Thanksgiving Gas Prices: Where They Tend to Be Lowest
Gulf Coast and Southern states often post the lowest Thanksgiving gas prices; plan fuel stops to save.
Thanksgiving gasoline tends to be lowest along the Gulf Coast and in nearby Southern and Plains states. Retail gasoline, the price drivers pay at the pump, averages less there than nationally in most years. The gap comes from refining and nearby supply, not holiday discounts.
State averages still hide wide differences by station, taxes, and fuel rules.
Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on November 04, 2026.
Why the Gulf Coast usually pays less
The U.S. Energy Information Administration finds gasoline is usually cheapest on the Gulf Coast because the region holds most U.S. refining capacity.
It produces more gasoline than it consumes, which supports local supply. See the EIA regional price breakdown for details. The Energy Information Administration links Thanksgiving declines to crude oil prices.
Crude made up about 53% of the retail price in September 2024. Refining margins added about 15% and normally fall when refiners switch to cheaper winter-grade gasoline.
What recent holiday prices looked like
On November 25, 2024, Gulf Coast retail gasoline averaged $2.64 per gallon, down 5% from a year earlier. The national Monday-before-Thanksgiving average was $3.04 per gallon, the lowest since 2020. AAA reported a November 20, 2025 national average of $3.10 per gallon versus $3.066 a year earlier.
The group credited low crude prices and no major storms disrupting Gulf Coast refineries for stability. Read the AAA Thanksgiving price update for context.
Which states posted the lowest averages
AAA listed the cheapest Thanksgiving 2025 markets as Oklahoma at $2.57, Mississippi at $2.61, and Louisiana at $2.65. Tennessee followed at $2.66, then Arkansas at $2.67 and Texas at $2.70. Kansas averaged $2.71, with Missouri and Alabama around $2.73.
Those figures are state averages, so individual stations can price higher or lower.
How to plan cheaper fuel stops
For practical savings, nearly 80 million Thanksgiving travelers driving 50 or more miles can cut costs by fueling in Southern, Gulf Coast, and Plains states. Examples include Oklahoma, Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas rather than coastal West or Northeast markets. The Energy Information Administration cautions that retail prices vary regionally with supply, state fuel specifications, and taxes.
State averages hide station-level differences, and West Coast drivers, especially in California, consistently pay the most. Learn more in the EIA gasoline price factors guide.