Denver Gas Prices: Everything You Need To Know
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The mile-high city is known for many things. Interesting architecture, a thriving food and music culture, casual dress, and the beauty of the nearby mountains are just the start of the list.
But, for commuters, the city is also known to offer plenty of traffic, bad driving weather, and other hazards that can make being a car owner interesting in Denver.
One thing you don’t hear about very often is Denver gas prices.
In fact, the mile-high city has so many other traffic issues it’s almost surprising that gas prices aren’t talked about more, but it can actually be hard for people thinking about moving to Denver, or even coming for a visit, to plan for gas prices.
Fortunately, Denver usually isn’t too expensive when it comes to gas prices. Here’s what you need to know:
Denver Gas Prices Compared To National Average
Right now, Denver prices are a little lower than the national average, which is great news if you’re living in Denver or will be visiting soon. Unfortunately, Denver prices are likely to be going up over the next few months for a variety of reasons, so we can’t guarantee it’s lower than average status will continue.
Why are Denver prices lower than the national average?
Well, there are a few reasons, including the fact that Colorado has its own natural gas and oil industry. While that doesn’t mean that they produce or refine enough fuel for the state, it does mean that some of the fuel costs in Colorado are offset by its own fuel production.
Denver also has the advantage of being roughly in the middle of the country, which means it’s not that difficult to get suppliers to make the trip, and it doesn’t have the longer transit costs that some other states deal with.
Lastly, Denver has the advantage of not having a lot of extra regulations around fuel. So, unlike some more expensive states like California, fuel manufacturers don’t need to meet a different set of standards when sending fuel to Denver.
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All of that combines to make fuel a little more affordable.
Add to that that Denver is a highly populated area (and fuel tends to be cheaper in cities than in rural areas) and that the city has a reasonably effective mass-transit system that helps keep costs lower, and you’ve got a recipe for slightly lower prices.
However, Denver isn’t insulated from changes in the oil and gas industry, and price hikes have happened before and are likely to happen again; here’s why.
Why Denver Gas Prices Are Going Up
The main determinant of Denver gas prices is supply and demand, just like the rest of the country. Since they don’t have their own reservoir or other advantages that would help keep gas prices more reasonable, they tend to see gas prices increase and decrease along with the rest of the national market.
So why are Denver gas prices likely to go up in the near future?
The same reason gas prices are likely to go up all across the nation. Supply and demand are shifting, and the conflict in Ukraine and Russia, along with sanctions against Russia, is likely to mean that supply will get even slimmer in the next few months.
That means increasing gas prices unless the government actively does something to prevent an increase.
Gas prices are also likely to go up as the markets stabilize and adjust to new norms as society adjusts to the Covid-19 pandemic and starts moving back to more normal activity.
So, in short, there are supply-side disturbances that mean prices are likely to go up in the short term and may stay higher even in the long term.
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Where To Get Affordable Gas In The Denver Area
While gas in Denver is fairly affordable, it’s still a good idea to look for places where you can get a better deal on average.
Here are some of the gas stations that are known to be a little more affordable than average in the Denver area:
- Valero
- Pump N Save
- Bradley Sinclair
- Maverik
- Philips 66
As you can see, there’s a relatively wide range of gas stations that offer lower prices in the Denver area. That means a lot of selection and price competitions are more common between stores, which is great for local wallets.
However, you’ll also typically notice a bigger price difference between these retailers and Shell stations or Circle K. That’s partially because while all the more affordable stations meet standards, the better and more expensive brands do offer a cleaner, slightly higher quality fuel.
So, it’s up to you which is more important, cleaner fuel or cheaper fuel.
Is Denver Gas Different From Other Parts Of The Country?
The first time you fuel up in Denver, you might notice something a little different at the pump.
That’s because Denver’s regular gas is lower octane than you’re probably used to in other states. While most places consider 87 octane fuel the minimum rating for regular, 87 octane is mid-grade in Denver.
Regular gas in Denver, and the rest of Colorado, is only 85 octane.
There are a few reasons for this, but the biggest reason is performance. Higher octane ratings are safer and usually offer better mileage, but gas offers different performance at altitude compared to sea level.
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In Denver, 85 octane is every bit as fuel-efficient and safe as 87 octane fuel is at sea level. In fact, you might get slightly better fuel efficiency from 85 octane fuel in Denver than you would get from 87 octane fuel at sea level.
The difference is mild, so most drivers won’t notice, but it’s enough to change the grade standard for the state.
However, that said, drivers should still buy the same octane fuel that’s recommended in their vehicle driver’s manual; for many Denver drivers, that means paying extra for mid-grade or premium fuel, which can quickly negate the price difference for Denver drivers.
Final Thoughts On Denver Gas Prices:
Right now, Denver has the advantage of having reasonable gas prices that are slightly lower than the national average. However, differences in octane ratings at altitude and the way Denver grades gas can mean you’ll still be paying extra on your next visit.
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