Maine consistently ranks among the most expensive states for gasoline in the northeastern United States. As the northernmost state on the East Coast, Maine faces significant fuel transportation costs. Nearly all refined fuel arrives via pipeline and tanker shipments through PADD 1 (the East Coast petroleum district), often originating from Gulf Coast refineries thousands of miles away. The state has no refineries of its own, making it entirely dependent on imported fuel that must travel long distances before reaching local stations.

Seasonal price swings in Maine are among the most pronounced in the country. During winter months, gasoline competes directly with heating oil for refinery output and distribution capacity. With roughly 60 percent of Maine households relying on heating oil, demand for distillate fuels surges each winter, which can put upward pressure on gasoline prices as well. Summer tourism along the coast and in Acadia National Park also drives seasonal demand increases. Maine's state gas tax sits near the middle of the pack nationally, but the combination of transport costs and seasonal demand keeps pump prices well above the national average for most of the year.

Rural communities in northern and inland Maine often pay even more than the statewide average due to the added cost of trucking fuel to remote locations. The population density in these areas is low, meaning individual stations serve fewer customers and have less competitive pressure to lower prices. Interstate 95 corridor towns tend to see slightly lower prices thanks to higher volume and more station competition.