Gas Prices Vary in Lawrence as State Average Hits $3

The bad news is that New Jersey has joined the growing list of states where the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline has hit the $3 mark.

The good news, at least for the moment, is that some service stations in Lawrence Township are still selling gas below that.

So, if you know where to go, you can save yourself a little bit of money on gas. For example, an informal survey of local service stations by Lawrenceville Patch on Tuesday found gas prices in Lawrence Township ranging from $3.15 on the high end to $2.85 on the low end.

AAA Mid-Atlantic announced on Tuesday that, by reaching a statewide average of $3.00 for the first time since March 2008, New Jersey this week joined 30 other states and Washington D.C. to hit the "unwelcomed milestone" of $3 per gallon of regular gasoline.

AAA reported that the national average for a gallon of gas on Tuesday was $3.07 – representing an increase of 13 cents since last months and 41 cents more than one year ago.

Currently, according to AAA, the most expensive gas in the United States is in Alaska, where the average gallon costs $3.52. Utah has the lowest per gallon average at $2.81.

By hitting the $3 average this week, gas in New Jersey is now 9 cents more than it was a month ago and 47 cents more than it was in January 2010.

 "It's an unwelcome membership to an expensive club," AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesman Tracy Noble said.

Lawrenceville Patch's random survey of just some of the service stations in Lawrence Township shortly after noon on Tuesday found the following.

The most expensive regular-grade gasoline was being sold at $3.15 per gallon by the LukOil station at the intersection of Lawrence Road (Route 206) and Lawrenceville-Pennington Road, not far from Interstate 95. The next highest price was $3.09, found at the Exxon station along the northbound side of Route 1 between Carnegie and Litho roads, while a price of $3.05 was found at the Shell station at Brunswick Pike (Business Route 1) and Franklin Corner Road.

The Sunoco station on the northbound side of Brunswick Pike between Pilgrim and Putnam avenues and the Exxon station on the southbound side of Brunswick Pike between the post office and Texas Avenue were both selling a gallon of regular gas for $2.95 on Tuesday.

But the LukOil station on the opposite corner of southbound Brunswick Pike at Texas Avenue, adjacent to Lawrence Shopping Center, was selling a gallon for $2.87. The same price was found at Al's Service Station on Lawrence Road, between Princeton Avenue and the Brunswick Circle.

Two other service stations in the southern end of the township offered lower-than-average prices: $2.89 at the QuickChek on Brunswick Circle Extension, and $2.85 at the Express Fuel station at Harney's Corner (the intersection of Lawrence Road and Princeton Pike).

AAA's Fuel Finder tracks gas prices at individual gas stations.

AAA Mid-Atlantic serves New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C.