(The Center Square) – Gas prices inched up three pennies overnight on average in North Carolina on the fifth day of the July Fourth holiday travel period just 72 hours from America’s 250th birthday.
At 31 cents below the national average, the state norm remains in the better half for a gallon of unleaded regular. Motorists in North Carolina average paying $3.53 a gallon, compared to $3.84 nationally, and are shelling out $4.62 a gallon for diesel compared to the national rate of $4.84.
The holiday travel period, as defined by AAA, began last Saturday and continues through Sunday. North Carolina is among the states highest in fuel taxes and lowest in price per gallon.
On May 6, the state’s overnight spike for unleaded of 9 cents increased the gas price to $4.21. Diesel climbed to $5.81 on April 7, a state record.
North Carolina’s 41 cents per gallon tax rate for 2026 is only eclipsed by California (61.2), Pennsylvania (57.6), Washington (55.4), Michigan (52.4), New Jersey (49.1), Illinois (48.3) and Maryland (46). Those states’ respective averages on the first day of the month were $5.41 in California, $3.98 in Pennsylvania, $5.12 in Washington, $4.08 in Michigan, $3.84 in New Jersey, $4.09 in Illinois and $3.74 in Maryland.
Motor fuel taxes fund the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s highway and multi-modal projects, accounting for more than half of the state transportation resources. The revenues go into the Highway Fund and the Highway Trust Fund.
Energy prices have been volatile since America and Israel on Feb. 28 launched Operation Epic Fury’s military strikes into Iran. A day before it started, the statewide norm for a gallon of unleaded gasoline was about $2.75 – up modestly from a low on Jan. 5 of $2.61.
Combustion engine consumers make up more than 8 million vehicle registrations in the nation’s ninth-largest state.
North Carolina’s electric vehicle charging rate average, according to AAA, is 40.9 cents per kilowatt-hour. The national average is 41.8 cents per kWh. More than 100,000 zero-emission vehicles are registered in the state. At the start of 2025, the state norm was 33.5 cents per kWh and the national was 34.7 cents per kWh.
Only 13 states have lower average prices for a gallon of unleaded; 19 are lower for diesel; and 20 plus the District of Columbia are lower in electric. Three states – Hawaii, California and Washington – each remain above $5 per gallon for unleaded; Hawaii is above $7 for diesel, California above $6 and Washington one of another eight above $5.
Among the 14 major metro areas in North Carolina, the least expensive average for unleaded gas is in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton market at $3.40. The most expensive is the Durham-Chapel Hill metro area at $3.62.
Diesel is the most consumer-friendly ($4.40) in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton market.
Per Environmental Protection Agency rules, June 1 was the beginning – through Sept. 15 – of the time for less volatile summer blend fuel to be sold. In general, summer fuel is considered 10 cents to 15 cents higher per gallon.