Gas Prices ?

**CRCy17** · 07-14-2009, 01:58 PM

As I was driving back to Ames over the weekend from Omaha, I noticed the gas prices all around Des Moines were $2.15. When I got to Ames, they were up in the $2.35-2.39 area. I myself Know very little about what goes into a gas price and was wondering if anyone here knew what goes into the 20 cent increase for Ames just 25 miles away

**tman24** · 07-14-2009, 02:07 PM

i dont know but that is the reason i never fill up in ames, or if I do i only put enough to make it to ankeny or des moines.

**Cyclonepride** · 07-14-2009, 02:10 PM

Just logic, but I'm assuming it has to do with proximity to major supply routes as well as local competition practices.

**cmoneyr** · 07-14-2009, 02:12 PM

as well as local competition practices.

This.

**CRCy17** · 07-14-2009, 02:12 PM

In addition, my mom was saying that prices in Cedar Rapids are/were around the $2.50 area (if someone from CR could confirm/deny this it would be helpful because it may just be my mom being crazy)

**aeroclone** · 07-14-2009, 02:14 PM

When I was in school Ames was always 10 to 15 cents above the Des Moines area. I always did everything I could to avoid buying gas in Ames.

**cyeah** · 07-14-2009, 02:16 PM

I live in Ames, work in DSM and NEVER fill up in Ames (my vehicle) because of the stupid price difference.

I will quit my job and drive a tanker truck between DSM and Ames all day for the price difference. It is not a distance thing it is something else.

One tanker can haul around 5,000 gallons at a time. 5,000 times $0.20 is $1,000 a trip for the tanker truck. I bet a guy can make 3 or 4 turns a day that would be some real money.

**4VR4CY** · 07-14-2009, 02:18 PM

I work in Ames and live in Ankeny. I get ticked off at myself if I forget that my tank is low and have to fill up in Ames. It isn't that big of a deal, just that I know better!

**MoreCowbell** · 07-14-2009, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by CRCy17

In addition, my mom was saying that prices in Cedar Rapids are/were around the $2.50 area (if someone from CR could confirm/deny this it would be helpful because it may just be my mom being crazy)

I can't remember if it was $2.39 or $2.49 when I drove past a station here (CR) yesterday...

**jtdoyle1** · 07-14-2009, 02:20 PM

Originally Posted by CRCy17

In addition, my mom was saying that prices in Cedar Rapids are/were around the $2.50 area (if someone from CR could confirm/deny this it would be helpful because it may just be my mom being crazy)

FYI Gas is $2.13 in Des Moines area today.

I believe eastern iowa gets their gas from a different pipeline than Des Moines which may result in the difference.

Or it could be the fact that so much gas is used in an attempt to drive as fast and as far away as possible from Iowa City.

**isu_oak** · 07-14-2009, 02:22 PM

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Iowa Gas Prices - Find Cheap Gas Prices in Iowa

**isu_oak** · 07-14-2009, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by CRCy17

In addition, my mom was saying that prices in Cedar Rapids are/were around the $2.50 area (if someone from CR could confirm/deny this it would be helpful because it may just be my mom being crazy)

I've been following the gas prices for a few years now. It seems that the highest prices are always in Iowa City/Cedar Rapids/Dubuque/Spencer while the lowest are in Des Moines/Sioux City/Council Bluffs. Evenwhere else fits somewhere in between. This may not always we true, but it's pretty close.

Edit: Prices in Iowa City/Coralville right now are $2.37. Cedar Rapids is generally $0.02-$0.05 cheaper.

**DaddyMac** · 07-14-2009, 02:36 PM

We did a Chicago/Madison trip this past week - coming and going through Dbq and starting in WDM.

Eastern Iowa is typically .15-.20 higher than central Iowa. I've always noticed that Ames seems about .08-.10 higher than DSM, but the oddity is that we travel hwy 330 through Albion, then over through Gladbrook and Traer into Waterloo then 20 over over to Dbq. Usually gas is about the same as DSM all the way to Albion/Gladbrook, even though it's similar distance from those supply lines. Then it's usually about .10 higher around Waterloo and +.20 in Dbq.

I think I filled up in DSM early last week about 2.25. It was in the 2.40 range in Dubuque, then once across the river it jumped to about 2.60. Of course nearer to Chicago it was more like 2.75-2.85. Coming back through Madison was closer to the eastern Iowa prices of 2.30 or so - by that time the prices here were more like the 2.15.

I find it kind of funny that most other cities seem to go higher in prices the closer you get to them, but central Iowa and Des Moines almost always as the cheapest gas in the state.