Pennsylvania Gas Prices and Why They Are What They Are
Prices as of July 21, 2026, per AAA · Updated July 21, 2026
As of July 21, 2026, regular gasoline in Pennsylvania averages $4.20/gallon (the 8th-highest in the U.S.), per AAA — 0.20 above the national average of $4.00. Diesel averages $5.52. State fuel taxes and fees add 58.7¢/gallon on top of the 18.4¢ federal excise.
Where the $4.20 goes
| Component | $/gallon | Share | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crude oil (national cost, WTI June 2026) | 2.02 | 48% | EIA |
| Federal + Pennsylvania fuel taxes (18.4¢ + 58.7¢) | 0.77 | 18% | Tax Foundation |
| Refining, distribution, margins & embedded program costs (residual) | 1.41 | 34% | computed |
Crude oil costs every state's refiners roughly the same, so Pennsylvania'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 |
|---|---|
| Cap-and-trade on motor fuel | No (RGGI on electricity only) |
| Low Carbon Fuel Standard | No |
| State-only fuel blend | No ยท federal blend |
| Federal RFG areas | Yes (Philadelphia metro) |
| Refinery count | 1 active (Monroe Energy) |
| Pipeline access | Yes (Colonial pipeline hub) |
State government control
| Control today | Divided government (Governor and House D; Senate R) |
| Years of unified Democratic control, 2001–2025 | 0 |
| Years of unified Republican control | 6 |
| Years of divided government | 19 |
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 · Pennsylvania 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.