Maximize Your Savings: The Best Days to Fill Up on Gas in Every State
When it comes to saving money on gas, choosing the right day to fill up can make a significant difference in your wallet. According to a recent analysis by GasBuddy, Sunday is consistently the most affordable day to buy gas in most states, including Tennessee. On the other hand, midweek fill-ups from Wednesday to Friday tend to be more expensive. By adjusting the timing of your fill-up, you can save up to 9 cents per gallon, with some states seeing a price gap of up to 45 cents due to price cycling patterns.
In states like Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Florida, Texas, and parts of the West Coast, prices follow a predictable weekly cycle, with prices gradually rising through the week before dropping over the weekend. GasBuddy's head of petroleum analysis, Patrick De Haan, suggests waiting a few days after a price spike before filling up to maximize savings. For drivers with a 14-gallon tank, a 45-cent swing in prices could result in savings of about $6.30 per fill-up, increasing to roughly $10 for a 22-gallon tank.
As of midday Thursday, the national average price for a gallon of regular gas was around $2.92, with prices ranging from $2.22 in Oklahoma to $4.57 in California. While gas prices have decreased by about 30 cents per gallon compared to two years ago, the best and worst days to fill up vary by state. GasBuddy's analysis revealed that Sunday was the cheapest day in 41 states, while Monday claimed the top spot in Alaska, Delaware, Indiana, and Ohio. Saturday was also a favorable day in several states, with Montana being the only outlier where Tuesday was the cheapest day to fill up.
When it comes to the worst days to buy gas, Wednesday was the most common across 23 states, followed by Tuesday in 17 states. GasBuddy determined the best and worst days in each state by analyzing average gas prices over the past year and normalizing them within each week to identify consistent weekday pricing patterns. For more detailed information on saving money at the pump in your state, you can visit the GasBuddy website.