Holiday drivers finding lower prices at pump around Seattle

If you’re hitting the road for Thanksgiving, at least it won’t cost quite as much to fill up the tank.

Gas prices continue to head downward across the state, AAA reports.

A gallon of regular in the Seattle area is now averaging $3.15, more than 15 cents lower than the average just a month ago.

“It’s good news for motorists,” says Jennifer Cook with AAA. “The main driver is that crude oil is down to the lowest level it’s been in three years.”

Prices vary widely around the region, but savvy shoppers can save quite a bit.

GasBuddy.com reports the lowest pump price around the Seattle area is at Sam’s Club in North Seattle, where a gallon of regular is currently going for $2.72. A number of other north end stations including multiple ARCO outlets and Costco are currently selling regular for $2.75 a gallon.

In other areas of Seattle, though, prices are as high as $3.59 a gallon, including at a number of Shell and 76 stations.

Cook says while competition keeps prices low in some areas and with some companies like ARCO, others use zone prices standardized across the region, limiting pricing flexibility and keeping prices higher.

Experts predict prices should soon stabilize and likely won’t go much lower. They’ll then begin their slow, predictable seasonal climb in late winter as refineries being switching from winter to summer blends.

“That typically transitions around mid-February or so, and that makes the refiners reduce their capacity and that puts pressure on their prices,” Cook says.