Anyone driving worried about gas prices

[WINTER]

skyrocketing? I have budgeted $2/gallon. I just hope it doesn't go up much more than than!

 

[bengalfreak]

3 mos. ago when the rumor was the price was going to hit $3.00/gal. this summer, I budgeted $2.50/gal. for our early June trip. I don't see it going that high, you should rethink your budget to something like $2.25, then you'll probably be pleasantly surprised. Even a $0.50/gal. hike at 20 mpg for 1500 miles only comes to an extra $37.50 for the trip. It shouldn't be a major blow to your budget unless your driving from California.

 

[sweet maxine]

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the prices don't go up much further between now and June when we leave, but it doesn't look too promising. Gas prices here have jumped DAILY, and I'm starting to really get nervous.

 

[macs4us]

once I leave the state of California, the gas is only going to get cheaper. The cheapest I have seen near my home is $2.40/gal, and I am budgeting about $2.25/gal for our drive to New Orleans.

 

[JaxnBanditFan]

We leave next Sat. so Im hoping it doesnt go up too much between now and then. It went up .10 a gallon this week but I guess were luckier than most. The cheapest I can find is 1.71 .
If you havent already check out gasbuddy.com

 

[Doodlebug939]

Macs4us-

We live in New Orleans and our prices are about 1.70-1.80. So I think that you will be fine.

Enjoy your visit.

 

[mom2tiggers]

We drove over spring break - a month ago - from Ohio to Florida. Gas prices were high when I left, and high when I arrived in Florida. All the states inbetween were about 10 - 25 cents cheaper per gallon than Ohio & FL. .

I don't know where you're driving from, but Virginia, North Carolina & Georgia are downright cheap compared to other states. Parts of Georgia & NC were 1.54!

 

[macs4us]

Originally posted by Doodlebug939
Macs4us-

We live in New Orleans and our prices are about 1.70-1.80. So I think that you will be fine.

Enjoy your visit.

Thanks for the heads up - I guess there are advantages to living in the state where gas is the most expensive...

Can't wait for our trip. We will be there for 8 nights, and will NOT be on my low carb diet while I am there (that would just be wrong!!!). You guys have the best food...

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Here is my take on the gas situation. Lots of people like us will contemplate this situation and not stop to think it through. The person who said that 1500 miles is only a 37.50 increase is right. In the scheme of things it is not all that much. Skip a couple of breakfasts out (get muffins or cereal boxes for your room) especially if you are in a resort with a kitchen. Hopefully, this hike WILL scare of the less savvy traveler and then the parks will be less crowded. It seems that for some strange reason prices hike over the summer and then oops, they go down in the fall and winter. Not that I am implying it is price gouging mind you. Yeah right!!! IF they take some of the tax off the gas, it would be less expensive also.

I am just wondering however, how far it is from Illinois. I noticed a huge amount of cars from this state last year and could not figure why there seemed to be a sudden increase. I come from Mass and did not see many cars from my area as I had in the past. Just curious.

 

[disneysteve]

I agree with the previous replies that say gas prices really don't matter in the grand scheme of things. We drive from NJ, just over 1000 miles each way. At 25 mpg and $2/gallon, that's $160 roundtrip. At $3/gallon, that's $240 roundtrip. Only a difference of $40 each way. A total difference of $80 is not going to dent our budget or make us change our travel plans.

Plus, gas here in NJ is always below the national average. We filled up yesterday for $1.74. And some places between here and FL are even cheaper than NJ.

Make sure that your car is tuned up and your tires are properly inflated and don't worry about the price of gas.

 

[bobcat]

When I noticed in a post that gas cost $1.7x at the gas station on Disney property and our gas is $1.9x on some days I quit worrying. The Hess station on disney property is the highest gas I usually see, the exception being the WV turnpike, so I don't think gas prices are going to be too much of a factor for me.

Don't even get me started on gas gouging! Our wonderful legislators don't see anything wrong with gas prices jumping 20 cents on Friday and holidays!

 

[cinamin27]

also, stay away from the couple of gas stations on 535 between I4 & the Downtown Disney hotels entrance, they have the HIGHEST gas prices in Orlando! But since they are right there by the Interstate, they get away with those prices because they expect people will want to fill up before hitting the road home.

I find the cheapest gas on the corner of Sand Lake & Turkey Lake Rd at the Citgo (this is also a back way into Universal Studios). I always fill up there before going home.

 

[Jaklackus]

I was freaking out...looking for cheap airfare for our August trip until DH told me how much gas actually costs since apparently I have some sick inflated amount locked into my head. I was under the impression that driving from MA to FL was costing about $300 each way(before the recent price hikes)...lol I was way off...goes to show why I was enjoying our vacations less and less lately...when he compared what gas would cost compared to airfare for 5 plus a rental car ....the gas prices didn't seem so bad afterall. I'm hoping that gas prices keep crowds down...and now it looks like I might actually enjoy this vacation a little more until DH hits the pin stands anyway.

 

[geniegirl]

This has me worried as well. We just down graded our rental to an ION to save on gas. I will be checking gas buddy for an idea on budget but will not drive out of my way on the way down just to save a few cents. What can you do it is still cheaper than flying from Pittsburgh.

 

[KristiKelly]

I'm in NC and prices as of yesterday were $1.85. That is the highest so far for us, last week when I went to Myrtle Beach SC, they were around $1.73 for both NC & SC. We are not leaving until October, hopefully they will start going down by then.

 

[CrazedDisFan]

I was so mad yesterday, and no this has nothing to do with driving to Disney, but it is about gas prices!

I drove from the Detroit suburbs, where gas was 1.97 per gallon unleaded regular, to Toledo, Ohio. When I arrived at the FIRST exit across the Michigan/Ohio border regular unleaded gas was 1.66 per gallon!!!

.31¢ PER GALLON in a short drive!

On my way back home I saw a station not even 4 miles across the border back in Michigan for 1.96 a gallon.

 

[mom2mira]

We have a truck stop that always has the best prices around. It's right of I-70, so they could easily charge more, but they are always less. Today they were 1.81 and two exits away it was 1.99. It is amazing how they can all charge such a different amount and the other was a truck stop too, so I am sure they get lots of business.

If have no idea what stations are in the Orlando area, but here is a $10 rebate($10 BP gas card) when you fill up three times with Amoco Ultimate. We normally use the lowest grade, but I know some people prefer the higher, so a little help.

http://boards.mycoupons.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=493318

I know our trip from OH will cost a lot for gas, but I still know we are saving on the airfare and car rental prices we could have paid plus we can easily bring much more, so it's worth it.

 

[DukeStreetKing]

Just read that OPEC will be increasing the oil output soon. Hopefully, this will lower the prices. However, I will not hold my breath.

 

[gopherit]

I agree you have to put a perspective on it. I too was concerned when hearing the gas price hike -- seemed like it would be 50% more expensive than our gas prices on our last Disney trip.... hmmm, would flying be cheaper?

Well -- with a family of five and the nearest "true" airport at least 70 miles away, you do the math! The price-hike in gas might take us from a budgeted $150 in gas to $225. Also add in a hotel room on the way down and coming back, along with extra food during the trip down and back. HOWEVER -- Cheapest airfare was $200 per head (TIMES 5), and then we would need to add some gas $$ to get to airport, those lovely airport parking fees for 12 days, and transportation to WDW from the airport.

Even with the gas hikes, I just honestly don't see how we can ever justify a flight versus driving, with the size of our crew and at those rates. And if wear on our vehicle were an issue, I think we could probably rent a vehicle to drive down for the trip and STILL come out cheaper than flying. Driving can really stink sometimes from a time and fatigue perspective, but honestly, it's still the cheapest, even with the outrageous gas prices.

 

[skiwee1]

We just got back a few days ago from driving to WDW. We found that prices stayed around $2.05. Some places we paid $2.16 and others we paid just under $2. It wasn't really that much more then our trip last May. We paid about $50 more each way so it wasn't worth worrying about.