What's your current fuel prices?

Hi Bill:

I am on my way back to Southern California for my grand daughters birthday and here is the strategy in real time.

I left my home with about 1/3 of a tank and 208 miles DTE while on my way towards California via the 40 to the 17 to the 10, to the 8 and onto the 5 to home... Fuel prices in Nashville are still in the $2.60 to $2.90 per so I did not want to add any more fuel there.

The first destination was a Costco some 212 miles away just east of Memphis. When I arrived, I was 5-miles into DTE=0.

07-28-2025 - Cordova, TN - Costco - $2.499​

All the way across Arkansas including Little Rock was in the $2.70 to $2.90 range so I needed just enough fuel - 8 gallons, to make it to Oklahoma City some 470 miles away where fuel was in the $2.30 to $2.60 range. I arrived at a Love's in Oklahoma City, OK with the low fuel light lit for 6-miles.

07-29-2025 - Oklahoma City, OK - Love's - $2.379 w/ the $0.10 off/gal Love's App discount deal.​

The next stop, a Love's in Amarillo, TX some 283 miles away adn fuel appeared this morning that it would be about the same as Oklahoma City so I added 8 gallons and we were on our way.

07-29-2025 - Amarillo, TX - Love's - $2.379 w/ the $0.10 off/gal Love's App discount deal.​

As we continue our way west, prices are going to climb so from here, every stop is a full top off.

07-29-2025 - Albuquerque, NM - Costco - $2.579​

Marian wants to visit her sister in Glendale near Phoenix so I will look at fuel costs just prior to crossing into AZ in Gallup, NM (Phillips 76 at $2.729) and again in Holbrook - Pilot Flying J at $2.77 with a $0.10 per gal discount, the Flagstaff region is to high, and just east of Phoenix at a Costco at $2.869 with just enough fuel to get to Yuma where there is a Loves at $2.739 with the $0.10/gal discount. After that, oh boy, it is California and prices jump with a Costco in Indio just off the 8 at $3.729, and home where fuel is in the $4.00 range.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

The Gallup Phillips 76 was listed at 2.7x but when I drove past, it was $2.859 so I skipped. The Pilot in Holbrook was higher than listed too. Onto Phoenix and Yuma we go.

This morning I had to run out to the Sky Harbor AP in Phoenix - 70 mile RT, and may now not have enough fuel to make it all the way to Yuma (Love's at $2.739) when we depart tomorrow morning. I might have to add a gallon at a Costco in Phoenix at $2.859 before completing our trek to Yuma and than San Diego.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

A few gallons at Costco in Phoenix, and a top off in Yuma AZ before crossing the AZ/CA line where it gets really expensive...

08-01-2025 - Phoenix, AZ - Costco - $2.899


08-01-2025 - Yuma, AZ - Costco - $2.739 w/ the $0.10 discount deal applied.​

And that was a full top off as I will not be seeing this price for a while.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

I still had 3/4 of a tank and had to run down to the US/Mexico border and then out to LAX this morning and afternoon. On the way back to San Diego, another top off at a Costco in Huntington Beach, CA.

08-02-2025 - Huntington Beach, CA - Costco - $3.739​

There was another Costco out here at $3.729 but was about 5-miles off the 405 so for $0.07 extra, I pointed to the fuel stop just off the 405 on the way back about 62 miles from home.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

A short run from San Diego out to Los Angeles and back so I need to top off where fuel costs a bit less.

08-06-2025 - Huntington Beach, CA - Costco - $3.779​

Wayne

 

Hi All:

A quick run to San Diego, out to LA and back. I need a few gallons so added enough in San Diego county to make it to LA county. I topped off with lower prices in LA on the way back.

08-12-2025 - Oceanside, CA - Mohsen - $3.929


08-12-2025 - Hawthorne, CA - Costco - $3.859​

Wayne

 

Hi All:

And yesterday I just needed to get to LAX and on the way back, I found this Sam's Club at just over $3.80 per in the OC.

08-13-2025 - Fountain Valley, CA - Sam's Club - $3.829​

Wayne

 

Hi Edwin:

I had to look up Montgomery, IL as I do not recall ever hearing of it. Just west of Naperville and $3.199 sounds like a pretty good price for the Chicago suburbs!

Wayne

 

Hi 08EscapeHybrid:

Good idea! When I am in Nashville, I am frustrated by the price swings at the local Sam's Club, the lowest price fuel within a 5-mile radius. I will be passing by with half a tank and see they are at $2.549 as an example. When I am down to 1/4 or less, I may drive by, and they are at $2.75 or higher just a day or two later! And I am at 1/4 of a tank!

There is a Costco about 20 miles to the east that is aways lower and I quickly look up their price to see if they are increasing too. Rarely do they follow the price swing of its competitor, and I sometimes must wait for a drive far south, north, east, or west to find lower. More times than I care to admit, I am beyond DTE 0 when I arrive.

When a drive is planned for a daytime jaunt across the county, state, or country, no problem as I can plan stops and fuel at low price stations along my route. In the middle of the night however, Costco, Sam's, and Walmart's are out leaving us fending for whatever is available at a higher cost then we would spend in normal 05:30 AM to 09:30 PM station hours.

Wayne

 

Hi Bill:

Correct.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

A quick run out to LAX this morning and I topped off on the way back. Any day you can pick up sub $4.00 fuel in California is a good day.

08-17-2025 - Lakewood, CA - Costco - $3.819​

I passed the world famous Randy's Donuts about two miles beyond LAX on the 405 and saw a Shell offering fuel at $3.759 if paying in cash. If I had more than a few dollars on me, that would have been my go to!

Wayne