Santa Cruz, CA
8 stations
LiveUpdated Jun 15Gas prices near 95060
Santa Cruz, CA · CA average $5.62/gal
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Santa Cruz, CA · 95060
- Cheapest
- $5.59/gal
- Area avg
- $5.62/gal
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Finding cheap gas in Santa Cruz (95060)
Downtown Santa Cruz, the Westside, and the iconic West Cliff Drive all fall in this ZIP, which also takes in the UC Santa Cruz campus up in the redwoods above town. It is the commercial and tourist heart of the city, where beach visitors, students, and locals all converge.
The fuel lines up along the in-town arterials rather than the scenic coast. Mission Street, which carries Highway 1 traffic through the Westside, and the Ocean Street corridor near the Highway 17 approach hold most of the stations, catching commuters and weekend beach crowds in equal measure.
Santa Cruz prices run high, lifted by the coastal location and the seasonal tourist demand. Drivers crossing Highway 17 toward San Jose typically fill on Ocean or Mission first, sidestepping the in-town premium near the boardwalk.
Today’s lowest gas prices in 95060
- 1. Costco at 120 Sylvania Ave offers regular at $5.59/gal (11.5 mi away).
- 2. Shell at 805 Ocean St offers regular at $5.65/gal (11.8 mi away).
- 3. Apco Gasoline at 1725 Mission St offers regular at $5.65/gal (14.8 mi away).
- 4. U.S. Pro Gasoline at 823 Mission St offers regular at $5.69/gal (10.6 mi away).
- 5. Gas & Shop at 2003 Mission St offers regular at $5.82/gal (14.6 mi away).
Prices are aggregated from station-level data and refreshed daily.
Nearby ZIP codes in Santa Cruz, CA
How to save more on gas in Santa Cruz
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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California drivers pay 163¢/gal more than the US average.
California pump prices are among the nation's highest. AAA Membership helps you save.
Enjoy Member discounts on gas, hotels, rental cars, and more, plus 24/7 nationwide roadside assistance.
AAA Mountain West Group serves Northern California (LA and San Diego are a separate AAA club).
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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.