Where to Buy Cheap Gas in San Francisco, California

The idea of buying cheap gas at San Francisco and anywhere within the State of California is a fun house joke. "Cheap Gas" in Golden State parlance refers to gasoline that is actually less expensive than the prevailing neighborhood rates. California gas is always the most outrageously priced in the Lower 48.

As of July 6, 2009, The U.S. Department of Energy is flashing a National reading of $2.612. Of course, the Left Coast dominates the equation, with statewide California posting a $2.952 statistic. Regional and interstate price disparities are highlighted by one's general proximity to critical Gulf Coast energy infrastructure and gasoline tax policy at the municipal level.

Although the Golden State houses abundant fossil fuel resources within its very own right, West Coast refining capacity always struggles to match demand at the country's most populous state.

The 2,000-mile distance to deliver Gulf Coast petroleum products is further exacerbated by the fact that Sacramento has legislated a particular grade of environmentally friendly gasoline that requires separate refining techniques and is more expensive to produce than the Washington mandate.

California is privy to maddening shortages and profligate volatility. Additionally, the State House slaps drivers with some of the most egregious gasoline tax bills. Californians must pony up 35.3 cents per gallon and 7.25% worth of sales taxes at the point of sale. The American Petroleum Institute calculates that Golden State drivers are the most heavily taxed group in the Nation, with a 64.5-cent / gallon total bill.

The State of California is the perfect storm for expensive gas.

Locally, the gas price matrix is a function of access to heavily trafficked roads and wealthy commercial or civilian consumers.

Interestingly, San Francisco's $2.974 price tag for one gallon of regular grade fuel trumps L.A.'s $2.959 average. Remember, San Francisco proper has historically shunned the freeway, and California veterans must note that SoCal gas prices always spike at freeway entrances.

I must speculate that San Francisco's crushing population density and limited, "one-way out" peninsula geography is a boon to both property values and the costs of doing business. Although Frisco is relegated to a network of stub freeways, express traffic is still funneled onto street level U.S. 101 and CA 1 into and out of the peninsula.

San Francisco drivers must learn to play the angles by recognizing that U.S. 101 and CA 1 are the city's response to the traditional freeways of Southern California. Logically, these particular surface routes represent death traps for expensive gas.

The purpose of this guide is to articulate viable solutions for San Francisco's cheap gas proposal. We will analyze the matrix from both ends of the spectrum and begin by identifying the most expensive locations to buy gas. Ultimately, our mission is complete as we expose Bay Area pockets of cheap gas for the consumer.

Where NOT to Buy Gas in San Francisco

Avoid buying gas at U.S. 101 and CA 1 in San Francisco at all costs.

Specifically, these vital arteries mark the primary routes between the Bay Bridge, downtown, and the Golden Gate Bridge. 101 / Van Ness - Lombard and CA 1 / 19^th Avenue also track the important right of ways of San Francisco's most exclusive neighborhoods. This equation will always result in sky-high gas prices.

The Lombard Valero at 2601 Lombard Street is hawking one gallon of $3.29 87-octane within the shadows of the Golden Gate. The beat goes on at Van Ness past downtown, where prices hug the psychologically vital $3 mark.

Chevron posts up $3.05 at 1601 Mission Street, which sits adjacent to San Francisco's Central Skyway / James Lick and I-80 / Bay Bridge feeders.

Drivers into Golden Gate Park via CA 1 / 19^th Avenue are also desperate for relief. Prices currently range from $2.95 - $3.00 at the clusters of filling stations that occupy this prime real estate between The 280 and Golden Gate Bridge.

In fact, per 19^th, drivers must navigate towards the San Mateo County border and 280 Freeway entrance for $2.79 at BPG's 1101 Junipero Serra Boulevard location.

Meanwhile, Van Ness / Lombard commuters may only hope for $2.97 along this route. Gas prices do fall to $2.85 - $2.90 at the Bayview exits of The 101 towards South San Francisco.

$3 gas is the predominant point of reference south into the Peninsula and Silicon Valley. Prices spike to $3.15 at Palo Alto and will not legitimately break the $3 floor until Los Altos, Santa Clara, and San Jose.

Of course, hitting The Bayshore for 35 miles to save $4.50 on gas would be pure madness.

We also recognize that gas prices plunge precipitously at East Bay and Marin County. ARCO is hawking cheap gas for $2.79 in Berkeley, Oakland, and Strawberry. Per San Francisco bridges, these ARCOs are positioned off the Tiburon / 101 junction in Marin County and East Bay's San Pablo and Ashby exits off I-80 (580).

Still, I would not recommend that San Francisco drivers brave Bay area congestion specifically to save gas money outside of the peninsula. Bay and Golden Gate Bridges charge $4 and $5 respectively at one end of each crossing.

All "savings" earned from buying East Bay or Marin County gas would be destroyed at the tollbooth.

Sigh.

Where to Buy Cheap Gas in San Francisco

First, East Bay and Marin County commuters must never buy gas in San Francisco. Clusters of cheap gas options are available for smart consumers at the aforementioned Tiburon Boulevard, Ashby, and San Pablo exits. These corridors all provide convenient access to San Francisco bridges and undercut the prevailing peninsula competition.

Per San Francisco, residents must drift towards the geographically centered Twin Peaks - Castro, Mission Street, or Bayview and Candlestick for cheap, i.e., less expensive gasoline fare. The West Coast playbook also degenerates towards simply looking up and patronizing ARCO service stations.

ARCO typically undersells the competition by 10 to 20 cents in California.

ARCO is posted up off The 280 Freeway into San Francisco, with $2.75 offerings at 5898 Mission Street and 1200 Geneva Avenue.

The Castro section of Frisco does offer another limited pocket of cheap gas. Off brand wholesalers RC and ARCO compete at opposite ends of Castro - Divisadero Street with $2.73 and $2.79 offerings.

Yes, we do recognize that Bay Area travelers may balk at descending deep into Outer Mission or the "anything goes" San Francisco - Castro epicenter.

ARCO flashes $2.85 gasoline at 2190 Carroll Avenue (Thornton / Bay Shore Boulevard) off the 101 Freeway in Bayview. Of course, the Bayview and Hunters Point neighborhoods are acknowledged as Frisco's most violent areas.

Indeed, the idea of buying cheap gas in San Francisco is always a dangerous proposition.

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

San Francisco Tourism, http://www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/

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

San Francisco Gas Prices, http://www.sanfrangasprices.com/