Asheville -- November 5, 2026: North Carolina has the nation’s lowest statewide average price for regular gasoline during a temporary suspension of its motor fuel tax, while Asheville-area drivers continue to pay more than the state average.
As of November 5, 2026, AAA reported regular gasoline averaging $3.51 per gallon in the Asheville metro area, compared with $3.34 statewide and $4.10 nationally. Asheville’s average was approximately 17 cents above North Carolina’s average and 59 cents below the national figure.
The tax holiday makes the difference in North Carolina’s national ranking. The state suspended its 41-cent-per-gallon motor fuel tax beginning October 10 under the Relief at the Pump Act, signed by Gov. Josh Stein on October 9. The suspension runs through November 30, 2026.
Adding the suspended tax back to AAA’s statewide average would bring the price to approximately $3.75 per gallon, assuming other pricing remained unchanged. That would place North Carolina above several states, including Georgia, where AAA reported an average of approximately $3.54 on November 5.
That comparison demonstrates the tax holiday’s effect on the ranking. It does not predict what drivers will pay when the suspension ends, because wholesale fuel costs and other market conditions can change.
The law requires the tax savings to reach consumers. Retailers were permitted, however, to sell inventory purchased with the tax already included without immediately reducing its price by the suspended tax amount.
Swain County has the lowest county average in North Carolina, at $2.99 per gallon, according to GasBuddy figures reported November 5.
GasBuddy placed North Carolina’s statewide average at $3.32 on November 5. Its Asheville metro average was $3.49 as of Tuesday, November 3, while its national average stood at $4.10 that Tuesday. GasBuddy’s Asheville metro coverage includes Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson and Madison counties.
The AAA and GasBuddy figures are separate measurements with different reporting times. Both show Asheville-area drivers paying more than the statewide average while remaining below the national average.
Asheville prices have fallen, but remain higher than last year. AAA’s November 5 figures show the metro average down approximately 6 cents from a week earlier and 61 cents from a month earlier. The monthly decline represents roughly $9.10 in savings on a 15-gallon purchase.
Despite that decrease, Asheville’s average remains approximately 69 cents per gallon above its year-earlier level of $2.82.
The available price data do not establish exactly why Asheville currently costs more than the statewide average. The U.S. Energy Information Administration identifies transportation costs, distance from fuel supplies, retail competition and station operating expenses as general reasons prices vary between communities.
For North Carolina drivers, the tax suspension provides temporary relief. With its expiration scheduled for November 30, the state’s lowest-in-the-nation ranking comes with an important qualification: it reflects a period when North Carolina is not collecting its usual 41-cent motor fuel tax.
Sources: AAA daily fuel-price reports for November 5, 2026; GasBuddy Fuel Insights figures reported November 5, including November 3 metro and national averages; North Carolina Department of Revenue; North Carolina General Assembly, Session Law 2026-62; U.S. Energy Information Administration.