Gas prices in San Diego, CA

About gas prices in San Diego, CA

San Diego runs at the very end of California's gasoline supply chain. CARB reformulated fuel arrives from Los Angeles area refineries through pipelines that limit supply flexibility, and no refining capacity exists in San Diego County. When LA-area refineries hit maintenance or outages, San Diego retail tends to spike a day or two later and recover more slowly than LA itself. California state gas tax (just under 60 cents per gallon including the underground storage tank fee) plus carbon offset costs make this one of the most expensive metros in the country. Drivers in East County (El Cajon, Santee, Lakeside) and North County inland (Escondido, San Marcos) typically save 25 to 40 cents per gallon versus coastal La Jolla and downtown stations. Costco locations in San Marcos, Carmel Mountain, and Vista plus Arco stations and Sam's Club locations in Chula Vista typically post the lowest pricing most weeks.