Gas: Across the United States, gasoline prices have steadily backed down from their steep spring peaks, offering a bit of unexpected breathing room for holiday travel budgets.
A comprehensive new data study by the financial platform SmartAsset highlights that since pump prices hit their highest point of the year on May 21, retail fuel costs have dropped in all 50 states.
However, looking at a single national average does not tell the full story. Depending on which state line you cross, the percentage of your weekly paycheck required to fill up your tank varies drastically.
The Big Drop: Where Fuel Got Cheap Fast
For travelers hitting the highways in the central and southern regions of the country, the relief is undeniable. The study monitored average gas prices between May 21 and June 28, 2026, finding that 13 different states saw prices plummet by 20% or more in just a matter of weeks.
Colorado takes the crown for the biggest drop in the country. Drivers there watched prices slide by a staggering 29.2%, falling from an aggressive $4.77 down to a much friendlier $3.69 per gallon. Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee followed close behind, all logging drops of roughly 25%.
On the flip side, the relief feels a lot smaller if you live on the West Coast or in the Pacific islands. Hawaii remains the absolute most expensive place to buy fuel at an average of $5.52 per gallon, with California ($5.46) and Washington ($5.20) continuing to pinch wallets.
Understanding the Real “Gas-Price Burden”
To see how these numbers actually hit a family budget, the study looked past the raw price per gallon and calculated the “gas-price burden.” This metric measures how much it costs to fill up a standard 15-gallon tank compared to the median weekly household income in each specific state.
When you look at the data through this lens, a massive economic gap opens up between different regions of the country:
- The Hardest Hit: West Virginia carries the heaviest burden in the nation. Even though its gas price is a seemingly modest $3.80 per gallon, the state’s lower median income means that a single 15-gallon fill-up eats up 4.6% of a typical family’s weekly earnings.
- The Most Affordable: Maryland sits at the opposite end of the spectrum. Thanks to a combination of strong local median incomes and a $3.75 gas price, a full tank requires just 2.7% of a household’s weekly take-home pay.
Closer Look: The 20 States with the Sharpest Gas Price Drops
To help you map out your travel expenses, here is how the top 20 states stack up when comparing their recent price declines to the actual financial pressure they place on local income levels.
| Rank | State | May 21 Price | June 28 Price | Total Decline | Median Weekly Income | Weekly Burden (15-Gal Tank) |
| 1 | Colorado | $4.77 | $3.69 | 29.2% | $1,970 | 2.8% |
| 2 | Kentucky | $4.35 | $3.47 | 25.4% | $1,309 | 4.0% |
| 3 | Indiana | $4.05 | $3.23 | 25.3% | $1,459 | 3.3% |
| 4 | Tennessee | $4.22 | $3.38 | 24.7% | $1,460 | 3.5% |
| 5 | Ohio | $4.76 | $3.84 | 23.9% | $1,465 | 3.9% |
| 6 | Texas | $4.09 | $3.31 | 23.6% | $1,617 | 3.1% |
| 7 | Iowa | $4.27 | $3.50 | 22.1% | $1,531 | 3.4% |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $4.46 | $3.66 | 21.9% | $1,572 | 3.5% |
| 9 | Oklahoma | $4.10 | $3.38 | 21.4% | $1,342 | 3.8% |
| 10 | Illinois | $5.01 | $4.14 | 21.0% | $1,688 | 3.7% |
| 11 | Minnesota | $4.39 | $3.63 | 20.8% | $1,767 | 3.1% |
| 12 | Alabama | $4.17 | $3.47 | 20.2% | $1,352 | 3.9% |
| 13 | North Carolina | $4.24 | $3.53 | 20.1% | $1,500 | 3.5% |
| 14 | Utah | $4.70 | $3.92 | 19.7% | $1,960 | 3.0% |
| 15 | South Carolina | $4.18 | $3.50 | 19.5% | $1,467 | 3.6% |
| 16 | Maryland | $4.48 | $3.75 | 19.4% | $2,087 | 2.7% |
| 17 | Nebraska | $4.32 | $3.62 | 19.4% | $1,549 | 3.5% |
| 18 | Missouri | $4.20 | $3.52 | 19.3% | $1,452 | 3.6% |
| 19 | Florida | $4.51 | $3.79 | 18.9% | $1,577 | 3.6% |
| 20 | Arizona | $4.82 | $4.05 | 18.9% | $1,653 | 3.7% |
What This Means For Your Holiday Budget
While seeing fuel prices move in the right direction is a welcome gift for anyone planning a holiday getaway, the study proves that “cheap gas” is relative. A driver filling up an SUV in a high-burden state like Kentucky or West Virginia is still going to feel a much larger pinch than someone filling up the exact same vehicle in Maryland or Colorado.
If you want to maximize your savings this week, consider using fuel tracking apps to find regional price dips along your specific highway route, and try to fill up before crossing into states known for higher baseline taxes.