Traverse City, MI
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LiveUpdated Jun 8
Gas prices near 49684
Traverse City, MI · MI average $4.29/gal
Finding cheap gas in Traverse City (49684)
Traverse City sits at the foot of Grand Traverse Bay and bills itself as the Cherry Capital of the World. The National Cherry Festival each July draws something like half a million visitors, and the surrounding Leelanau and Old Mission peninsulas have turned the area into northern Michigan's wine country, with downtown Front Street and US-31 running along the waterfront.
Tourism is the dominant force on gas prices here, and it is seasonal. From late spring through fall, and especially during the Cherry Festival, demand surges as visitors pour in, and the stations near the bay, the festival grounds, and the busiest US-31 stretches lean into that influx. Those summer weeks are when the in-town pumps run their firmest.
Michigan's 52.4-cent fuel tax in 2026 already sets a high statewide floor, and the tourist premium stacks on top in season. If you live here, the stations a bit away from the downtown and waterfront core tend to serve locals at steadier prices, and filling up before a peak festival weekend beats fighting both the crowds and the seasonal markup.
Nearby ZIP codes in Traverse City, MI
How to save more on gas in Traverse City
1. Use warehouse clubs
Costco and Sam’s Club typically price 15-25 cents per gallon below nearby stations. Membership pays for itself within a few fill-ups.
2. Fill up early in the week
Stations often raise prices Thursday for weekend demand. Fill up Monday through Wednesday to avoid the lift.
3. Keep tires properly inflated
Properly inflated tires improve fuel economy by up to 3 percent at current prices. Check pressure once a month.
4. Check back tomorrow
Prices can shift 10-20 cents overnight during volatile markets. A quick check before you leave home avoids paying yesterday’s spike.
5. Pay cash at split-pricing stations
Stations with cash and credit split pricing typically save an average of 10 cents per gallon when you pay cash.
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About gas prices in Michigan
Michigan's gas tax is around 31 cents per gallon, with a 6 percent sales tax also applied to fuel sales (one of the few states that double-taxes gas this way). The state pulls supply from refineries in Detroit and across the Ohio and Indiana border, with prices in the Upper Peninsula often running 15 to 30 cents higher than the Lower Peninsula due to longer supply lines from Wisconsin or Marathon's Detroit refinery. Speedway, Costco, Sam's Club, and Meijer Gas are the consistent best prices, especially in the Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Lansing metros.