How To Find Cheap Gas Online

Gas prices have gone crazy in the last few years and it's not very likely that they'll go down. We all need to keep on driving, so there's not much you can do. But, with a good internet connection and a little know-how, you can find the cheapest gas stations near you and save a little at the pump. Here are some websites you can use to find the cheapest gas.

Gas Buddy

Gas Buddy can help you find cheap gas in the US and Canada. First off, it tells you what the average gas prices each day. You can also see how much gas is in different parts of the country.

The front page has a US map. You click on your state and it shows you websites for that state. For example, I live in Arizona. When I clicked on Arizona, Gas Buddy gave me three different sites for checking gas prices. I looked at Arizona Gas Prices.com, where it lists all the places you can get gas in Arizona, with the cheapest at the top (At Superfuels in Yuma, you can get gas at $2.04 a gallon!). For a more detailed search, you can put in a metro area, state or zip code and it gives you a map from Google Maps, with all the stations and prices for the area you chose.

Gas Buddy has tons of sites to choose from, for each specific state. I found three sites for Arizona, so there's no telling what you might find in California or Texas.

MSN Auto

MSN Auto has a map that you can click on, or you can type in your zip code. It will show you all the stations for the area you chose, as well as the average price of gas. Under the map it gives you a list of stations and prices for the area you chose, starting with the cheapest. MSN Auto gives you the price for premium, low grade and diesel.

At the bottom of the page, it shows you an updated national average, along with the highest and lowest. The average was $2.21 a gallon. Cheapest gas in the USA? Springfield, Missouri at $1.73 a gallon. You're not so lucky if you live in Kaunakakai, Hawaii. Gas there is $3.40!

Gas Price Watch

Gas Price Watch is a giant database where users help keep the info up-to-date. You can join the site and create a profile. Then, you can save your closest or most used stations and check them with the click of your mouse anytime. If your station isn't listed, you can submit it and add it to the database.

On Gas Price Watch you can search the nation's gas stations by zip code, state, city, street address or intersection. Gas Price Watch has lots of advanced search options for members, and membership is free. If you join, you can become a "spotter." This means that, when you are buying gas, you can submit the prices to the site if they have changed. When it tells you the price for each station, it tells you how recently it has been "spotted." This way, users keep the system current.

The site is working on a feature called "My Route." With My Route, you can plot your usual way to work, and it will give you a listing of all the gas stations and gas prices along that route. It doesn't have to be your daily commute; if you're planning a trip, you can check all the gas stations along the way. I can't think of anything more convenient for a road trip than knowing all the stations along the way. My Route isn't ready yet, but it should be up pretty soon.

We're all dependent on our cars to get us where we need to go, and if the gas prices keep going up, we'll have to keep paying them. But, there are some ways to save if you're resourceful. Using the internet to find the cheapest prices near you is one way that you can be smart and save.