Evanston, IL
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LiveUpdated Jun 8
Gas prices near 60201
Evanston, IL · IL average $4.08/gal
Finding cheap gas in Evanston (60201)
Northwestern University defines this ZIP, and that shapes where fuel is and is not. The lakefront campus and the dense blocks of downtown Evanston around Sherman Avenue leave little room for service stations, so the pumps cluster on the wider commercial streets like Dempster and Green Bay Road rather than near the lake.
Evanston sits in Cook County, which carries its own per-gallon county fuel tax on top of the Illinois state tax. That stacked tax structure is the main reason prices here tend to run above what you would pay an hour out in the collar counties, well before you factor in the tight, high-rent real estate.
Students and staff who want to trim the bill often fill up toward Skokie or the edges of town where land is cheaper and stations compete harder. Closer to campus, convenience and walkability set the price more than competition does.
How to save more on gas in Evanston
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.
Related guides
Deep-dives on US gas-price topics relevant to this area.
Brand
Sam's Club gas prices
Member-only fuel pricing at Sam's Club warehouse-club locations.
Research
Why gas prices vary by station
The microeconomics of why same-brand stations across the street price 30 cents apart.
Research
Why gas prices rise faster than they fall
Asymmetric pass-through in US retail gasoline (rockets and feathers).
Directory
US gas station brands directory
Reference for 39 major US gas station chains.
About gas prices in Illinois
Illinois has one of the more complex gas pricing maps in the country: the state tax is around 47 cents, but Cook County and the city of Chicago add their own per-gallon excise on top, pushing pump prices in downtown Chicago to among the highest in the Midwest. Stations in DuPage and Will counties just outside Cook routinely run 30 to 50 cents cheaper for the same brand. Costco, Sam's Club, Thorntons, and Casey's General Store are the dependable value picks across Chicago and its suburbs, with Costco in Schaumburg and Naperville especially popular.