Gas Prices Swing Nearly 40 Cents Along Short Stretch Of Randall, Rakow Roads

ALGONQUIN AND LAKE IN THE HILLS, IL — Drivers traveling down Randall and Rakow Roads may be paying dramatically different prices for gasoline depending on which side of town they stop.

During a drive along corridor on Wednesday morning, Patch found regular unleaded gas prices ranging from $4.82.9 at Murphy USA gas station, 985 Central Park in Crystal Lake, to $5.209 at the Speedway at Algonquin and Randall roads in Algonquin.

The Murphy Gas Station is located at the eastern-most edge of the Randall/Rakow Road corridor near Walmart in Crystal Lake.

For drivers filling a 15-gallon tank, that price gap amounts to a difference of about $78.135 vs. $72.435. For a driver filling up once a month, that's a savings of $22.80. Over a year, that could amount to $273.60 more spent if selecting the higher gas prices.

Among the prices observed:

• Murphy USA (near Walmart in Crystal Lake), 985 Central Park in Crystal Lake, $4.82.9
• Casey's Gas Station, Pyott and Rakow roads in Crystal Lake, $5.09
• Speedway, Algonquin and Randall roads, $5.20.9

The sharp price differences may have some drivers wondering why stations located so close together can charge significantly different amounts. According to AAA, several factors can influence local gas prices, including fuel taxes, proximity to highways, competition between stations, traffic volume and operating costs.

The average cost of gas statewide as of Wednesday is $5.032 per gallon. In comparison, a month ago, the average cost of gas was $4.383, and one year ago, it was $3.398.

• IL Gas Tax Hike Coming In July: Here's How Much More You'll Pay

Patch.com has reached out to AAA for more insight into the cost differentials in local gas prices but has not heard back as of Wednesday afternoon.