Where to Buy Cheap Gas in Howard County, Maryland

Howard County is a bedroom community central to the Baltimore - Washington metropolitan area. The enclave boasts sizeable populations that identify themselves with either Baltimore or Washington upon equal terms. Nationally, Howard County is an underrated haven for the middle class. I must speculate that few parties outside of the state of Maryland would identify Howard County as the third wealthiest municipality in terms of median household income per the U.S. Census. In terms of buying cheap gas, locals and I-95 interstate traffic must learn to play the angles of these Baltimore - Washington relationships, alongside the major corporate centers and patterns of affluence in Howard County.

As of July 22, 2009, Baltimore gas prices registered a $2.375 average for regular unleaded, compared to $2.499 for Washington, D.C. Both statistics mirror the U.S. Department of Energy's $2.463 National headline. Baltimore does garner the slight edge in terms of a beacon for cheap gas per sweeping port facilities and nearby oil refinery complexes at Wilmington and Philadelphia.

Ironically, Howard County prices do not translate to this continuum of downshifting price action towards Baltimore. Actually, Howard's major population centers and ritzier enclaves are more so identified with the Charm City. Commuters must recognize that the prices of all goods surge amidst pockets of wealth.

The purpose of this guide is clear. Our goal will be to expose the most expensive locations for buying gas in Howard County, prior to our presentation of convenient establishments that do offer affordable fare.

I recognize that volatile gas prices remain in flux. However, particular relationships will stand the test of time. "Cheap" is a relative term and certain locales that are cheap today will continue to move fuel that is merely "less expensive than the next guy" well into the future.

Where NOT to Buy Cheap Gas in Howard County, Maryland

Do not buy gas at Howard Count suburbs that are affiliated wit Baltimore.

Specifically, do not purchase gas in Columbia or Ellicott City unless you are running on fumes. At the time of this writing $2.45 is the going rate for regular unleaded at Columbia and Ellicott City, which is relatively expensive for Washington, D.C. and Baltimore.

Exxon dominates Columbia, MD at Broken Land Parkway, Snowden River Parkway, Centre Park Drive, and Columbia Mall to hawk 87-octane for $2.45. The Columbia BP also moves high priced gas for $2.49 at 5485 Harper's Farm Road.

Gas prices remain elevated due north along Route 29 into Ellicott City. BP and Exxon man the 29 / 108 junction to flash $2.43, while Route 40 - Baltimore National Pike is dominated by gasoline sales tallies that approach $2.50.

The Crown at the corner of Route 40 and Normandy Woods Drive does routinely undercut the neighboring competition by 10 cents.

Ellicott City and Columbia motorists will be better served buying gas in Baltimore County, Clarksburg, east of I-95, or at Burtonsville - Laurel, prior to entering Howard County from the DC suburbs.

Where to Buy Cheap Gas in Howard County, Maryland

Gas prices plunge east of I-95.

Route 1 - Washington Boulevard is a Mecca for cheap gas between Baltimore and Washington. Per Howard County, Jessup and Savage are the most convenient cities from which to buy affordable fuel.

BP is hawking regular unleaded for $2.33 at 8810 Washington Boulevard in Savage. Meanwhile, Shell and BP both hold the $2.33 line at the MD 175 / Route 1 intersection in Jessup. Per Baltimore, only the cluster of $2.29 offerings at Route 1 - Belair Road in Northeast are able to undercut $2.33.

Washingtonians and Howard County residents that commute into the Nation's Capital must stop and fill up prior to crossing the Patuxent River into Howard. Gas is cheap in Burtonsville, Laurel, and Maryland City via 198, Route 29, and Route 1.

Maryland favorite Freestate maintains a presence in both cities. The cheap gas wholesaler peddles regular unleaded for $2.25 at 949 Washington Boulevard South (Route 1) in Laurel and serves Route 29 motorists for $2.31 at 198 in Burtonsville.

For the sake of convenience, Exxon retails 87-octane gas for $2.33 at 15151 Sweitzer Lane, which is directly west of the 95 and 198 junction in Prince George's County.

Happy Trails.

Where to Bu Cheap Gas in Howard County, Maryland, Sources:

Howard County, Maryland, http://www.co.ho.md.us/

The State of Maryland, http://www.maryland.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Baltimore Gas Prices, http://www.baltimoregasprices.com/

Kofi Bofah, Where to Buy Cheap Gas in Baltimore, Maryland, http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1925274/where_to_buy_cheap_gas_in_baltimore.html?cat=27

Kofi Bofah, Where to Buy Cheap Gas in Washington, D.C., http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1867159/where_to_buy_cheap_gas_in_washington.html?cat=27