How to find cheap gas in N.J. for Memorial Day 2018 weekend

Want to find the cheapest gas near you this Memorial Day weekend? Here are a few easy ways to hunt down the cheapest gas prices.

1) Know the average price.

Knowledge is power. Your bench mark is the statewide average price of regular, which climbed to $3 per gallon Thursday morning, according to GasBuddy.com. New Jersey's prices are trending about five cents per gallon higher than the $2.97 per gallon average national price for regular.

New Jersey joins 13 others and the District of Columbia at $3 a gallon and above, said Robert Sinclair, AAA Northeast spokesman.

But bargains can be found if you look. The cheapest price in the state on Thursday was an unbelievable $2.71 at a station named Gasland in Helmetta and most of the lowest discount prices were in the $2.71 to $2.78 a gallon range, according to Gas Buddy, which crowd sources the lowest and highest prices.

2) Use these tools to save

The Internet and your phone can save you leg work. AAAGasBuddy and Gas Guru are free smartphone apps have on-line tools that use GPS or your zip code to help find cheap gas near your location.

The on-line AAA fuel finder give results in a separate window after you enter your town, state and zip code, so turn off your pop up blocker. GasBuddy's web page also lets you search by zip code and give the statewide average prices.

3) Highways -- gas price friend or foe?

Gas tends to be more expensive at stations along or near highways, highly trafficked areas and affluent neighborhoods, Sinclair said. The same brand and grade of gas can have a 25 cent price difference at stations as close as a quarter mile from one another, due to those circumstances, he said.

There are exceptions to the highway rule.

Some highway corridors are havens for good gas prices, such as the Route 1 corridor between Edison and New Brunswick, Route 9 south of the Raritan River in Middlesex and Monmouth counties, sections of Route 22 in Union County, Route 41 in Deptford, and Route 168 between Mount Ephraim and Runnemede.

The bottom line, know where the cheap gas lives on the highways you drive.

4) Know your turf and when to buy

Drivers should keep a lookout while driving and make a mental note where gasoline stations tend to have cheaper prices, Sinclair said.

"Even when prices start to go up, those stations will probably maintain their price advantage," he said. "And with prices going up day by day, if you need gas, get it now."

5) Can you use "no name" gas?

No name or "unbranded" gas stations typically have lower prices than name brands, but will you ruin your car? It is an option, Sinclair said. However, you should stick with the octane that the manufacturer recommends for your vehicle.

"It's all safe to use, as all gasoline must meet federal standards for quality," Sinclair said. "It might not be Top Tier gas, meaning not the cleanest burning fuel, but it's okay to use."

If you're really worried about engine deposits building up from unbranded gas, make every third fill-up with name brand gas, said Tom Kloza, Oil Price Information Service global petroleum analyst.

6) Is there relief in sight?

Don't hold your breath.

"Higher prices are being driven by more expensive crude oil, tighter supplies and higher demand, with the last factor likely to increase with the start of the summer driving season this holiday weekend," Sinclair said.

Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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