How to Save Money on Gas: The Best and Worst Days to Fill Up Your Tank

If you're trying to save money at the pump, the day you choose to fill up matters more than you might think.

According to a recent analysis by GasBuddy, gas prices tend to be highest around Thursday. In fact, Wednesday through Friday are often the most expensive days to buy gas across the country. This happens because more people are filling up their tanks before the weekend, which drives prices higher.

The good news? By planning ahead and filling up on the right day, you can avoid paying more than you need to.

The Best Day to Buy Gas

GasBuddy's 2026 report looked at gas prices in every state and found that Sunday is the cheapest day to buy gas in most of the country.

This includes large states like:

• California
• Florida
• Texas
• New York
• Illinois
• Georgia
• Michigan
• New Jersey
• North Carolina
• Washington

In some states, Monday is the best day to fill up. These include Alaska, Delaware, Indiana, and Ohio.

A few states have the lowest prices on Saturday, including Kansas, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Wyoming.

The Worst Days to Buy Gas

The most expensive day to buy gas depends on where you live:

• Wednesday is the worst day in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Texas.
• Thursday is the worst day in Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
• Friday is the worst day in Delaware, Maryland, and Rhode Island.
• Saturday is the worst day in Alaska, Hawaii, and Montana.

Simple Tips to Save at the Pump

Here are some easy ways to keep more money in your pocket:

1. Fill up early in the week – Don't wait until Thursday or Friday if you can help it.
2. Use gas price apps – Apps like GasBuddy can help you find the cheapest stations near you. Sometimes the price difference between nearby stations is bigger than the difference between days.
3. Don't wait until your tank is empty – If you wait too long, you may be forced to fill up on a high-price day.