CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Chicagoans who are planning a road trip through multiple states could save $10 – $20 on a single tank of a gas this summer if they plan their gas stops right, according to GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis Patrick De Haan.
That’s because, in part, each state has varying gas taxes and different requirements for summer grade gas blends, which tends to be more expensive than winter-grade fuel. Long story short: De Haan said where drivers fill up will make a big difference in how much it’ll cost them.
“Motorists should almost always check gas prices around them before filling their tank up for potential savings of $10 – 20, even some cases of $30 on a fill up,” he said.
In Illinois, De Haan said drivers are subjected to the ninth-worst gas pump prices in the country. That’s why an easy way to save is to fill up across state lines.
“If you do head into Wisconsin, the statewide average is about $0.70 lower in Wisconsin than it stands in Chicago,” he said.
Even in Kenosha — less than 20 minutes from the Illinois border, by car — De Haan said gas prices are lower across the board.
“In Indiana — not so much a saving in northwest Indiana, simply because that area also requires the chicago-blend of gasoline — but, generally speaking, heading downstate into Indiana you’ll still find [the] price is $0.25 – $0.30 lower than Chicago,” De Haan said.
Those savings can add up, he said.
As for Chicago's high gas prices, De Haan said they likely won’t come down much until mid-September, when the more expensive summer blend is no longer required.
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