(09-16-2026 01:27 PM)VA49er Wrote: (09-16-2026 12:03 PM)Redwingtom Wrote: (09-16-2026 11:23 AM)VA49er Wrote: (09-16-2026 10:49 AM)Redwingtom Wrote: (09-16-2026 10:10 AM)VA49er Wrote: VA - no discount.
I just checked GasBuddy and saw the local prices. Granted, that was one of the lower prices listed.
Per AAA, the average price in Virginia is $4.15. The counties with the cheapest averages are Mecklenburg ($3.99) and Buchanan ($3.94).
So consider yourself pretty lucky. My area is now at $4.59.
Haven't seen it above $4 except for the usual places right off the interstates. Probably a good idea to not believe everything AAA says.
Huh? They've always been spot on for the places I travel. That's anywhere from Michigan to Ohio to Pennsylvania.
Well, obviously they weren't "spot on" in this case. It is what is.
Question I asked Google:
"Is AAA always right on gas prices?
Google Answer:
AAA is an authoritative source for broad trends, but its averages are not always exact or immediate for individual stations.
How AAA Calculates Prices:
Averages vs. Reality: AAA provides state, metro, and national averages based on credit card swipes and data from thousands of stations via Oil Price Information Service (OPIS).
Lag Time: AAA data reflects a moving average, meaning prices at local pumps can change faster than AAA updates its daily figures during rapid market spikes or drops.
Broad Scope: AAA gives a general snapshot, but individual gas stations just blocks apart can have vastly different prices based on local competition, brand, or proximity to highways.
How It Compares to Other Trackers:
Users on forums like CleanMPG often point out that AAA's national or regional averages can trend a few cents higher than crowdsourced apps like GasBuddy, which rely on real-time user submissions for specific local corners.
For hyper-local, real-time pricing at individual pumps, crowdsourced tools are usually more accurate day-to-day, while AAA remains the gold standard for macro-level economic tracking and historical averages.