San Diego, CA
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LiveUpdated Jul 15Gas prices near 92117
San Diego, CA · CA average $4.99/gal
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Finding cheap gas in San Diego (92117)
Clairemont is one of San Diego's big postwar suburbs, a sprawling grid of mid-century homes laid across mesas and canyons between two freeways. Interstate 5 runs along its western flank and Highway 805 to the east, which gives this ZIP far more fuel access than the tighter urban neighborhoods to the south.
Balboa Avenue and Clairemont Mesa Boulevard are the arterials that matter, both wide commercial routes lined with shopping centers and stations. Where they cross Genesee Avenue and feed toward the freeway ramps, you get real clusters of competing brands, so comparison shopping is genuinely worth it here.
Both I-5 and Highway 805 are easy to reach, and the stations nearest the busiest interchanges price for through traffic. Drivers who fill along the Balboa or Clairemont Mesa retail strips, a bit back from the ramps, usually come out ahead of those grabbing fuel right at the freeway.
Nearby ZIP codes in San Diego, CA
How to save more on gas in San Diego
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 California
California has the highest gas taxes in the nation at roughly 60 cents per gallon when you combine the state excise tax with the cap-and-trade program and underground storage fee. The state requires a special CARB-formulated fuel that only a handful of in-state refineries can produce, so a single refinery outage can spike prices statewide within 48 hours. Costco, Sam's Club, and Arco are typically the cheapest across Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and Sacramento metros, while Chevron, Shell, and 76 dominate freeway exits. Stations along Interstate 5 and US 101 commonly run 10 to 20 cents higher than equivalent stations a mile off the freeway.