How Phoenix-area drivers can still find gasoline under $4 amid rapidly rising Valley prices

Gas under $4 has become scarce across metro Phoenix

Gasoline prices in the Phoenix metropolitan area have climbed sharply in recent weeks, pushing many stations well above the $4-per-gallon threshold and turning sub-$4 pricing into an exception rather than the norm. As of Monday, March 16, the metro’s average price reached $4.59 per gallon for regular unleaded, reflecting a fast-moving market in which posted prices can change multiple times in a single day.

The surge in pump prices follows a broader jump in crude oil costs tied to the expanding conflict involving Iran and disruptions affecting global energy markets. Nationally, the average price for regular gasoline reached $3.79 on Tuesday, March 17, rising from levels seen before late-February military strikes that helped trigger the current volatility.

Where drivers reported prices below $4

Despite the regional average, a limited number of Valley stations were listed at or just below $4 per gallon around March 16. Reported prices included a low of $3.97 at a Walmart Fuel Station near 35th Avenue and Southern Avenue. Several other stations were listed at $3.99, spread across the metro area:

• Quick Korner near 19th Avenue and Southern Avenue (Phoenix)
• Sam’s Club near Rio Salado Parkway and Smith Road (Tempe)
• Sam’s Club near Gilbert Road and Houston Avenue (Gilbert)
• ARCO near Grand Avenue and 103rd Avenue (Sun City)
• Marathon near Osborn Road and 20th Street (Phoenix)
• Marathon near Apache Trail and Ironwood Drive (Apache Junction)
• One Stop Drive Thru near Indian School Road and 67th Avenue (Phoenix)

How to identify the lowest prices in real time

Because station pricing is dynamic, drivers looking for sub-$4 fuel generally need to verify prices shortly before buying. Map-based fuel price tools and station-by-station trackers can help narrow the search to nearby locations, then confirm whether the posted price is still available upon arrival.

Warehouse-club stations can sometimes sit below surrounding competitors, but access may require membership and lines can increase total trip time. In a market with large price dispersion, the effective savings also depend on distance traveled and vehicle fuel economy.

What to expect next

Federal officials have described the outlook as uncertain, stating there are no guarantees on when prices will decline.

For Valley drivers, that uncertainty means strategies that emphasize timely verification and minimizing out-of-route driving are likely to matter as much as the posted per-gallon price—especially while regional averages remain elevated.