text: why is the price of gas much higher in california and the northeast than in middle america? click on this link for a map of the us gas prices: http://paul.kedrosky.com/archives/2006/04/25/a_us_gas_map.html california is special because they have different government regulations for gas in that state.  they require a special reformulated gas that can only be supplied in-state.  this gas is typically 15 cents more expensive to make.  also, ca has one of the highest state taxes on gas.