Pa. drivers head across state lines to cash in on Ohio’s gas tax holiday

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — A gas tax holiday in Ohio has many drivers from Pennsylvania crossing the state line to fill up their gas tanks.

Nancy Baker works in Chippewa, 11 miles away from the Swift Mart in East Palestine.

The Sheetz in Chippewa had regular gasoline selling for $4.66 on Monday.

“What brings you out to Ohio today? Was it just to get gas because it’s cheaper?” Channel 11’s Andrew Havranek asked.

“That’s certainly, that is correct!” Baker said.

She said she actually comes out once a week to fill up, even before Ohio’s gas tax holiday went into effect Sunday.

“It’s worth it!” Baker said.

She’s not alone. Channel 11 spoke with three drivers who live in Pennsylvania at Swift Mart gas station in Ohio who want to save some money, even if it’s just a few bucks per tank of gas.

“I thought, yay! I’m glad I came out here,” said Deborah Bradley, who’s been visiting Pennsylvania from California. “So I didn’t know it was a tax holiday, but as long as I’m here, I’m going to keep coming out here to get gas.”

Ohio’s gas tax holiday lasts for 90 days and will save drivers in Ohio 38 and a half cents per gallon.

Some Pennsylvania lawmakers, including Connellsville Republican Ryan Warner, have introduced gas tax holiday bills in Harrisburg. The bills never made it to the floor for a vote.

Right now, unfortunately, that bill is stuck in committee," Warner said. “And look, I would support a holiday; I would support anything to bring down the gas tax burden in Pennsylvania.”

Instead of a gas tax holiday, Warner introduced a bill Monday that would bring the gas tax down from 57.6 cents per gallon on gas, and the diesel tax down from 74.1 cents per gallon, to match what neighboring states already have.

“This bill would just reduce that gas tax burden to what the average is of our bordering states, so it would be a very simple equation just whatever our bordering states are, that’s what our gas tax is going to be,” Warner said.

Republicans say House Democrats are blocking the gas tax holiday bills. Beth Rementer, a spokesperson for House Majority Leader Matt Bradford’s office, responded, saying, “House Democrats passed a minimum wage increase and a paid family and medical leave plan, both of which will provide long-term real relief to people dealing with rising costs. The vast majority of House Republicans opposed these bills. People are struggling to pay for groceries, gas, utilities and health care because of President Trump, but temporary proposals aren’t going to clean up Trump’s mess. We urge Senate Republicans to quickly pass both minimum wage and paid family and medical leave measures to make life more affordable for Pennsylvanians.”

Warner’s bill is expected to be assigned to a committee Tuesday.

Ohio’s gas tax holiday ends January 2, 2027.

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