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As the pinch at the pump gets ever so tighter, the frugal among us each find individual and unique ways to see if we can skim a little off the gasoline bill. While there are plenty of ways this can be done, one of the simplest is finding the cheapest gasoline source. This simple task is made difficult in that, outside of a small, walkable distance, it typically requires gasoline to find the cheapest price, and usually our search is limited to gas stations that are immediately along the avenues we usually take in our daily routines. Have no fear, GasBuddy has a clever solution that combines the simplicity of Google Maps with a level of information that rivals even the most intensive weather forecasts…and it involves gasoline prices.
While GasBuddy.com has a plethora of resources you should investigate for yourself, the feature I use the most (and the main focus of this article) is the USA National Gas Temperature Map. Starting with a overview of the continental United States, you’ll immediately notice the coloring of the map varies across the 48 contiguous states; this is indicative of how varied gas prices are across the nation, as compared to the average. The operation of the temperature map is extremely similar to Google Maps: mouse wheel controls the level of observation, major highways and roads are displayed, states, counties, and cites are easily recognizable and accurately represented, etc. The devil, however, is in the details.
Once you get up close and personal, the temperature feature goes away and individual stations are displayed as small mini-markers, each displaying the price of the specified fuel type (regular, diesel). These mini-markers can be accessed for detailed information, such as station features, photos, and address information and even LAT/LONG coordinates. Prices and station details are uploaded by registered users, and the content is monitored by GasBuddy staff and other registered users. In writing this article, I’ve already found the lowest gas price near my residence, and it’s 10 cents cheaper per gallon than the station I frequent, with a comparable commute time. The website itself isn’t limited to the USA fuel price map itself; price maps for Canada, Alaska, and Hawaii are available, and there’s a nifty, if not necessary, historical cost graph for anywhere from last month to 6 years ago.
In all actuality, this is a service you may use only a few times a month. Once you have figured out where the lowest price is, you won’t need GasBuddy unless the prices radically change. However, some of the extras, such as coordinates and station features are invaluable. There are a few times while on vacation where my family could have been well served by an air pump, and the lack of one at the most readily available station was annoying. Such features make GasBuddy a flexible and useful resource for planning a road trip or vacation.
Pictures courtesy of: GasBuddy;
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