Something to be thankful for? SLO County doesn’t have most expensive gas in U.S. — it’s second

Sorry Thanksgiving travelers, San Luis Obispo County once again has the distinction of having some of the most expensive gas in the entire country this holiday.

According to GasBuddy.com, the average price for a regular gallon of gas in San Luis Obispo County on Wednesday was $4.63 — just below the No. 1 title holder, Santa Cruz, which had an average price of $4.64 per gallon.

Other California metropolitan areas like Santa Rosa ($4.63 per gallon), Napa ($4.54), San Francisco ($4.53) and San Diego ($4.48) filled out the majority of the top 10, with only Honolulu, Hawaii ($4.47) making the list from outside the state.

The average price for a gallon of gas across the state meanwhile was an estimated $4.39, according to GasBuddy, down from the average price of $4.52 a month ago and $4.82 a year prior.

Though San Luis Obispo County is one of the most expensive gas areas in the country, the news isn’t all bad for local drivers.

Local prices in general have dropped in recent weeks, falling below the average of $4.74 per gallon in September. They are also well below last year, when prices averaged more than $5 per gallon at the end of November.

The price fall mirrors national trends where the average cost of a gallon of regular gas was expected to be $2.98 per gallon, below the previous Thanksgiving holiday average of $3.25 in 2023, according to GasBuddy.

That’s good news for the thousands of Americans are expected to hit the road this holiday.

According to a GasBuddy survey, 72% of Americans are expected to travel by car for the Thanksgiving holiday — up significantly from the 41% who planned to do the same in 2023.

“Americans are eager to get back on the road and visit loved ones this Thanksgiving, with the vast majority choosing the flexibility and convenience of driving, as gas prices have fallen below $3 in over half of the nation’s states,” Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said in a news release. “While a few travelers feel discouraged by current gas prices, our data shows most people are undeterred and willing to absorb the extra costs to reunite with family over the holiday.”

Where to find cheapest gas in SLO County

Though it has one of the highest national averages, gas prices varied widely throughout San Luis Obispo County as of Wednesday.

Both the Chevrons on Five Cities Drive in Pismo Beach and on K Street in San Miguel had posted prices of $5.49 per gallon on Wednesday — the highest in the county, according to GasBuddy.

Meanwhile, there was one spot in the county that had an average price per gallon of less than $4: San Paso Truck Stop at 81 Wellsona Road in Paso Robles had a posted price of $3.99, according to GasBuddy.

The other cheapest spots in the county for gas according to GasBuddy data were:

• Fastrip Fuel & Wayside Liquors, 710 Creston Road, Paso Robles: $4.05
• VP Racing Fuels, 1441 Spring St., Paso Robles, $4.09
• One Stop Food, 703 Spring St., Paso Robles, $4.09
• Spirit, 1637 Spring St., Paso Robles: $4.15
• 7-Eleven, 2331 Spring St., Paso Robles: $4.25
• Valero, 2340 Spring St., Paso Robles: $4.25
• Speedway Express, 1244 24th St., Paso Robles: $4.25
• 76, 390 S. Main St., Templeton: $4.25
• ARCO, 195 Niblick Road, Paso Robles: $4.27

This story was originally published November 27, 2024 at 12:50 PM.

Kaytlyn Leslie

The Tribune

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Kaytlyn Leslie writes about business and development for The San Luis Obispo Tribune. Hailing from Nipomo, she also covers city governments and happenings in San Luis Obispo. She joined The Tribune in 2013 after graduating from Cal Poly with her journalism degree.