Why is gas so cheap in Orlando?

[Mike Lewis]

I travel down to Orlando, Florida to visit family about twice a year. Every time I have noticed that gasoline is really inexpensive there. It is always cheaper in Orlando than at my home or the places in between as I drive down and back. On this trip the lowest price I saw was $2.19 per gallon in the Orlando suburbs, whereas I saw prices ranging up to $2.70 on the drive back. Today it was $2.55 in Milton, in the Panhandle. Orlando is a large metro area, heavily populated, which usually means higher prices than in smaller towns off the beaten path. There are no refineries nearby that I know of. I can't figure out why gasoline there is so cheap. I'm not complaining, mind you, but I'm puzzled. Any ideas?

[George and Linda]

Returned from Columbus Ohio to NE TN today lowest seen was $2.10 in TN.

[Iowa Dave]

Originally Posted by George and Linda

Returned from Columbus Ohio to NE TN today lowest seen was $2.10 in TN.

$2.13 at Sapp Bros about 75 miles west of Chicago on I-80 on last Tuesday about $2.25 in Fort Wayne. There is apparently a shortage north of Ohio because Michigan done run out of gas today.😜
Iowa Dave

[James Gang]

$1.97 in south Austin.

[padlin]

Originally Posted by Mike Lewis

I travel down to Orlando, Florida to visit family about twice a year. Every time I have noticed that gasoline is really inexpensive there. It is always cheaper in Orlando than at my home or the places in between as I drive down and back. On this trip the lowest price I saw was $2.19 per gallon in the Orlando suburbs, whereas I saw prices ranging up to $2.70 on the drive back. Today it was $2.55 in Milton, in the Panhandle. Orlando is a large metro area, heavily populated, which usually means higher prices than in smaller towns off the beaten path. There are no refineries nearby that I know of. I can't figure out why gasoline there is so cheap. I'm not complaining, mind you, but I'm puzzled. Any ideas?

I see the opposite around here. I live in a small quazi rural town and drive to my daughters on the other side of Springfield Ma. I see gas in the city considerably cheaper then out here. I figure it's transportation costs to get the gas out to the stations. Might be Orlando has a big distribution terminal so transport would be about nil.

Competition might come into it too. We had 1 gas station till recently, not much reason to drop prices. One corner I drive across on the way to DD's has one on each corner, 4 gas stations at one intersection. It's where I try and stop as they all have the lowest prices around.

[cpaharley2008]

one word, Disney...........the reason there is no state income tax and cheap gas for tourists, Walt Disney.

[George and Linda]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

$2.13 at Sapp Bros about 75 miles west of Chicago on I-80 on last Tuesday about $2.25 in Fort Wayne. There is apparently a shortage north of Ohio because Michigan done run out of gas today.😜
Iowa Dave

Dave, you are so bad!! The folks in Columbus Ohio were beyond happy today!! 😀

[Mike_and_Cathy]

Michael, some counties have an additional tax on gasoline. So do some cities. I know that a few years ago Brevard county voters approved an additional gasoline tax. Gas in Palm Bay is $2.199/ gal at Wawa, but I filled up at Wawa in St Pete today for $2.159/gal. I've always thought that gas in Orlando is more expensive than on the Spacecoast, at least before the additional tax was approved.
Gas inside the Washingtin, DC beltway is more expensive than rural Maryland because there's an extra tax to help fund the Metro.

[Iowa Dave]

Hi George and Linda,
Hope you had a good Thanksgiving. Two of my kids are OSU graduates as is my son in law. I did not get to a game this year but try to catch them on television when I can. Spent about all of October in Tennessee. We’re signed up for Davey Crockett next fall and hope to see you there if not before.
Iowa Dave

[Mike Lewis]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

one word, Disney...........the reason there is no state income tax and cheap gas for tourists, Walt Disney.

Maybe. I remember hearing that one third of Florida's economy depends upon tourism. But Disney World opened in the early 1970s and we've never had an income tax; it is prohibited in the state's constitution. And to be more precise, I was in Oviedo, on the opposite side of the Orlando Metro area from Disney World. Tourists are unlikely to wander over that way. I think there is something else going on that influences supply and demand for gasoline there. Local gas excise taxes or lack thereof might be the answer.

[Patandlinda]

Chevron gas here in California $ 3.59 a gallon . And that a little better then usual .Pat

[dfandrews]

Originally Posted by George and Linda

Dave, you are so bad!! The folks in Columbus Ohio were beyond happy today!! 😀

As were the folks in South Bend. Here in So.Cal. gas is apparently too expensive to use. (just to )!


Edit: I've always wanted to use that emoji!!)

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by Mike Lewis

Maybe. I remember hearing that one third of Florida's economy depends upon tourism. But Disney World opened in the early 1970s and we've never had an income tax; it is prohibited in the state's constitution. And to be more precise, I was in Oviedo, on the opposite side of the Orlando Metro area from Disney World. Tourists are unlikely to wander over that way. I think there is something else going on that influences supply and demand for gasoline there. Local gas excise taxes or lack thereof might be the answer.

Hi: Mike Lewis... Hillsborough County near Tampa, has historically low gas prices... but I'm now using diesel? Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[citabria90]

Originally Posted by Mike Lewis

I travel down to Orlando, Florida to visit family about twice a year. Every time I have noticed that gasoline is really inexpensive there. It is always cheaper in Orlando than at my home or the places in between as I drive down and back. On this trip the lowest price I saw was $2.19 per gallon in the Orlando suburbs, whereas I saw prices ranging up to $2.70 on the drive back. Today it was $2.55 in Milton, in the Panhandle. Orlando is a large metro area, heavily populated, which usually means higher prices than in smaller towns off the beaten path. There are no refineries nearby that I know of. I can't figure out why gasoline there is so cheap. I'm not complaining, mind you, but I'm puzzled. Any ideas?

I live in the Pacific NW, and gas prices are consistently higher that the rest of the country. So much so that there's been state investigations as to why we're paying so much. The answer from the oil companies is that this area only has one refinery (March Point in Anacortes), so other refineries outside our area need to make up the demand, hence higher prices.

Personally, I think it's gouging, plain and simple.

Chuck

[gbaglo]

If it is price gouging, why isn't it happening elsewhere?

[Mike Lewis]

Originally Posted by citabria90

I live in the Pacific NW, and gas prices are consistently higher that the rest of the country. So much so that there's been state investigations as to why we're paying so much. The answer from the oil companies is that this area only has one refinery (March Point in Anacortes), so other refineries outside our area need to make up the demand, hence higher prices.

Personally, I think it's gouging, plain and simple.

Chuck

I remember noticing that gas at Arco stations in the Mt. Vernon area of Washington was $.20 cheaper than gas at other stations (travelers take note). I concluded that it was due to the Arco refinery at Anacortes. Propane is very cheap there as well, possibly for the same reason. I don't know of any refineries in central or south Florida but there might be.

[Vermilye]

As to price gouging, I stopped at Marathon, TX and topped off the tank, knowing I was heading to Big Bend National Park & their 2 lonely gas stations (closest outside the park around 60 miles or so away). $3.35 per gallon at the station in Marathon. I got to the park & the price at the campground gas station was $2.94 per gallon. Glad I only topped off the tank at Marathon!

[steve dunham]

Regular gas in our area is $2.69 / Gallon . Discussing what gas costs in Orlando or California or BC or etc is simply an academic exercise IMHO . When traveling our destination is never determined by the price of fuel in that area . We have been to many areas that have relatively “ cheap” fuel but not much else worth seeing in our estimation

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

As to price gouging, I stopped at Marathon, TX and topped off the tank, knowing I was heading to Big Bend National Park & their 2 lonely gas stations (closest outside the park around 60 miles or so away). $3.35 per gallon at the station in Marathon. I got to the park & the price at the campground gas station was $2.94 per gallon. Glad I only topped off the tank at Marathon!

The Alon in Marathon is notorious for gouging on gas, especially since its about 50 cents a gallon less in Alpine, and often 60 cents a gallon less within the National Park itself. It's one of those towns that people who visit the area more than once just know to avoid buying gas in. Worse yet, Alon owns it's own refinery in Big Spring, so there is no logistical reason for the high price. I find Gasbuddy to be quite handy in avoiding such places. If Alon wants to gouge, it won't be me.

[Mike Lewis]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

Regular gas in our area is $2.69 / Gallon . Discussing what gas costs in Orlando or California or BC or etc is simply an academic exercise IMHO . When traveling our destination is never determined by the price of fuel in that area . We have been to many areas that have relatively “ cheap” fuel but not much else worth seeing in our estimation

Yes, my question was an academic exercise. I was curious how a major city would have such cheap gas. No more and no less.