Where to Buy Cheap Gas in Queens, New York

New York, New York, the City of Dreams. New York City, the cultural and financial capital of the United States, is synonymous with outrageous costs of living. Indeed, New Yorkers and visitors to the Big Apple must pay up for said access to culture and glamour. Of course, the New York State of Mind is typically associated with Manhattan Island. In terms of Queens, New York, we must speak within broader generalities. This sweeping locale represents New York City's largest borough per square mileage, houses 2,293,007 persons per 2008 U.S. Census estimates, and remains the cultural and geographic conduit separating Midtown Manhattan from Eastern Long Island. Queens County is arguably the most diverse municipality on the planet.

Queens, New York is described as the working class outer borough of New York City. The area melts into Eastern Long Island and is dominated by a suburban feel and tidy, single-family homes. The cost of living is relatively "cheap" in relation to New York City standards, as the middle class historically embraces Queens County as an escape from the egregious price gouging at the Lower Manhattan epicenter.

The aforementioned equation is further crystallized at the pump. Queens borough's gas prices rival large swaths of Staten Island for the distinction of New York's cheapest.

New York City gas prices at-large are influenced by the extraordinary New York - New Jersey port capacity, 1,500-mile distance to the U.S. Gulf of Mexico energy focal point, and crushing tax burdens. Locally, NYC petroleum costs are set by access to Manhattan, expressway infrastructure, and the wealth effect of neighboring residents and commercial zones.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, New York City gas prices averaged $2.700 as of June 29, 2009. This reading compares quite favorably to the National average of $2.642, considering the fact that the population center of 8,000,000 is more than two times as large as second-place Los Angeles.

The data is even more remarkable, considering the fact that New Yorkers are responsible for towering 31.9-cent per gallon State taxes on top of the 18.4-cent Federal excise tax. 8.375% New York City sales tax includes two 4% duties to be divided between Albany and the City, and .375% of coin per the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District.

New York City may only be rivaled by the State of California in regards to the government's share of gasoline sales.

Queens borough drivers must process the above information in order to play the angles for cheap gas. This guide will proceed to logically entertain the proposal. We will begin by identifying the most expensive zones and filling stations for buying fuel at this section of New York City, prior to presenting viable options for purchasing affordable gasoline in Queens.

Where NOT to Buy Cheap Gas in Queens, NY

Gas prices will elevate at all East River crossings and Queens expressway bottlenecks. Specifically, Long Island City, Astoria, Whitestone, Beechhurst, and Flushing Meadows - Corona Park represent death traps for expensive gas.

These Queens neighborhoods abut the Midtown Tunnel, Queensboro, Triborough, Whitestone, and Throgs Neck bridges across the East River, whereas Flushing Meadows Park stands at the confluence of the I-495 / Long Island Expressway, I-678 / Van Wyck Expressway, Grand Central, and Jackie Robinson Parkway.

The World's Fair Unisphere identifies a major crossroads for New York City traffic, accommodating JFK and La Guardia airports, Queens, and Eastern Long Island.

Still, Long Island City remains the most expensive spot for buying Queens gas. Long Island City represents Queens' commercial district and connects to Manhattan via the 59^th Street Queensboro Bridge and I-495 / L.I.E. Midtown Tunnel.

Only the inhabitants of Manhattan Island, seeking to escape the outrageous price levels of Midtown should be buying gas at L.I.C. The Long Island BP at 2117 Jackson Avenue is hawking regular gas for $2.95, which is only topped by Manhattan levels. The Queens Boulevard Citgo at 36^th Street downshifts to $2.87.

The $2.90 - $2.95 price level is also par for the course at Astoria and Whitestone, which also welcome motorists into Queens via towering suspension bridges. All major East River crossings are flash points for heavy traffic that precipitates the spike in demand and undergirds hefty price action.

Speaking of heavy traffic, the I-495 / Long Island Expressway is actually an eight-lane parking lot from Midtown to Suffolk County. The L.I.E. bottleneck degenerates towards a full-blown disaster at the Grand Central and Van Wyck. Queens Boulevard, Union Turnpike, and Main Street also funnel commuters into Flushing, Forest Hills and Kew Gardens, which abut the complex.

Gas prices shift from $2.85 - $2.90 at this area.

The Mobil at 105-45 Horace Harding Expressway (L.I.E. service road) charges $2.85, while the Getty across the Parkway at 141-50 Union Turnpike rings the register at $2.89 for regular unleaded.

Queens motorists must travel deeper into the borough or Long Island south of NY 25 / Jericho Turnpike for cheap gas.

Where to Buy Cheap Gas in Queens, NY

Queens gas prices fall beneath $2.80 inter borough, away from the Rockaways, major expressways, parkways, and bridges. Remember, Queens County is especially large and variant, so we must articulate broader algorithms per this cheap gas stance.

Queens motorists must exit and drive at least 1-2 miles from all expressway junctions to secure affordable gasoline. The Flushing, NY Exxon at 17802 Union Turnpike is underselling the competition for $2.79.

For the sake of comparison, the $2.79 mark is considered cheap per Queens standards. The South Side Jamaica, Queens Hess at 18707 Hillside Avenue lay just across the Grand Central from said Exxon location and offers regular unleaded for $2.96 at the time of this writing.

Gas prices may shift very quickly, with little rhyme or reason, deep into the county. The hit-or-miss price action parallels the dizzying alterations of neighborhood demographics from block to block at Queens.

However, cheap gas is always available at the Nassau County border south of NY 25. Interestingly, the area has created a virtual "dead zone" for gas station operators at St. Albans, Cambria Heights, Rosedale, and Laurelton, NY in Queens. For example, the Queens - Cambria Heights Mobil moves gas for $2.83, while the Elmont Mobil posts $2.79 across the Belt at the Hempstead Turnpike.

Prices will continue to fall towards $2.70 at NY 24 / Hempstead Avenue and Franklin Avenue into Franklin Square.

Smart consumers will venture deeper into Long Island or inter borough Queens locations that remain off the beaten path for cheap gas.

Happy Trails.

Where to Buy Cheap Gas in Queens, NY, Sources:

The Office of Queens Borough President, http://www.queensbp.org/

Queens, New York Gas Prices, http://www.newyorkgasprices.com/Queens/index.aspx

Internet Auto Guide, Queens Gas Prices, http://www.internetautoguide.com/gas-prices/32-int/new-york/queens/index.html

Kofi Bofah, Where to Buy Cheap Gas in Manhattan, http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1848765/where_to_buy_cheap_gas_in_manhattan.html?cat=27