Santa Barbara, CA
4 stations
LiveUpdated Jun 23Gas prices near 93103
Santa Barbara, CA · CA average $5.79/gal
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Gas Price Check
Santa Barbara, CA · 93103
- Cheapest
- $5.37/gal
- Area avg
- $5.79/gal
You save42¢/gal
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Finding cheap gas in Santa Barbara (93103)
Milpas Street is the heartbeat of Santa Barbara's Eastside, a mile-and-a-half corridor of legacy taquerias, music venues, and family-run shops running from near the Santa Barbara Bowl down to the 101 freeway and East Beach. The ZIP also climbs toward the base of the Riviera hills behind it.
The everyday stations sit along Milpas and the surface streets feeding the 101 hook ramps at the southern end, where the corridor meets the freeway. The Riviera blocks above are residential and winding, with no room for pumps. Santa Barbara prices run among the highest in the state, a function of the coastal setting and limited competition, so the dense run of stations on Milpas is about the best comparison shopping you will find on this side of town.
Today’s lowest gas prices in 93103
- 1. Summit at BIG CASH DISCOUNT!! offers regular at $5.37/gal.
- 2. Speedway Express at 231 N Milpas St offers regular at $5.59/gal (0.6 mi away).
- 3. Sinclair at 134 S Milpas St offers regular at $5.64/gal (1.1 mi away).
- 4. Rocket at 200 S Milpas St offers regular at $5.74/gal (1.1 mi away).
Prices are aggregated from station-level data and refreshed daily.
Nearby ZIP codes in Santa Barbara, CA
How to save more on gas in Santa Barbara
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.