I-75 / Atlanta Gas Shortage

[Mickey Canada]

I doubt this is the 'right' forum for this but I thought I would put it out there for discussion.

In 2 weeks, I will be driving down from Ontario. I've been reading and hearing about gas shortages in Atlanta area. Has anyone going down to the Fort recently run into any issues like this. Any thoughts?? :confused3

My only guess is to make sure I have a full tank before Atlanta and get as far around it as possible.

[Minnie's Mate]

Two things:
First, supposedly, the shortage in Atlanta is because we use a low sulfur mix in the Metro counties because of air quality issues and that type of gasoline isn't available as readily as the gasoline used in the rest of the country, save L.A.
Second, the pipeline that pipes gasoline to the Metro-Atlanta area from Houston was shut down because of Hurricane Ike and hasn't been restarted yet. The reports on the radio claim that the prices will go down and the supplies will go up as soon as the refineries in Houston are brought back up to full production.

If you believe that, I have some beach front property in Arizona that I can make you a great deal on. :lmao:

Oddly enough, I haven't had any problems getting diesel fuel since Ike. In fact, I have paid less for diesel in the last week and a half than before Ike.

[njcamper95]

Not sure about Atlanta but just talked to my mother inlaw today and she said she had trouble finding gas in Fla she is about 3 hrs south of disney in palm beach county i guess they are having troubles also hope they get this figured out soon i will be making a trip from NJ down in Oct the news around here hasn't said anything about it so maybe its isolated to small areas I HOPE i thought all i had to worry about was the price not if i could get fuel well good luck to those who are driving and hopefully i'll see you in disney Oct 12-27

[Billmel]

We live in Asheville, NC. We have very little gas, the gas stations that Have gas have lines like you wouldn't believe. We have had to shut down alot of our crews (very large construction co.) due to the gas shortage. We have our own pumps but can't get any gas deliveries. We don't live off of I95 but off of I26, but if anyone is coming this way, you will have trouble finding gas. Good Luck, they are telling us it will be another 5-7 days before we start seeing a change for the better. Hopefully we will have gas soon.

[Us3]

We live in the Atlanta metro area and many stations are out of gas. We did however just return from WDW on Monday and had no problems finding gas between WDW and here. When we exited near our home, most of the stations did not have priceses listed and we had no idea what was going on until watching the news. They say it's a very short term problem, but I guess we'll see. So as of Monday, you'll be fine as long as you fill up before Atlanta and then anywhere south of here.

Have a good trip! :thumbsup2

[Mickey Canada]

Well the good news is that I have another 2 weeks before our trip. I would hope by then that things settle down ...for everyone's sake.

I can barely stand it .... this work thing :surfweb: leading up to my vacation.

15 more sleeps.
10 more working days. But who's counting!! :rolleyes1

[Minnie's Mate]

Gov. Purdue has asked the EPA to temporarily allow the regular sulfur gas to be sold in Atlanta so we could get gas that is readily available to other parts of the country. We'll see.

[Motherofboys]

We drove down last Friday, just south of Marietta, GA we had to go to 4 different gas stations before we found one with gas.:confused:

It was a strange experience. Hope it is all cleared up before your trip! :thumbsup2

[rebecca06261]

Still very limited gas supply in Metro-Atlanta. If and when you do find it, you have to wait in line for a good 45 minutes usually. I would still suggest filling up in Dalton (if you're coming 75 south) and then you should be good to get through to the otherside of Atlanta.

[annakris1973]

I live about 40 miles south of Atlanta, and I haven't had issues finding gas, Unless you use Premium or middle grade. Diesel is cheaper right now that regular unleaded. The Sam's club on exit 221 had regular unleaded for $3.88 Tuesday.

[F4disneyfan]

Wow I hope this passes before we head out on Oct 10th. We will be driving I75 to Knoxville then over to Gatlinburg then to Savannah then over to Homossassa and on down to Sarasota then up to Disney.

[Mickey Canada]

Keep the updates coming .... I do appreciate the feedback.

:drive: 2 weeks I'm there!!

[jugman]

I don't know what to say it will be like in 2 weeks, but I can tell it's a mess around atl and north ga. One day they will have gas and the next you can't find it. The spin masters say it's because of panic buying, but I could have swore that people's cars used gas to get to work. I guess they only use gas to run to the store and they burn water when going to work. Government idiot's.

[clkelley]

I live about 40 miles south of Atlanta, and I haven't had issues finding gas, Unless you use Premium or middle grade. Diesel is cheaper right now that regular unleaded. The Sam's club on exit 221 had regular unleaded for $3.88 Tuesday.

This concerns me. I use mid-grade in my truck normally and premium when towing. I also use the upper end gas stations such as Texaco, Shell, BP, etc. (My truck runs like CRAP when using Wal-Mart, Kangaroo, Sam's, or other budget gas.)

I'm driving down in a month. I usually fill up just South of Atlanta, almost to Macon. How is it on I-20 West of Atlanta?? Should I fill up in Alabama before hitting the Georgia border??

[disney.nut]

I live in Augusta, GA which is about 2 hours from Atlanta on I-20. We are also having trouble finding gas also. There are very few stations that have gas still and those that do you have to wait in a long line.

[merky]

anyone have a update on the gas shortage we are leaving for the Fort tommorow and we are a bit worried coming from Ky. in a motorhome
8 miles per gallon.

any news ????

[rebecca06261]

If you are running deisel then you won't have as much of a problem. You will want to fill up in Dalton or Cartersville, this should be enough to get you through to the south side of Atlanta where the supply is at about 50% availability. On the north side of Atlanta, gas is still very hard to come by. If/when you do find it, be prepared for a long line of anywhere to 45 min to 1.5 hours. Some stations, such as QT have hired off duty police to direct traffic in the less desirable neighborhoods. Good luck and have a safe trip!

[2goofycampers]

We just got back from WDW. We drove I-75 from Tennessee to Fl. Turnpike and had no trouble find gas or diesel and the prices weren't too bad. WDW actually had the cheapest prices we saw at the Hess stations the whole trip. It was $3.61 for gas.

[merky]

thanks , we use gas have a full tank now will need fuel close to chatanooga(sp) I told DH we will start looking when we get about half empty any road work on I-75 ?

[2goofycampers]

There was some road work going on, but it didn't slow traffic. It was actually a good trip both ways for traffic. We drove down on a Friday and home on Sunday.

[Minnie's Mate]

According to yesterday's reports gas shortages should continue for about another two weeks in the Metro-Atlanta area.

As was stated, North Atlanta has more shortages than South Atlanta. My suggestion is to check truck stops first if you can. They may or may not have gas, but they are going to have diesel for the truckers and they will sell to RV's and passenger vehicles. I fill my F-250 at them when towing the Airstream all the time because it is easier in and out with the trailer than at gas stations...plus I know they carry diesel where not all gas stations do.

BTW, I haven't heard of any shortages in the Chattanooga area but I have heard of shortages in South Carolina.

[Stepanie]

I understand the fuel shortage but what about Deisel? We are coming to the Fort over Thanksgiving and first week in Dec. We will be coming from PA. should this still be a problem? I HOPE NOT.

[rebecca06261]

I understand the fuel shortage but what about Deisel? We are coming to the Fort over Thanksgiving and first week in Dec. We will be coming from PA. should this still be a problem? I HOPE NOT.

You will not have a problem, Stepanie. There has not been a shortage of Deisel in our area and our gas shortage should be back to normal within 2 weeks.

[nokidz]

Hope everything levels out shortly, we are driving the I95 route from Canada mid October.

[Minnie's Mate]

Atlanta and Augusta and southern South Carolina get their gas through a gasoline pipe line that runs from Houston all the way to the east coast to supply gasoline tank farms. From those tank farms the gasoline is trucked to the gasoline stations. That pipe line was shut down for Hurricane Ike. The news reported that the pumping station was restarted in Houston this morning on that pipeline so the shortages should be over as early as this weekend.

As far as diesel, that has not been a problem. IF, there are still shortages when you come through Atlanta, try truck stops first. They can't afford to not have diesel for the long haul truckers.

[rebecca06261]

Just back from driving around at lunch to see how gas was looking... I'm happy to report that 8 of 10 stations had regular and premium gas and a few of those stations did not have a line! :cool1: No more hour waits at 1am!!! :woohoo:

[Mickey Canada]

Excellent information. I'm glad to see that there is some light at the end of the tunnel now. Only one more week and I'm driving down through Atlanta.

[ezmom]

Hi,

I am new to posting on this board, although I have lurked on and off for a few years. Going to the fort in 9 days with my 2.5 year old Tinkerbell and my 6.5 year old Captain Jack. We will be tent camping for the 1st time. I am so excited and scared..
Anyway I have loved all the advice that I have received and thought that I would try throw in my .05 about gas.
If you are travelling along I-20 from the Alabama line exit 26 has a Hess truck stop and gas has been $3.75 a gallon. They have been one of the few stations in the area to have gas lately so on the weekends the wait has been INSAIN like 1.5-2 hours. Not to bad in the middle of the day during the week.
Hope eveyone has a safe trip.\

Amy:tinker:

[rebecca06261]

Hi,

I am new to posting on this board, although I have lurked on and off for a few years. Going to the fort in 9 days with my 2.5 year old Tinkerbell and my 6.5 year old Captain Jack. We will be tent camping for the 1st time. I am so excited and scared..
Anyway I have loved all the advice that I have received and thought that I would try throw in my .05 about gas.
If you are travelling along I-20 from the Alabama line exit 26 has a Hess truck stop and gas has been $3.75 a gallon. They have been one of the few stations in the area to have gas lately so on the weekends the wait has been INSAIN like 1.5-2 hours. Not to bad in the middle of the day during the week.
Hope eveyone has a safe trip.\

Amy:tinker:

Hi Amy! Welcome to the DIS and don't be scared of posting! :goodvibes

[retired and happy]

Things seem to be getting back to "normal" around here. Most station have gas today with little or no lines. The Governor's sulphur gas won't be aropund here for a couple of weeks...about 2 weeks too late. And the Strategic Supply gas woun't be here any sooner. Just let the marketplace work it out and everything will be ok.

[TheGreatGonzo]

Let me know if the prices are starting to come back down in the South. It dropped to below $3.25/gal here in Columbus, OH today. I leave for the fort in two weeks and the lowering of the prices will be a big help. I'm not saying the prices are good, just a little better.

[Katie Dawn]

Wow I hope this passes before we head out on Oct 10th. We will be driving I75 to Knoxville then over to Gatlinburg then to Savannah then over to Homossassa and on down to Sarasota then up to Disney.

Just FYI you will be just fine in Knoxville. Knoxville had a gas shortage (and seemed to be the only place at that time with a gas shortage) due to Colonial Pipeline issues right after Ike (we shot from $3.69/gal to $4.99 within hours) but we've not had any problems in a few weeks. Oh, and fuel prices are back to "normal."

You won't find a problem in Gatlinburg either. I will cross my fingers for you for the rest of your trip!

[F4disneyfan]

Just FYI you will be just fine in Knoxville. Knoxville had a gas shortage (and seemed to be the only place at that time with a gas shortage) due to Colonial Pipeline issues right after Ike (we shot from $3.69/gal to $4.99 within hours) but we've not had any problems in a few weeks. Oh, and fuel prices are back to "normal."

You won't find a problem in Gatlinburg either. I will cross my fingers for you for the rest of your trip!


Ok great we are only in Gatlinburg for 3 days then on to Savannah GA for 3 days going I40 hopefully things are good over in that neck of the woods also.

[Shan-man]

A great resource for determining where to fill on your trip is www.GasBuddy.com (http://www.GasBuddy.com/). They provide maps of gas prices that you can view at any level from average state prices on a national map down to actual prices at individual stations, and when zoomed in you can grab the map and scroll it, to follow your route, for instance. I find them to accurately track my local prices, and assume they do as well elsewhere. Hope it helps.

[duchess18]

I live near Chattanooga, TN, and am planning a trip to Florida on Oct. 11. Will be driving the entire state of Georgia on I75. What is the gas situation along I75 (outside of Atlanta)? Will I have problems finding gas north and south of Atlanta?

[2goofycampers]

We came back to Tn on Sept 28 and had NO problems and the fuel situation has gotten better since then.

[Us3]

My immediate area has finally improved somewhat. We have gas at most stations (not all), but they are charging WAY too much for it. Most stations are 3.95-4.09. CRAZY! We do have a Chevron very close to us that has received regular twice this weekend and sold it at 3.49 (finally filled up my sub on friday) and then on saturday morning had it for 3.44 (dh filled up his truck). Doesn't make sense to me why it's so .50 cheaper than all of the other stations (although i'm not complaining)?? They sold out of gas within few hours both Friday and Saturday. :confused3