Typical commuter
12,000 mi · 25 MPG · 480 gal
$144.00
+ $88.80 federal
28¢/gal excise + 2¢/gal fees = 30¢/gal state (48.5¢/gal with federal).
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
28¢/gal
2¢/gal
30¢/gal
48.5¢/gal
South Dakota's 30¢/gal state total ranks #26 nationally and is below the 33.25¢/gal US average. Federal tax adds 18.5¢/gal everywhere.
State tax only (federal shown separately). Gallons = miles ÷ MPG.
Typical commuter
12,000 mi · 25 MPG · 480 gal
$144.00
+ $88.80 federal
Higher mileage
15,000 mi · 25 MPG · 600 gal
$180.00
+ $111.00 federal
30 MPG vehicle
12,000 mi · 30 MPG · 400 gal
$120.00
+ $74.00 federal
20 MPG vehicle
12,000 mi · 20 MPG · 600 gal
$180.00
+ $111.00 federal
Default headline: $144.00 state tax at 12,000 miles and 25 MPG (480 gallons).
Total state gasoline tax for jurisdictions that share a border with South Dakota. South Dakota is 30¢/gal (rank #26).
| State | State total | vs SD | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30¢/gal | — | This page | |
| 33.75¢/gal | +3.75¢/gal | vs SD | |
| 32.7¢/gal | +2.7¢/gal | vs SD | |
| 32.7¢/gal | +2.7¢/gal | vs SD | |
| 30¢/gal | 0¢/gal | vs SD | |
| 24¢/gal | -6¢/gal | vs SD | |
| 23.03¢/gal | -6.97¢/gal | vs SD |
*Annual state tax at 12,000 miles and 25 MPG. Federal tax excluded from the delta column.
Tax dollars already included in the pump price at 30¢/gal state + federal.
10-gallon fill-up
$3.00
state · $4.85 w/ federal
15-gallon fill-up
$4.50
state · $7.28 w/ federal
20-gallon fill-up
$6.00
state · $9.70 w/ federal
South Dakota charges a total statewide gasoline tax of 30¢/gal as of January 1, 2026, per Tax Foundation Table 22. That breaks down to 28¢/gal in excise and 2¢/gal in other per-gallon fees.
Add the federal 18.5¢/gal for a combined tax component of 48.5¢/gal. Wholesale crude, refining, and station margins still make up most of the retail price.
Rank #26 places South Dakota 3.25¢/gal below the 33.25¢/gal average across all 51 jurisdictions in this dataset.
Using 12,000 miles at 25 MPG (480 gallons), state gasoline tax alone is about $144.00. Federal tax on the same gallons is about $88.80.
A 15-gallon fill-up carries roughly $4.50 in state tax ($7.28 including federal)—before any local add-ons.
If you often cross into Montana, Minnesota, Nebraska, compare those rates before assuming South Dakota is always the cheapest fill.
Track miles and MPG for a realistic gallons estimate; tax scales directly with gallons purchased.
Diesel, aviation gasoline, and dyed fuel follow different federal and often different state schedules.
For tax-deductible business miles, use the IRS standard mileage rate or actual expenses—gas tax is already embedded in fuel cost and is not a separate personal income-tax line.
Quick steps before treating the statewide average as your exact pump tax.
Compare any two states
State gasoline tax rates with annual driving-cost estimates.