Help! Where to Find Gas?

[TinkOhio]

Hey Dis friends, I'm hoping you might be able to help me think of ideas to help out my daughter. She lives close to WDW, and is driving back home after visiting friends in NC. She's made it to the Columbia area, and all of the gas stations gas stations around her are sold out of gas! She has less than an eight of a tank of gas and I've told her to stay put until we can find gas to complete her drive. She was unaware of the gas situation on the east coast right now.

She's called the gas stations all around her, but they're all out. Any suggestions? No idea what else she can do.

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[Lewisc]

You can try calling AAA. My car has about 2 gallons of gas when the gauge shows empty. Driving at 55mph will improve fuel economy. How many miles do you think the car can go? How many miles to your home? Close enough so you can pick her up?

I drive a Prius. I could drive almost 150 miles if the gauge showed 1/8

 

[SteveH]

As wide spread as it is, I'd get a hotel for her and have her hang out for a few days. They are saying things should get better by the end of the week.

 

[TinkOhio]

You can try calling AAA. My car has about 2 gallons of gas when the gauge shows empty. Driving at 55mph will improve fuel economy. How many miles do you think the car can go? How many miles to your home? Close enough so you can pick her up?

I drive a Prius. I could drive almost 150 miles if the gauge showed 1/8

I'm in Ohio, about 12 hours away. We might need to find her a hotel.

 

[Sjm9911]

There is a gas finder application for the phone, mostly used to find cheapest gas. I belive it will also show if they are out of gas. At least according to the articals. Dont k ow the name of it, maybe gas buddy?

 

[TinkOhio]

There is a gas finder application for the phone, mostly used to find cheapest gas. I belive it will also show if they are out of gas. At least according to the articals. Dont k ow the name of it, maybe gas buddy?

Thank you. She is using this app as we speak. All gas stations anywhere near her area are sold out according to the app.

 

[Brett Wyman]

As wide spread as it is, I'd get a hotel for her and have her hang out for a few days. They are saying things should get better by the end of the week.

We are in the thick if it and only about 30% of stations are completely out. If you spend thirty minutes looking you can fill up. Too late for her but for anyone else don't start looking with just an 1/8th a tank!

 

[caroline5177]

I'm in SC and so many stations are out of gas. From what I can see the ones closest to the interstates are emptying first. If she has Fb, have her search for a Columbia locals page...many folks post updates when they find gas. For example, I'm near I-85 and several folks just recently posted that such & such gas station at such & such location currently has gas. Seems there were many overnight deliveries to refill, but I'm in a different part of the state.
A hotel may be a good idea.
Good luck!

 

[mom2rtk]

You can try calling AAA. My car has about 2 gallons of gas when the gauge shows empty. Driving at 55mph will improve fuel economy. How many miles do you think the car can go? How many miles to your home? Close enough so you can pick her up?

I drive a Prius. I could drive almost 150 miles if the gauge showed 1/8

Maybe she could go trade for a Prius real quick?

 

[Lewisc]

Maybe she could go trade for a Prius real quick?

My point attempt to questimate how miles are left in the tank. How much driving around before car coasts to a stop. My point, 1/8 of a tank may go further then they thought.

 

[joelkfla]

My point attempt to questimate how miles are left in the tank. How much driving around before car coasts to a stop. My point, 1/8 of a tank may go further then they thought.

My Hondas for the past 8 years have done that for me, based on fuel in the tank and calculated average mpg. Don't most cars display a gas range estimate these days?

 

[mom2rtk]

My Hondas for the past 8 years have done that for me, based on fuel in the tank and calculated average mpg. Don't most cars display a gas range estimate these days?

They do, but I'm not sure I'd want my kid out on the road testing cutting it close to that number.

OP, I hope she finds some gas and you both get some peace of mind quickly!

 

[Lewisc]

My Hondas for the past 8 years have done that for me, based on fuel in the tank and calculated average mpg. Don't most cars display a gas range estimate these days?

My car the estimate is miles until the gauge shows E. I still have about 2 gallons, or close to 100 miles YMMV

Normally I wouldn't cut it that close...OPs kid may be cutting it that close looking for a station with gas.
Make sure she has cash.

 

[TinkOhio]

Thanks to all for the suggestions. She was able to contact a college buddy who lives in the area, who tracked down two gas stations that still had gas. Each station capped the available amount to $20, and prices were high. She is traveling down to another friend's place in Ga. with that gas and will hunker down there until she can be sure to find enough gas to make it back home safely. Her car does have the available mileage calculator, but she will need way more than the one tank she has to make it back to Orlando.

We have found out that gas seems to become less available the closer you are to the coastline. For anyone considering making the drive down 95 to Florida, you might want to wait.

 

[SteveH]

@TinkOhio thanks for the update and glad she's in a good spot and safe.