This article is a joke. There is no cheap gas in Los Angeles. Rather, we may only identify limited pockets of L.A. County where gasoline is actually less expensive than the surrounding areas. Our use of the term “cheap gas” will define gas stations and fuel costs that undersell the immediate competition. Indeed, the L.A. Basin is the perfect storm for the most expensive gasoline in the country.
As of June 22, 2009, The U.S. Department of Energy lists Los Angeles regular grade gasoline at $3.024 – the highest in the Nation. The towering amount grossly destroys the National $2.691 mark by 33 cents.
Crude oil costs and prevailing tax rates equate to the largest chunk of U.S. retail prices at the pump. Locally, gas sale levels are determined by geographical proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, population density, access to heavily trafficked thoroughfares, and the wealth effect of surrounding communities.
Los Angeles, California remains firmly entrenched within the affirmative category per all of these specific variables.
The State of California features the highest gasoline taxes within the United States of America. These duties represent the function of 18.4 cents-per-gallon Federal excise, 18 cents-per-gallon State excise, and outrageous 7.25% sales taxes.
Although California is a major oil producer, the Nation’s most populous state will never come close to self-sufficiency in terms of meeting its own insatiable demand for petroleum products. Naturally, the 2,000-mile distance to the Gulf of Mexico serves as an impediment to supply and effective elevator per transportation costs.
Sacramento’s ban of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) to protect ground water supply, along with CARB reformulated gasoline specifically mandated to meet stringent California environmental requirements, have further exacerbated the price volatility. Ethanol has emerged as the utilitarian replacement to MTBE, but the special blend of gasoline is more expensive to produce and forced the expensive recalibration of various downstream U.S. refining facilities to accommodate the California grade.
The disparate legislation separating Sacramento from Washington looms large as a supply chain nightmare.
The Los Angeles car culture is ever more important. The sweeping freeways and iconic stack interchanges move traffic from Long Beach to Pasadena and are synonymous with California Dreaming.
SoCal is a Mecca for tourists, wealth, and overall star power. The beckoning Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Hollywood Hills, Westwood, and Bel Air, mark the most exclusive places in the world to see and be seen. The demand for these limited parcels of land promulgates L.A.’s outrageous real estate prices, which are passed onto the consumer at all levels of transacting business.
Loving L.A. comes at a price.
This guide details where to buy cheap gas at the City of Angels. We will analyze the proposal from opposing ends of the fuel burden spectrum. Our goal is to begin with a general presentation of the most expensive areas to purchase Los Angeles, prior to proceeding to outline cheap gas alternatives to said matrix.
Where NOT to Buy Cheap Gas in Los Angeles
Do not buy gas at any freeway interchange or location associated with “Hollywood.”
Yes, the above sentiment does describe Los Angeles in its entirety.
Sigh.
Gas is outrageously priced at all locales that parallel the trappings of celebrity. This swath of Glamour runs from Pasadena to Malibu and is dominated by West L.A. Ritzy and fabulous staples of the area include the Rose Bowl, Hollywood Bowl, Paramount Studios, UCLA, 20th Century Fox, star-studded gala events, and paparazzi.
Gas prices demonstrate shocking variance, and range from $3.00 to $3.43 within the area. The $3.19 mark at the mouth of The 110 in Pasadena sets the tone for this obtuse swath of high priced fuel. Prices will then settle between $3.00 and $3.15 for regular at Hollywood into Beverly Hills along The Strip.
Currently, the 7100 W. Sunset Boulevard Mobil is moving gasoline for $3.05, and the West Hollywood Chevron ups the ante to $3.13. The high priced beat goes on when the Sun goes down at Santa Monica Boulevard into the Pacific Coast Highway and Malibu. $3 is the low mark along CA 1 and 2, with prices actually approaching $3.50 at various points.
The Santa Monica Chevron at 1330 Santa Monica Boulevard does hawk retail gas for $2.99.
Outside of these California Cool enclaves, gas prices spike at all freeway junctions. The 110 / Harbor Freeway and 105 / Glenn Anderson Freeway are the most blatant case studies of this price action.
For example, The Harbor Freeway begins at San Pedro and barrels past the most economically distressed sections of Southern California at Watts and South Central L.A. Still, gas prices escalate to outrageous levels at the freeway entrances.
The Broadway Mobil at Vernon and The 110 is peddling gas for $3.07, while the Lynwood Shell at Long Beach Boulevard and The 105 retails regular unleaded fuel for $3.09. Both of these readings trounce prices that fall towards $2.80 deeper into South L.A.
In summary, Show Business and freeway prices mark the confluence of explosive gas prices at the L.A. Basin and Foothills. The following recommendations manage to consolidate this sprawling area that easily spans 6500 square miles and totals roughly 15 million persons into two basic algorithms for buying cheap gas.
Where to Buy Cheap Gas in Los Angeles
The San Fernando Valley is the epicenter for cheap gas in Los Angeles. The Valley may be identified as the “forgotten” corner of Los Angeles, and has even attempted to secede from the City of Angels throughout its history. Suburban-like development, wide boulevards, and somewhat “regular people,” mark the area.
Interestingly, the North Hollywood section of the Valley is “Hollywood” in name only. Lost Tourists stumbling into this section are frequently shocked to discover the grit of “the other” Hollywood, which is sandwiched between Burbank, CA 170, and CA 134. The Santa Monica Mountains effectively shield the San Fernando Valley from the Glamour
Today, cheap gas is defined as $2.85 – $3.00, per L.A. standards. Cheap gas prevails at Burbank and Los Angeles City proper north of The 101 and west of The 170 in The Valley. However, The 405 interchanges cut a narrow swath of $2.95 – $3.00 prices, which are to be considered expensive for this area.
ARCO Am-Pm gas stations typically undercut the neighboring L.A. competition by 5-15 cents and do feature a heavy presence at The Valley. ARCO is peddling cheap, $2.85 gas at Nordhoff Street, Topanga Canyon Boulevard, and Winnetka Avenue.
ARCO and Costco are both moving gasoline for $2.75 – $2.85 at Van Nuys, CA. Motorists will exit The 405 at Victory Boulevard, Sherman, Roscoe, or Nordhoff and travel 1-2 miles away from the freeway to secure affordable Valley prices.
Of course, legions of Los Angles San Bernardino, and Orange County veterans will balk at this proposal. Traversing the L.A. Basin into The Valley in order to save 30-40 cents per gallon on gasoline is madness. Remember, our solution to the cheap gas puzzle at Los Angeles is to be articulated in two parts.
First, buy gas at the San Fernando Valley. Secondly, buy gas away from all freeways and the CA 1 Pacific Coast Highway. The aforementioned ARCO Am-Pm establishments do offer the lowest gas prices in Southern California, part and parcel with these directives.
L.A.’s extensive freeway network, along with the PCH, represent bands of high gas price fire designed to burn the wallets of all Californians. Golden State motorists must note that the usual cluster of gas stations abutting freeway interchanges and PCH stoplights often display heady costs.
Long Beach’s Bellflower Boulevard serves as the perfect example of said paradigm. Gas prices downshift from $2.99 at The 405 to $2.97, $2.89, and $2.84 headed south and away from the freeway. Of course, 76 and Chevron stations posted up at Bellflower and the Pacific Coast Highway flash $3.05, within one short mile of the $2.84 Long Beach Arco at 1785 Bellflower.
Indeed, the options for “cheap gas” at Los Angeles are quite limited and the term borders upon hysterical comedy, at best, to outright fraud, at worst.
The Freeways and “Hollywood” lifestyle, representing skyrocketing gasoline costs, are rarely separated by more than 5 miles from any point at Southern California. Fundamentally, cheap fuel is nonexistent at Los Angeles. We may only hope to discover gas that is less expensive than the last block.
I Love L.A.
Where to Buy Cheap Gas in Los Angeles, Sources:
Los Angeles Gas Prices, http://www.losangelesgasprices.com/
The City of Los Angeles, http://lacity.org/lacity/
The State of California, http://www.ca.gov/
