Where to Buy Cheap Gas in San Diego, California

California drivers are always tormented by excessively high gasoline prices and San Diego is no exception to the rule. As of June 29, 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy pegs California gas at $2.984, which trumps the National average of $2.642 by 34 cents. San Diego's $2.957 average per gallon squares with the Golden State at-large, and Southern California drivers will always remain desperate for relief at the pump.

Crude oil prices and taxes combine to account for 70% of gasoline costs. Nationally, the gas price spread at the state level is determined by municipal tax policy and geographic proximity to critical U.S. Gulf Coast energy infrastructure. Furthermore, real estate costs, the wealth effect of surrounding neighborhoods, and access to important highway junctions, promulgate price disparity at the local level.

San Diego, California is the perfect storm for high priced gasoline.

First, Sacramento's mandate for reformulated gasoline is more stringent than that of the Federal Government and this special blend of environmentally friendly fuel is tremendously expensive to produce. Secondly, California motorists are burdened by excessive tax policy, which calls for 7.25% sales taxes to be levied in addition to the 18-cent per gallon State gas tax rate.

The American Petroleum Institute identifies California drivers as the second most heavily taxed group at the pump after New York State, with a total gasoline tax bill of 58.3 cents per gallon.

Irrespective of this legislation, California lies 1,500 miles away from the Gulf Coast energy backbone. Although California is a top oil producer and refiner in its very own right, the Golden State remains privy to maddening supply disruptions that cannot keep pace with demand. Tight West Coast capacity exacerbates the volatility as Gulf Coast gasoline may take weeks to arrive.

Lastly, San Diego and Southern California at-large are monuments to American sprawl and the freeway. I must degrade San Diego's 2006 U.S. Census estimate of 1,256,951 persons and status as the eighth most populous city as largely illusory tidbits of trivia. The City of San Diego accounts for 324 square miles and the minimal population density of 3,879 persons per square mile is more fitting of a giant suburb, than of any metropolis.

San Diegoans have taken to the roadway to span this massive area that reigns over the Pacific Coast from Del Mar to the U.S. - Mexico border. San Diego traffic is funneled towards a vast network of freeways, which bisect Southern California via the 8, 15, 805, 94, and 163 right-of-ways. The California Dream commitment to the highway arrives at the expense of public transportation and viable surface level thoroughfares.

These 8-lane slabs of concrete have emerged as today's congested bottlenecks. The Southern California traffic pattern slows to a crawl for the majority of the day, part and parcel with what I refer to as "one-way out" city planning. The freeway entrance marks the only viable route to connect residents with jobs and leisure; and the sheer concentration of demand at the freeway effectively drives up gas prices across San Diego County.

This guide will propose viable ideas that stipulate where consumers will buy cheap gas in San Diego. We will tackle the argument from both sides of the spectrum. The article begins by highlighting the most expensive sections of San Diego to purchase gas, and closes by presenting intelligent alternatives for said service stations.

The term "intelligent alternative" suggests the fact that hightailing across the U.S. - Mexico border specifically for cheap gas would be pure madness.

Where NOT to Buy Gas in San Diego

Do not buy gasoline at the Pacific Ocean, or immediately at any Greater San Diego freeway interchange. Yes, we recognize that this mandate describes the majority of San Diego County.

Sigh.

Certainly, egregious cost of living expenditures arrive with Paradise frolicking. Specifically, the San Diego County matrix for outrageous gasoline prices begins at Carlsbad and transitions along The 5 Freeway and Torrey Pines into La Jolla and Ocean Beach.

North County Carlsbad and Encinitas, along with San Diego's Del Mar, Pacific Beach, and La Jolla are flashing $3.00 - $3.30 readings for 87-octane. Mobil is peddling expensive $3.29 regular grade gasoline at 3323 La Jolla Village Drive. This location serves as the perfect gateway between San Diego's wealthy beachfront communities, UC - San Diego, and the 5 Freeway.

Gasbuddy.com cites this La Jolla Mobil as San Diego's most expensive filling station.

All 5 Freeway junctions north of downtown represent death traps for expensive gasoline. The 5 / San Diego Freeway is a one-way out feeder and collector of traffic into and out of San Diego's most exclusive ocean front real estate, whereas San Diego topography north of the 805 split and east of the 5 is identified with hilly mesas and canyons that are not conducive to commercial development and infrastructure. The 5 truly does represent a "one-way out" roadway.

North County drivers will discover that prices fall to the $2.80 - $2.85 level at Oceanside. Valero is posted up at 1202 S. Coast Highway in Oceanside and peddles gas for $2.85.

South of the 805 split, Genesee Avenue represents a lower gas price valley for smart consumers. Genesee traces a north-south corridor between the 5 and 805 freeways and is the perfect example of San Diego price action that is dominated by the freeway interchange.

We will highlight Garnet - Balboa Avenue as the prime reference point. Regular gasoline retails for $3.09 at Garnet and the 5, falls to $2.88 at Genesee and Balboa, and elevates back upwards to $2.93 at the cluster of filling stations at the Balboa and 805 junction.

Southern California drivers must recognize that gas is always expensive directly at the freeway. The difficulty lies in the fact that these sprawling conduits of traffic are rarely separated by more than 3 miles in San Diego.

Where to Buy Cheap Gas in San Diego

Head for the Border.

Cheap gas prevails, per San Diego standards, at National City and Chula Vista towards Tijuana, Mexico. Interestingly, gas is cheaper at the 5 interchanges abutting the South Bay, than the 805 connections, which serve as conduits into the ritzier enclaves of East Chula Vista. Of course, West Coast favorite ARCO has set up shop within the area.

ARCO service stations typically undercut the prevailing competition by 10 - 20 cents.

ARCO is peddling cheap gas at 3^rd and K in Chula Vista for $2.73, and for $2.79 at 2336 Highland Avenue in National City at the moment. Prices generally range from $2.75 - $2.80 at the 5 / San Diego Freeway through the South Bay zone. These figures compare favorably to the $2.93 and $2.95 readings that characterize the 805 interchanges at National City and Chula Vista.

Further inland, El Cajon represents the locale of choice for thrifty consumers.

Several off-brand wholesalers from ARCO to Q T Market Fuel operate out of El Cajon to peddle cheap gas. The 8 Freeway entrance at Mollison features these two competitors moving regular unleaded fuel for $2.59, which is unfathomable for Southern California.

Cheap gas options in San Diego are few and far in between.

Where to Buy Cheap Gas in San Diego, California, Sources:

San Diego Travel Resource, http://www.sandiego.org/nav/Visitors

The State of California, http://www.ca.gov/

San Diego Gas Prices, http://www.sandiegogasprices.com/