Gas prices in North Carolina today
Regular gasoline in North Carolina averages $3.59 per gallon as of Monday, July 13, 2026, 28 cents per gallon below the US national average of $3.87 [EIA · 13 Jul 2026]. On-highway diesel is $4.73, -15 cents off the national diesel mean of $4.88. Highest excise in the Southeast; even so, retail price stays close to the national average because of cheap Gulf-fed wholesale.
Source: [AAA · 13 Jul 2026] · State excise: 40.6 cents/gal · PADD 1
North Carolina's pump-price cost stack
Every gallon you buy at the pump breaks down into five named slices. For North Carolina today, the stack looks like this:
Crude / refining / distribution shares estimated from EIA Petroleum Marketing Monthly. Federal excise from FHWA Highway Statistics. State excise from the API Motor Fuel Tax Map and Tax Foundation 2026. [EIA · 13 Jul 2026] [API · 13 Jul 2026]
Border-state comparison
For drivers crossing in or out of North Carolina, here is how the neighbours print today:
Use the border comparator to compute the per-tank savings of crossing into a cheaper neighbour, and the round-trip mileage at which the detour pays for itself.
Cheapest metro in North Carolina
Today's cheapest metro in North Carolina is generally Fayetteville. Within-state spread is typically 20-40 cents per gallon depending on county tax overlays, station brand and distance from the wholesale rack. AAA publishes metro-level detail for North Carolina updated daily.
FAQ
What is the current average price of regular gas in North Carolina?
$3.59 per gallon as of Monday, July 13, 2026, 28 cents below the national average. [AAA · 13 Jul 2026]
What is North Carolina's state gas tax?
40.6 cents per gallon state excise, plus the 18.4 cents federal excise. [API · 13 Jul 2026]
Where is gas cheapest in North Carolina today?
Fayetteville is typically the cheapest metro. Regional spread is normal at 20-40 cents per gallon.