It always amazes me as I travel about through the southern California area how the price for a gallon of gas varies by such a wide margin. It makes sense to try and save some cents as you plan better on where to buy your fuel.
I've noticed that prices are cheaper a few blocks from the freeway off ramps. Why not see for yourself....the next time you're on the freeway, and exit, look at the prices for gas at the stations that are directly off the freeway exit. Prices are usually about 3 to 5 cents a gallon more, but can go up to at least 10 cents a gallon higher.
It makes no sense to me why prices within an area change so drastically. My wife works in Ontario, CA (San Bernardino County). The approximate location is where the 15 and 60 freeways meet. Usually, gas is about 5 cents a gallon higher there compared to Placentia, CA (Orange County), where we live. Placentia is close to Anaheim, Disneyland, and the newly named Honda Center....it used to be called The Pond.
Go to southern Orange County, i.e., along the coast, down the I-5 freeway, towards San Juan Capistrano, and you'll find the cost of gas rockets to more than 50 cents a gallon more for stations right off the freeway.
If you listen to the radio while your on the road, you often hear local stations talking of calling in and giving them the location and station where you can buy "cheap" fuel. I'm not sure why they do that, because if you are Internet active, there are several websites where you can visit to find the cheapest (or highest if you choose) fuel in the area.
Here is one of the website links for finding the cost of fuel in this area.
http://www.orangecountygasprices.com/
If you live out of the Orange County, CA area, fear not. The below site allows you to put in a city, state, or zip, so you can find out what the current price for fuel is all over the country. People who don't live in CA are more often than not afforded the luxury of cheaper gas. The exceptions would likely be Alaska and Hawaii.
For areas outside Orange County, check out the following links:
http://www.fuelmeup.com/
or
http://www.gasbuddy.com/
Gas has been coming down for the last four weeks, according to the TV news this AM. The reason they state is that there is an over abundance of "winter fuel". Apparently this special blend will not be able to be sold after the next month or so, so they need to get rid of it....remember the law of supply and demand? If there's too much of a supply, simply reduce the price and increase the demand....as fuel becomes cheaper, a segment of the population who didn't buy as much can now buy more. They said the price for gas in the LA area was $2.51 a gallon, and in the OC, $2.52 per gallon. If you check the website, I find gas as cheap as $2.19 a gallon in my area.....it pays to look. At the low end, 20 gallons of gas would cost about $44.00. On the high end of $2.79 a gallon, 20 gallons of gas would cost $56.00, or $12.00 more!
Southern Californians are a unique breed. Most of us still seem to have a love affair with our automobile, and choose to be independent. I'm amazed at the number of cars with one person...the driver! Not too long ago a driver was pulled over by the CHP for driving in the carpool lane with a manikin as the passenger in the front seat next to the driver...how inventive, but costly!
Let's see the importance of planning where you buy gas on a trip to Las Vegas from the OC. If you filled up here in the Placentia area, the cost is about $2.35 a gallon. About half way to Vegas, a Barstow stop would cost $2.39 a gallon. Further up the hill, headed to "sin city", is Baker....the place with the tallest thermometer and higher gas prices. They are anywhere from 25 to 50 cents a gallon higher than Barstow....so fill up before you get back on the road. In N. Las Vegas you can presently get a gallon of gas for $2.35 at the ARCO. Head west to Pahrump, and a gallon will cost you 10 to 15 cents more. It pays to watch your gas gauge and fill up before the price peaks!
If you were to choose going to the "Vegas Alternative", Laughlin, NV, you head up the I-15 Fwy to Barstow (again, fill up here), and head east on I-40 towards Needles, CA. Be sure and NOT stop in Ludlow, CA for gas. You'll presently pay $2.85 a gallon for unleaded! Not any better is Needles, CA. There you will get hit for about $3.00 a gallon for unleaded. Just across the border, in Ft. Mojave, AZ, a trip of only a mile or so, you'd be able to get unleaded gas for $2.20 a gallon....it pays to know where to stop for fuel!
Remember when you purchase gas that some stations charge more if you use a credit or debit card. Some stations also charge a transaction fee for using a card, like ARCO. Also consider that some debit cards charge a transaction fee as well, so you get double charged. You may want to check and see if your bank or credit union will allow you to use your debit card as a credit card to eliminate that charge. I recently received a notice from my credit union to do that to avoid the debit charge.
No comments:
Post a Comment