Like any enduring addiction, we can't stop putting gas in our tanks, no matter how bad it is for our future or how disgusted it makes us feel with ourselves.
And with gas prices going ever higher due to the insecurities of one very short, very nasty Russian, among other factors, we thought it would be a good time to point you towards the cheapest supply. So you can get where you're going with a little less pain at the pump. (We've always wanted to say "pain at the pump.")
So we wrote the people at Gas Buddy to get our hands on some stats and they sent us their latest research on gas prices in L.A. and O.C. So without any more words about gas and buddies and a rapidly warming climate set to doom us all in a few decades, here is where you can find the cheapest regular gas in Los Angeles and Orange County, with prices from the last 24 hours. Drumroll, please...
The Cheapest Gas in Los Angeles County: Can be found at Berri Brothers in San Dimas at $4.13 a gallon, followed by Royal Express in Pomona at $4.15 and West Covina's V-Red at $4.17, all prices for cash purchases only. In general, lower prices seem to abound in the San Gabriel Valley. It's not until we get about 15 places down the list that we start to get closer to the city center, with a place for southeast L.A.'s Norwalk where Costco will fill you up for $4.25 a gallon, however you wish to pay. The full list is here.
The Priciest Gas in Los Angeles County: Maybe not much of a surprise, but if you live in L.A.'s west side, the northern reaches of which have some of the highest-priced real estate in the country, you may be paying through your dutifully Botoxed nose. While the top spot is often taken by the stations at 26th and Wilshire, and 26th and Sunset, today it shows the Mobil station at Olympic and Westwood to have the priciest gas of the moment at $5.79 a gallon, along with the curious commentary "Hurry, before Putin buys it all up." We're not 100% sure what that means, but we're cool with digs on Putin, so don't stop being you, Gas Buddy.
Matching that high price is a Chevron station in the enviously beautiful neighborhood of San Marino, followed by a Mobil station in Silver Lake at $5.57. In general, Chevron and Mobil seem to be among the most expensive places to get gas in general. Though Shell has been called the "most evil company on the planet." So pick your poison and pay accordingly.
But if you think those prices are high, it should be noted that they may already be a dream of the past, as CBS reports the appearance of $6.15/gallon gas near Beverly Center today. Somehow Gas Buddy didn't mention that one.
The Cheapest Gas in Orange County: Typical Orange County. If you want cheap gas, you have to join a private club. We kid, we kid. But for real, folks, your best in O.C. is going to be the Sam's Club in Fullerton at $4.19, followed by the Costcos in Fullerton and Huntington Beach, both at $4.24 and trailing close behind, Costco in Garden Grove and Sam's Club in Fountain Valley, where gas will run you $4.27. These prices include cash and credit.
The Priciest Gas in Orange County: Here's something L.A. can be jealous of its southern neighbors over. It's $5.09 across the board in O.C. for the priciest gas in the county, available at the 15 most expensive stations in the region, including Irvine, Santa Ana, Costa Mesa, Mission Viejo, Yorba Linda, Laguna Hills, and Tustin. Chevron dominates the list, holding 11 of these 15 most expensive spots.
Now, since driving to San Dimas for gas might be counterproductive for you and your desire to save money on gas, you can search Gas Buddy by zip code, too, which should give you a map of stations in your area with prices from the last 24 hours. Naturally, prices vary and shift, so it pays to do your research before listening to a taco and news website and then coming back to us in the comments about how much we disappointed you while trying to place an order for a charola grande with our admin.
