North Central Florida drivers search for savings as gas prices climb above $4.50 a gallon

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - Drivers across north-central Florida are changing routines and hunting for the cheapest pumps as gas prices hover in the mid-$4 range, with some saying the increases are straining already-tight budgets.

AAA data shows the average price in Marion County is about $4.51 a gallon. In Alachua County, prices are averaging $4.55 a gallon, while Columbia County is averaging about $4.41 a gallon.

The higher costs have left many drivers fed up, with some saying the situation has reached a breaking point as they try to balance rent, groceries and other essentials alongside rising fuel bills.

Several people said they’ve started mapping out which stations have the best deals and planning trips more carefully to stretch each tank.

On Thursday afternoon, several Circle K locations ran a promotion from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., offering 40 cents off per gallon.

Drivers said the discount was hard to pass up, though many added it won’t be enough if prices remain elevated for months.

Alex, an Alachua County resident who commutes daily, said the spike is hitting his household finances and routine.

“I’m pretty squeezed tight about it financially,” Alex said. “I drive from High Springs to Gainesville five days a week, that’s just for work, so that’s, you know, almost 60 miles a day.”

He said filling up is especially costly for families.

“I’ve got 4 kids, so we’ve got a, you know, a minivan,” Alex said. “They’re one of the better things to drive as far as gas is concerned, but even that is, you know, 70 to 80 bucks.”

Vonte, a Gainesville resident and college student, said higher gas prices have forced trade-offs in day-to-day spending.

“I’m a college student, and I’m full time, and I definitely have to allocate funds more towards gas and take it away from different areas,” Vonte said. “I can’t just go out to the movies and stuff all the time.”

AAA experts say there’s no quick fix. Even after the Strait of Hormuz opens, they said it could still take several months for prices to return to pre-war levels.

Statewide, AAA reports Florida’s average price at the pump is about $4.52 a gallon.

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