Alaska Gas Prices: Everything You Need To Know
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Alaska is one of the most beautiful states in the nation, but it’s also one of the most remote. That presents a lot of challenges for residents, including higher gas prices, especially in the most remote locations.
But, whether you’re considering an Alaskan getaway or want to move to the Northern state, there’s a lot to know about gas prices, quality, and what you get expect in gas trends.
Let’s take a closer look.
How Do Alaskan Gas Prices Compare To The National Average?
According to AAA, Alaska’s current gas prices are a little higher than the national average. You can expect to pay about 20cts more per gallon of gas in Alaska, though prices will vary a little depending on your location and what grade gas you choose.
But that’s the state average. Because Alaska is a combination of urban and remote areas, gas prices fluctuate across the state more than in most places.
For instance, if you’re mostly planning to stay in Juneau, changes are your gas prices will be a little lower than the Alaskan average, closer to the national average.
But as you get away from the city and head more into the remote areas of the state, the story changes.
The further you get from major trade routes and concentrated population zones, the more expensive gas is likely to get.
For instance, according to the same price map from AAA, prices in Nome are almost a dollar more than the national average and more than 50cts more per gallon than the Alaskan average.
Why Are Gas Prices Higher In Alaska?
There are a lot of reasons that gas prices are high in Alaska and a few reasons they aren’t as high as they could be.
For one thing, even though Alaska produces plenty of crude oil, it’s expensive and inefficient to refine it there. Instead, oil gets piped down to the lower 48 states to be refined, and then finished fuel, and petroleum products are shipped back to Alaska.
That’s a lot of shipping required, which brings the cost higher.
Shipping isn’t the only reason Alaskans have to deal with higher gas prices, even though it’s the main one.
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The other big reason Alaskans have to deal with higher prices is because of the weather and the inconsistency. With shipping lanes as long as the ones taking gas and oil to Alaska, weather poses a significant problem, especially during the colder months of the year.
A bad snowstorm in the wrong place can cause significant shipping delays, which will drive up prices on the remaining supply until new fuel can be delivered.
This is also a big factor in gas getting more expensive the further you get from the more heavily populated areas.
The harder it is to get gas through, and the more inconsistent the roads leading to its destination, the more you’re likely to pay.
Unfortunately, there aren’t many good ways to help bring Alaskan prices down. Because the state is separated from the rest of the country, it’s hard to guarantee the supply, which means that supply is consistently relatively low compared to demand. Add the higher costs to get fuel to Alaska, and you have a recipe for consistently higher prices.
How Much Do Alaskan Gas Prices Fluctuate?
Alaskan gas prices are relatively consistent in being more expensive than prices in the lower 48, but that doesn’t mean that they’re consistent.
In fact, while Alaskan gas prices can be stable for months at a time, they’re also more vulnerable to supply chain issues than the rest of the country.
That means that Alaskan gas prices can increase more when there’s a shortage or when oil prices go up, in addition to the fluctuations because of shipping and weather concerns.
Gas retailers are also usually slow to pass on savings to Alaskans when gas prices go down, which means that prices tend to stay higher longer in Alaska compared with the rest of the country.
The difference is usually between 10-20cts between average mainland prices and Alaskan average prices, but that can sometimes mean as much as a dollar per gallon difference in more remote areas.
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The Best Places To Get Lower Alaskan Gas Prices
The good news is that even in Alaska, there are some options to get lower prices if you need them. Choosing which retailer you go to is a good first step, in addition to monitoring oil price trends so you know when it might be good to top up a little early.
Here are some of the best places to get affordable Alaskan gas prices, according to gasbuddy.com.
- Fred Meyer
- Safeway
- Gas N Go
- Tesoro
Of course, local prices can vary quite a bit, so it’s always good to compare gas prices from different retailers, especially when they’re close enough you can see price signs to compare immediately.
And while these retailers might offer lower prices on average, that doesn’t mean that individual locations will offer consistently lower prices.
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Is Alaskan Gas The Same Quality As The Rest Of The Country?
One concern many people have before moving or visiting Alaska is that they might use a different fuel supply than the rest of the country, resulting in quality differences that could affect your vehicle.
There is some good news here. While gas prices might be higher in Alaska, the fuel itself isn’t any different than the fuel you can get in the rest of the country. It’s the same grade and follows the same federal guidelines.
You probably would notice a difference if you’re coming from California, where state regulations differ more than the rest of the country, but otherwise, it should be similar to the gas you get in your home state.
However, it’s worth noting that some retailers may only choose to carry certain grades of fuel, like only carrying low and mid-grade instead of premium, or only carrying regular and diesel.
Final Thoughts On Alaskan Gas Prices:
While Alaskan gas prices are a bit higher than the rest of the country, it’s important to note that the gas is otherwise similar. There aren’t a lot of good solutions to higher prices, and that does contribute to the higher cost of living in Alaska in some ways.
That said, keeping an eye on the market so you can plan for price fluctuations and changes in the supply is still a great way to get ahead of fuel prices in Alaska.
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