As Gas Prices Edge Upward, Where Can You Find the Cheapest Gas?

Another week, another nickel.

That's what motorists throughout the East Bay are dealing with as gasoline prices continue to edge upward every week.

In California, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded now stands at $4.27.  That's 29 cents above the national average. It's also 5 cents more than it was last week in California, 20 cents more than a month ago and $1.13 more than a year ago, according to Triple A's gasoline price website.

In the Oakland metropolitan area, the average price for regular unleaded is also $4.27. That's 4 cents more than last week and 19 cent more than last month. The price is $1.13 more than a year ago.

Castro Valley continues to have some of the cheapest prices with stations listed on gasprices.mapquest.com,

The stations on that site are selling a gallon of unleaded regular for between $4.21 and $4.27.

Union City also has relatively low prices. The stations listed in that city range from $4.21 to $4.31 a gallon.

Some of the higher prices continue to be in Livermore. The stations listed in that town range from $4.19 to $4.45. Three stations are above the $4.39 mark with the Chevron near the North Livermore Road exit on I-580 boasting the highest price.

Patch stopped at gas stations in four cities along the I-680 and I-580 corridors to check things out.

In Walnut Creek, a gallon of unleaded regular was going for $4.29 at the Union 76 station at Ygnacio Valley Road and Civic Drive.

Noelle Abra was filling up, so she could return to her home in San Francisco.

"The prices are pretty ridiculous," she said. "It's bad. We need to start investing in renewable energy sources."

Abra said she now "tries to drive a little less" to cut down on costs.

In San Ramon, the Valero station at the corner of Crow Canyon Road and San Ramon Valley Boulevard was selling unleaded regular for $4.27 a gallon.

Dan Gane, a San Leandro resident, spent $55 filling up his Honda Element. He said prices are high. He tries to take his Toyota Prius hybrid whenever he can.

"I drive it on the long trips," Gane said.

In Pleasanton, a gallon of unleaded regular was going for $4.33 a gallon at the Shell station on Santa Rita Road near I-580.

Jennifer Knowlden, who works in Dublin, was putting just $5 into her vehicle, so she could get home to Tracy, where gas is cheaper.

"I don't like the prices. Nobody likes things going up," she said. "However, compared to the rest of the world, the prices aren't that high."

Knowlden used to take public transit when she lived in Portland, Oregon, but with her current long commute, she prefers to get home more quickly to see her family.

In San Lorenzo, the Chevron station at Hesperian Boulevard and Post Office Road had a gallon of regular unleaded priced at $4.29.

A nurse who lives in San Lorenzo and works in Dublin was filling up her Lexus at $4.47 a gallon for unleaded supreme. She now drives only when she has to.

"The prices are too  high," she said.

So where can you get the cheapest gas near Danville and Alamo?

We looked up local spots at GasBuddy, and found these are your best bets for filling up and saving a few dollars (all prices are for regular gas, check GasBuddy for midgrade, diesel, etc.). Some gas stations even give discounts of a few cents off each gallon if you pay with cash, like Texaco in Danville.

Prices as of 4:00pm Wednesday, May 4.

Alamo

• Chevron, $4.29. 3177 Danville Blvd.
  
• Shell, $4.29. 3188 Danville Blvd. 

Danville

• ARCO, $4.15. 1 Boone Ct.
• Texaco, $4.27 (less 7 cents if you pay cash). 3500 Camino Tassajara.
• Chevron, $4.31. 8000 Crow Canyon Rd.

San Ramon

• PCF, $4.15. 1990 San Ramon Valley Blvd.
• Safeway, $4.19. 11050 Bollinger Canyon Rd.
• San Ramon Gas, $4.19. 2108 San Ramon Valley Blvd.

AAA also offers text alerts for low gas prices in the area.