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What Drives California’s Gasoline Prices?

Taxes are part of it, but not the whole gap. CA also has a special fuel blend and an isolated market. These are individual stations, not state averages. CEC explains the wider price gap here: www.energy.ca.gov/what-drives-...

energy.ca.gov

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The weekend starts when the navigation stops saying "fastest route despite traffic."

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The rare road trip where the itinerary can actually fly away.

WorthStop's average price error was 54% smaller than Google Maps' and 73% smaller than GasBuddy's. A very glamorous founder road trip. At least we brought back numbers. WorthStop Bay Area check Sept. 30 2026.

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And when the prices were off, how far off were they? Across those same 68 stations, WorthStop's prices differed from the recorded price by just 0.74 cents per gallon on average. Less than a penny. Google Maps: 1.62 cents. GasBuddy: 2.72 cents.

Average absolute price difference across 68 Regular stations: WorthStop 0.74 cents per gallon, Google Maps 1.62 cents, GasBuddy 2.72 cents. WorthStop error was 54 percent and 73 percent smaller respectively. Founder field check September 30, 2026.

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For Regular, WorthStop was within a penny of the recorded price at 62 of 68 stations. That's 91%. Google Maps: 56 of 68. GasBuddy: 50 of 68.

Regular prices within one cent of recorded prices: WorthStop 62 of 68 stations, 91 percent. Google Maps 56 of 68. GasBuddy 50 of 68. Founder field check, September 30, 2026.

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WorthStop @worthstop.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

We took gas prices personally. Our founder went around the Bay Area checking prices at gas stations against WorthStop, Google Maps and GasBuddy.

Bay Area map of WorthStop founder field check, September 30, 2026. Teal dots mark 68 stations with field prices. White circles mark 9 other audit records.

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Meeting someone at SJC? From Oct. 2, Gateside lets approved TSA PreCheck members greet them past security. Apply 1-3 days ahead and check approval before driving over. Parking is separate, with no validation. Details: www.flysanjose.com/gateside

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WorthStop @worthstop.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

The dollar counter is doing cardio. The gallon counter is on a lunch break.

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WorthStop @worthstop.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Please include a bibliography. Preferably on the back of a gas receipt.

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WorthStop @worthstop.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

The wet floor sign is somehow the most reassuring character in the room.

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WorthStop @worthstop.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The fall-color photos are saved. Now save the road report. Before a California mountain drive, check Caltrans QuickMap and your destination's forecast. A reel can be yesterday's weather. quickmap.dot.ca.gov

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WorthStop @worthstop.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

The California road trip is not over until everyone has searched under their seat for the phone they are holding.

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WorthStop @worthstop.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

California Friday: the out-of-office reply is on. The brake lights are also on.

WorthStop @worthstop.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

The California weekend itinerary says "flexible." The dinner reservation, sunset and last ferry have formed an opposition party.

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WorthStop @worthstop.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

The passenger who says "we just passed cheaper gas" has been reassigned to looking at mountains.

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WorthStop @worthstop.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

That one leaf is carrying the entire California fall aesthetic.

WorthStop @worthstop.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

The sunshine has done its part. It cannot also install the bike lanes.

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New phone: 256 GB. California parking apps: we'll take it.

Ah, got it. $15.35 for the Lone Pine top-up, starting with a full battery from home. Thanks for separating those out. That is useful context for anyone planning the same trip.

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The ride home after a win: full match analysis at every red light.

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Even the cloud found a scenic place to park.

In Southern California, even the milk run gets an album cover.

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This is what the "compact" parking sign has been patiently waiting for.

Finally, a parking sign that admits it is making this up.

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One reads the screen. One reads the sign. Neither is sure the car is legally parked.

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A road trip with immersive resource management. California drivers call that Saturday.

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Parking lot, cart traffic, gas line. Three sports, one membership.

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LA would like to appeal, but its representative is still on the 101.

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Humboldt making a very persuasive case for missing the planned departure time.

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"Turn at the giant barrel" is a navigation instruction no app can improve.

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California skipped the welcome sign and went straight to the invoice.

No opener, so LA traffic will have to finish its set by 8.

WorthStop @worthstop.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

$15 for the trip is a strong opening argument. Was that mostly overnight charging or fast chargers on the way?

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Borrowed bike, permanent travel plans. That is a very persuasive dirt road.

WorthStop @worthstop.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

The redwoods did their part. Shame the pump wanted a souvenir budget too.

An area code getting a birthday party is a level of local pride we can respect.

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That LeBaron arrived in California as a mobile cheese project.

A California trip planning milestone: opening the map and discovering your saved sunsets require three different vacations.

Nine days offline deserved a gentler re-entry than a gas station.

The grocery list has officially become the itinerary.

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Costco membership in your wallet? Tell the route planner too. In WorthStop: Trip preferences > Membership prices > Costco. This includes eligible member pricing, not a Costco-only filter. Brand ranking and exclusions are not available yet. Both route endpoints must be in California.

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The gas pump is on a streak nobody asked it to maintain.

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At that point the car is legally a salad dressing delivery vehicle.

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Yes. Open Trip preferences and tick Costco under Membership prices to include member pricing you qualify for. The planner currently has no brand ranking or exclusion controls. Both ends of the route must be in California. We have noted your request for brand preferences.