Statewide average updated daily • Source: AAA
Colorado gas prices typically run slightly above the national average, with the Denver metro area generally more affordable than the mountain resort communities where prices can run dramatically higher. The state has a moderate tax structure but sits far from major refining infrastructure, relying on long-distance pipelines from the Gulf Coast and refineries in Wyoming. Colorado’s unique geography — with mountain communities accessible only by winding roads that complicate fuel delivery — creates some of the most extreme intrastate price variations of any state.
Colorado’s state gas tax is 22 cents per gallon, below the national average, but the state’s distance from major refining centers adds meaningful transportation cost to every gallon sold. Fuel arrives primarily via the Frontier Pipeline from Wyoming refineries and via connections to Gulf Coast supply, with Denver serving as the main distribution hub for the state.
Mountain resort communities present a unique pricing situation — places like Aspen, Telluride, and Vail face extremely high fuel costs due to difficult tanker truck delivery routes, extremely high real estate costs for station operators, limited competition with often just one or two stations serving an entire community, and captive tourist demand that reduces price sensitivity. Gas in some Colorado mountain towns regularly runs a dollar or more above the Denver average.
Denver and the Front Range corridor generally have competitive pricing and a dense station market that keeps margins reasonable. The eastern plains of Colorado tend to run closer to national average prices with good highway access and less geographic complexity.
Did you know? Gas prices in some Colorado mountain resort towns like Aspen regularly rank among the most expensive in the entire country — not because of taxes but because of the extreme logistical difficulty of delivering fuel over mountain passes. Colorado has been one of the fastest growing states for EV adoption, driven partly by strong state incentives and a tech-savvy Front Range population. Colorado’s altitude also affects engine efficiency — at Denver’s 5,280 feet, combustion engines run less efficiently than at sea level, meaning drivers effectively get slightly fewer miles per gallon.
Compare today’s average in Colorado with nearby states to understand regional price differences.
Learn more about what drives gas prices across the United States.
Crude oil prices are the biggest driver of what you pay at the pump. For U.S. and global crude oil production data updated from EIA figures, see Oil Production Live.