GLENDALE, AZ (AZFamily)<\/b> \u2014 As gasoline prices continue to climb across the country, West Valley drivers are finding a rare oasis of relief at a local gas station.<\/p>\n
According to AAA, the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gas in Arizona is $4.52. In Maricopa County, the pain at the pump is even worse, with the average hitting $4.67 per gallon.<\/p>\n
But at the Shell station located at the corner of 35th and Glendale avenues<\/a>, drivers can consistently find fuel for under $4 a gallon. On Sunday, the station\u2019s sign displayed $3.99 per gallon. Just three days prior, it was even cheaper at $3.79.<\/p>\n For many local drivers, the station is a closely guarded secret.<\/p>\n \u201cI used to post it, but I don\u2019t post it anymore,\u201d driver Patricia Martinez said.<\/p>\n Another driver, Jessica Torres, agreed. \u201cI\u2019ve driven around a lot and I\u2019ve never seen prices like this before.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite long lines that can require up to a 30-minute wait, Torres said the savings make it worthwhile. Even those who live far away are making the trek. Goodnews Armatigoez, who lives on 16th Street, drives across town just to fill up his tank.<\/p>\n \u201cI was like, whoa, you know I\u2019ve been coming here for a few times now,\u201d Armatigoez said. \u201cI can\u2019t explain it, but I\u2019m excited. At least it saved me a couple of dollars in my pocket.\u201d<\/p>\n To make it to the cheaper station, some drivers are rationing their fuel. Martinez said she put only $5 of gasoline in her tank at a nearby Circle K just to ensure she had enough fuel to make it to the Glendale Shell.<\/p>\n The high prices come as AAA reports this August is on track to set the record for the most expensive August ever at the pump. GasBuddy also reports that retail fuel prices are rising nationwide.<\/p>\n \u201cIn fact, over 40 states saw gas prices going up over the last week as oil prices put upward pressure on retail gas prices,\u201d said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.<\/p>\n While the Trump administration recently authorized an early switch to cheaper winter-blend gasoline, it remains unclear if Arizona drivers will see immediate relief.<\/p>\n \u201cArizona does have its own requirements, so it\u2019s hard to know what Arizona is going to do if they\u2019re going to allow the rollback to cheaper winter gasoline earlier or not,\u201d DeHaan said.<\/p>\n On Saturday, President Donald Trump touted a new international agreement<\/a> on social media, calling it \u201cthe biggest oil deal in world history.\u201d The deal reportedly gives the U.S. majority control of more than 65 billion barrels of oil from Venezuelan reserves. However, some energy experts warn that the deal may not immediately budge fuel costs at the pump.<\/p>\n For drivers looking for alternative options under $4, membership-only warehouses like Costco and Sam\u2019s Club offer lower rates, as does the Buc-ee\u2019s location in Buckeye. But for West Valley commuters, the Glendale Shell remains a highly convenient and competitive option.<\/p>\n See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it<\/a>.<\/p>\n