Should you fill up your car with gas before or after arriving to Myrtle Beach, SC?
As road trippers make their way into Myrtle Beach for the week, they may be checking over gas prices in the area to determine if it’s cheaper to fill up before or after the vacation.
In general, it’s more economical to fill up in the Myrtle Beach area, compared to other Carolina cities, according to data from AAA, formerly the American Automobile Association.
South Carolina gas tends to be less expensive than in North Carolina. AAA data shows over the past year, the discrepancy was anywhere between 11 cents and 1 cent. North Carolina has higher motor fuel taxes than the Palmetto State, which could explain higher fuel prices in the tar heel state.
Fayetteville and Myrtle Beach have the cheapest gas prices in the driving area, according to AAA. Fayetteville’s gas tends to be cheaper by a few cents compared to Myrtle Beach, although both cost less than Raleigh, Wilmington, Charleston and Columbia.
This means tourists traveling south along Interstate 95 should consider stopping in the Fayetteville area for cheaper gas.
Raleigh and Wilmington both cost up to 15 cents more than the Myrtle Beach area, according to AAA, making them expensive stops. Durham costs up to 20 cents extra per gallon.
Florence is a decent spot, as it costs, on average, up to 5 cents more per gallon of gas. Charleston and Columbia range from 5 cents to 10 cents extra per gallon of gas.
Another factor to consider is the prevalence of bulk stores like Sam’s Club and Costco, as they tend to carry cheaper gas for members. Sam’s Club locations are in like Fayetteville, Florence, Raleigh, Charlotte, Charleston and Columbia, among other cities.
Costco has locations in Wilmington, Raleigh, Charlotte, Charleston and Columbia. Myrtle Beach has both stores, as well as a BJ’s Wholesale.
Gas prices are expected to rise this summer, a trend not unique to Myrtle Beach, said Gas Buddy head of petroleum analysis Patrick De Haan in an email to The Sun News.
“In general Americans get outside and travel more (in) summer. Thus gasoline demand is higher in the summer coupled with the fact that we also use cleaner, more expensive gasoline in the summer,” De Haan said. “All contribute to higher prices in the warmer weather compared to the colder weather.”
