | 1.92 | 44% | computed |
Crude oil costs every state's refiners roughly the same, so Colorado's position comes from the tax line and the residual: refining capacity and logistics, fuel-specification requirements, and any carbon or clean-fuel program costs embedded in the pump price.
State policies that show up at the pump
| Policy | Detail |
|---|---|
| Carbon program on motor fuel | No |
| State-specific fuel blend | No |
State government control
| Control today | Unified Democratic (Governor + House + Senate, all D) |
| Years of unified Democratic control, 2001–2025 | 13 |
| Years of unified Republican control | 2 |
| Years of divided government | 10 |
Fuel-tax levels and fuel-specification programs are set by legislatures and governors; the national comparison shows average prices and taxes grouped by state control.
Compare: all states ranked · Colorado electricity rates · gasoline prices by country
Sources: AAA (pump prices, updated daily; the industry-standard 50-state series), Tax Foundation (2026 state fuel taxes), EIA (WTI crude). The residual is computed, not reported. See methodology.