Cheap gasoline, relative to the United States is the rule in Texas, and Dallas is no exception. The Lone State rests atop some of the world’s most prolific oil fields and abuts the Gulf of Mexico, the U.S. nerve center for offshore drilling, crude oil, and refining capacity. In fact, Houston Texas is acknowledged as the leading energy capital of the Universe.
Although Houston has proceeded to wrest the title away from both Galveston and Dallas, Big D is no slouch within its own right, in terms of superior access to natural resources and the fossil fuels complex. Top Dog ExxonMobil claims Irving, Texas as headquarters and Ft. Worth marks the eastern edge of the Barnett Shale geologic formation.
The Barnett Shale is cited as the largest onshore site for natural gas in the United States, featuring 26 trillion cubic feet of gas due north and west of the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. I must speculate that Fort Worth, along with Southern California, are the only two U.S. urbanized locations where oil field equipment and derricks represent regular fixtures of the residential landscape.
Yes, thousands of Ft. Worth homeowners have leased acreage and drilling rights to Big Oil companies to set up shop right out of their very own back yards!
Dallas residents must acknowledge the fact that Chicagoans, New Yorkers, and West Coast drivers routinely pony up $3.30 for one gallon of regular grade gasoline and will brazenly scoff at any cowboy Texan crying Uncle over $2.50 gas.
Indeed, the Dallas average of $2.445 is a total boon to DFW consumers in comparison to the $2.642 June 29, 2009, U.S. Department of Energy National statistic.
Nationally, retail gasoline prices are effectively controlled by access to Gulf Coast oil and gas infrastructure, and state level taxation policy. Locally, the wealth effect of neighboring communities, along with access to critical traffic arteries generates the most variance between competing service stations.
The Austin legislature is favorable to energy consumption. According to the Tax Foundation, Texans are responsible for flat 20-cent per gallon tax, which does not bear the burden of additional sales taxes at the pump. The American Petroleum Institute calculates 38.4-cent (18.4 Federal excise tax) average gasoline tax costs in Texas, and the statistic trends towards the lower end of all municipalities in the country.
This article further proves that cheap gas is very well in abundance at Dallas. Our language will intimate that buying affordable fuel in Dallas – Ft. Worth is more so a defensive function of which areas to avoid, rather than aggressively seeking out cheap gas that is plentiful in all directions.
Sprawling North Texas growth and lack of tight zoning laws promulgate checkerboard real estate valuations and gas price action, where cheap gas is always right around the next corner. Ironically, the most expensive vicinity for buying Dallas gasoline is removed from the city limits.
Where NOT to Buy Gas in Dallas
Do not buy gas in Irving, Texas.
Irving is strategically positioned between Dallas, Fort Worth, and DFW International Airport. This bedroom community is home to the exclusive Las Colinas office, residential, and leisure enclaves, ExxonMobil, and the former home of the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium. Importantly, the locale is a critical crossroads for Dallas – Ft. Worth traffic and is bisected by IH – 635 / LBJ Freeway, SH Loop 12, SH 114, SH 161, and SH 183 / Airport Freeway.
Irving, Texas is a death trap for expensive gas per the Dallas barometer.
Gas retails at particularly high levels at Irving’s MacArthur Boulevard, which marks the focal point for Las Colinas commerce. Shell, Texaco, Chevron, are all posted up at MacArthur with expensive $2.59 gas. The LBJ and SH 114 interchanges at MacArthur are the primary hot zones for Irving, TX high priced gas.
Interestingly, the 5420 N. MacArthur Blvd. Exxon undersells the competition at $2.49. This location is one stone’s throw away from the sprawling ExxonMobil headquarters at 5959 Las Colinas Boulevard.
Although Central Dallas also features expensive gas in spots, the typically frenzied North Texas price action will save the smart consumer from any potential price gouging at the pump. For example, the downtown Chevron is peddling high-priced 87-octane fuel for $2.69 at Robert B. Cullum Boulevard and Grand Avenue.
This $2.69 reading is especially comical, considering the fact that gas prices shift from $2.40 – $2.50 at the Downtown Dallas Freeway Loop. The Exxon at 750 N. Industrial Boulevard dominates the aforementioned Chevron by 25 cents to move gas at $2.44. This convenient location marks the intersection of Industrial and Continental, with access to Downtown Loop feeder ramps.
Where to Buy Cheap Gas in Dallas
Cheap gas is par for the course in Dallas, Texas.
We have already articulated two examples at Irving and downtown, where prevailing gas prices plunge by twenty-five cents within five-square miles from each other. This strange phenomenon characterizes the oasis-like action of one particular spot of expensive gas that is surrounded by cheap competitors.
Gas does consistently break the $2.40 price floor between Highland Park, TX and the Trinity River in Big D. Dallas – Love Field further demarcates this pocket of cheap gas. Exxon is positioned at Inwood Road, off 35E, and offers $2.35 regular gas. Affordable fuel is also for sale along Mockingbird Lane and Lemmon Avenue, where the competing price points shadow the $2.35 – $2.40 target.
Beyond Dallas, gas prices plunge precipitously at the Tarrant County line and into Fort Worth. Specifically, State Highway 360 marks the barrier for cheap gas in the Dallas – Ft. Worth metropolitan area. The gas price spread often ranges by at least ten cents on both sides of this divider.
Dallas – Ft. Worth residents that regularly commute between these two central locales must always stop and buy gas at the Tarrant County side of 360.
Again, we will highlight Irving, TX as an example of expensive gas.
The Irving Shell at 4900 Airport Freeway sells regular fuel at $2.59. RaceTrac, Valero, and Texaco are all pumping cheap gas for $2.38 at Industrial Boulevard and the Airport Freeway across 360 in Euless, TX. This egregious 21-cent spread represents two miles worth of travel between Irving and Euless via SH 183.
The shocking demarcation in price largely holds true to form at 360 into Arlington and Grand Prairie. However, filling stations immediately adjacent to Cowboys Stadium, Rangers Ballpark (Ameriquest Field), and The Parks at Arlington entertainment off IH-20 and Cooper Street would represent the lone exceptions to this rule.
$2.45 is the key gas price point applicable to these major Arlington points of interest.
Of course, prices plunge to $2.37 at Division Street QuickTrips.
Finding cheap gas is never a problem in Dallas, Texas.
Where to Buy Cheap Gas in Dallas, Texas, Sources:
Dallas Official Web Site, http://www.dallascityhall.com/
Fort Worth Official Web Site, http://www.fortworth.com/
Dallas Gas Prices, http://www.dallasgasprices.com/
