How many hydrogen fuel stations are there in the US? As of October 28, 2026, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) lists 44 hydrogen stations, but only 38 of them are retail stations that sell to ordinary drivers. Of those 38, 37 are in California and one is in Hawaii, according to AFDC station counts by state.
The network is shrinking rather than growing, and on any given day some of the open stations are out of fuel. Below are the latest numbers, why there are so few stations, what hydrogen costs at the pump and how to find a working station near you.
Basic Information About Hydrogen Fuel Stations in the US
Almost every hydrogen station in the country is in California. AFDC counted 63 public and private hydrogen stations nationwide in 2020; the number peaked at 88 in 2023 and has fallen since:
| Date | Hydrogen stations | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 63 public and private stations nationwide | AFDC station counts by year |
| 2023 | 88 public and private stations nationwide | AFDC station counts by year |
| 2024 | 84 public and private stations; 54 open retail stations | AFDC |
| 2025 | 78 public and private stations nationwide | AFDC station counts by year |
| August 29, 2025 | 61 stations in California, 50 open for retail, 11 temporarily out of service | CARB 2025 annual evaluation |
| October 28, 2026 | 44 stations nationwide, 38 retail and 6 non-retail; 42 of them in California | AFDC station counts by state |
The public-and-private totals include private and fleet stations, so they are higher than the number of pumps an ordinary driver can use.
California once aimed much higher. A 2018 executive order directed state agencies to spur the construction of 200 hydrogen fueling stations by 2025. The state did not get close: the California Air Resources Board now expects the network to reach at most 112 stations by 2031, and two station developers, Air Products and Iwatani, have returned grants for stations they had planned.
Why the number of stations is falling
- Closures. Shell permanently closed its retail hydrogen stations in California in February 2024, which significantly reduced fueling capacity in the Sacramento and San Francisco areas, according to CARB. Older stations at UC Irvine and Santa Monica were also decommissioned because of high repair and maintenance costs.
- Fewer cars. California had about 14,100 registered fuel cell cars in April 2025, the first decline in total registrations on record, and automakers have significantly scaled back their sales projections (CARB). Across the US, 18,772 fuel cell cars had been sold or leased in total as of September 23, 2025, according to the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Partnership.
- Fragile supply. After a hydrogen truck trailer exploded in Colton, California, on February 24, 2026, killing one person and seriously injuring another (ABC7), high-pressure hydrogen delivery trailers were grounded. Network uptime fell to just above 40% in March, and in early April only 31 stations were operating, with 21 offline because of the supply disruption, according to the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Partnership.
Hydrogen is also expensive. The average retail price in California was $35.47 per kilogram in the second quarter of 2025, up from $14.95 in the second quarter of 2022, and filling an empty tank can cost up to $180, according to the California Energy Commission. We break down the numbers in our guide to how much hydrogen fuel costs.
How to Find a Hydrogen Filling Station
Because there are so few stations and their status changes daily, always check a live map before you drive. The DOE station locator below shows every hydrogen station in its database; type in your address to see the nearest ones:
How to Use the Hydrogen Fueling Station Map
- Find the nearest station. Search by location to see the hydrogen stations closest to you.
- Plan a route. The AFDC locator can also map stations along a route, which is useful for longer trips where stations are far apart.
- Filter the results. By default, the locator shows available, publicly accessible stations; use the filters to widen the search or switch to other alternative fuels such as electric charging.
The DOE locator is a directory of stations. For day-to-day status in California, check the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Partnership station map, where station notes flag outages. On October 27–28, 2026, stations in Lake Forest and Placentia were listed as out of fuel, and several others were offline for repairs or maintenance.
Do not plan a trip around a single station. If your nearest station goes offline or runs out of fuel, the next working one may be far away.
What It Means for Hydrogen Car Owners
If you live outside California, there is no practical way to refuel a hydrogen car today: AFDC lists only one retail station elsewhere, in Hawaii. Inside California, a fuel cell car works best if you live and drive near several stations and can live with occasional outages.
State support continues on a smaller scale. On August 18, 2026, the California Energy Commission approved $15 million for hydrogen refueling in its $95.2 million Clean Transportation Program Investment Plan Update for 2026–2027. If you are weighing a fuel cell car against a battery-electric one, read how hydrogen cars work and the full list of hydrogen fuel cell pros and cons first.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hydrogen stations are in California?
As of October 28, 2026, the DOE’s Alternative Fuels Data Center listed 42 hydrogen stations in California, 37 of them retail stations open to drivers and 5 non-retail. In August 2025, the California Air Resources Board counted 61 stations, of which 50 were open for retail.
Are there hydrogen fuel stations outside California?
Only one retail station: the Alternative Fuels Data Center lists one in Hawaii and none in any other state. Other hydrogen stations, such as those serving fleets, are not open to private drivers.
Why are there so few hydrogen fuel stations?
Few fuel cell cars are on the road to buy the fuel, older stations are costly to repair and maintain, and supply is fragile: grounded delivery trailers took 21 California stations offline in spring 2026. Shell closed its retail stations in 2024, and stations at UC Irvine and Santa Monica were decommissioned.
How much does it cost to fill up at a hydrogen station?
The average price in California was $35.47 per kilogram in the second quarter of 2025, according to the California Energy Commission. At about $36 per kilogram, filling an empty tank can cost up to $180.
Will there be more hydrogen stations in the future?
California still funds new stations, but on a smaller scale than planned: the state now expects at most 112 stations by 2031, far below its earlier goal of 200 by 2025. Check current plans before buying a fuel cell car.
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