The war in Iran – sorry, military excursion – may be taking down the bad guys, but it’s driving up gas prices.  In Europe gas prices have sky rocketed and, in Asia, in some places it’s hard to find gas at any price.

So, consider yourself lucky you live in North Carolina

A new report circulating this week points to several North Carolina gas stations that have recently offered some of the lowest prices in the state – though drivers may want to read the fine print before chasing down those deals.

The data, compiled by Vegas Insider using price information from GasBuddy, identifies specific stations across the state where prices have come in lower than most competitors in recent days.

At the top of the list is a Sheetz in Winston-Salem, where gas was recently reported at $2.89 per gallon – a price that stands out at a time when the national average has been hovering well above $4.

Other low-priced locations across North Carolina include:

  • A BJ’s in Burlington at about $3.40.
  • A Costco in Greensboro at about $3.41.
  • Several Sam’s Club locations across cities like Rocky Mount, Hickory and Fayetteville that are selling gas in the $3.30–$3.40 a gallon range.

The report ranks those stations among the cheapest recently reported in their respective cities, with discount chains and warehouse clubs dominating the list.

That’s not unusual.

Stores like Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s often sell gasoline at lower prices than traditional stations, sometimes using fuel as a way to draw customers into the store. But there’s a tradeoff: many of those locations require a paid membership, which means not every driver can simply pull up and fill up at the advertised price.

There’s another important caveat as well – gas prices can change quickly.

Because the report relies on real-time and user-reported data, a station that was among the cheapest in the state earlier in the week might not still hold that spot by the time drivers arrive. Also, prices can fluctuate throughout the day based on competition, supply costs and even traffic patterns.

In other words, the list is best viewed as a snapshot of recently reported low prices rather than a permanent ranking.

The same report also points out that North Carolina ranks among the states with the cheapest gas in the country. But that conclusion is based on the lowest single reported price in each state – not the average price most drivers are paying.

Data from AAA, which tracks statewide averages, shows North Carolina generally comes in below the national average – but not necessarily among the very cheapest states overall.

Still, for drivers willing to shop around – and in some cases pay for a membership – the report does point to a consistent trend: warehouse clubs and large discount chains continue to offer some of the lowest gas prices in North Carolina, even if those prices won’t last forever.

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