Fuel prices might seem unpredictable, but if you time your trips to the gas station carefully, you can shave a few extra cents off each gallon. Here’s when and why it pays to refuel at specific times of day.

1. Early Morning Advantage
   Filling up in the early morning—ideally before 10:00 AM—offers two main advantages:

• Cooler temperatures: Gasoline is denser in cooler conditions. Although modern underground tanks minimize temperature swings, there’s still a slight potential for getting more energy content per gallon when fueling early.

• Price stability: Stations typically update their prices in the late morning or early afternoon. Early refueling often lets you catch prices before they adjust upward.

2. Avoid Evenings and Weekends
   Gas prices are most likely to rise during weekends and toward the end of the day.

• Friday evenings are especially notorious for price hikes as stations prepare for weekend traffic.

• Monday mornings can occasionally feature slightly lower prices if the weekend spike subsides.

3. Best Days to Fill Up
   According to data from GasBuddy, Monday tends to have the lowest average gas prices, while Friday and Saturday typically have the highest.

• Best Days: Monday or Tuesday

• Worst Days: Friday and Saturday

4. Watch Out for Major Holidays
   Prices often spike around major holidays like Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day.

• Fill your tank at least 3–5 days before a major travel holiday to avoid higher prices.

• Stations closer to highways and tourist areas tend to raise prices faster and higher during holiday periods.

5. Refill Before You’re Empty
   Waiting until your gas light comes on can force you into paying whatever price is closest and convenient.

• Refuel when your tank hits around one-quarter full so you can be strategic and selective about where and when you fill up.

6. Midweek Morning Strategy
   The ultimate formula for regular savings:

• Aim to fill up on Monday or Tuesday

• Go early in the morning

• Choose stations a few blocks off major highways or away from heavy commuter routes to find lower prices

Timing your fuel-ups wisely can save you several dollars over the course of a month—without any special memberships or apps. By refueling early, shopping around midweek, and avoiding weekend surges, you can keep your fueling budget under better control.