Big Box Gas Wars: Montana Could Be Next

If you’ve been stopping at Town Pump so often, the clerk knows your coffee order, get ready. Montana’s fuel game might be about to shift. Retail giants like Costco and Walmart have their eyes on the gas pump. Yes, Costco already is selling fuel. But, we are talking about a larger scale.

Read More: The New Buy Now, Pay Later Option At Costco Explained

Now, before you get your flannel in a twist and panic that the sacred Montana ritual of “grab jerky, pay cash, fill ’er up” is going extinct, don’t worry. Nothing’s set in stone. But if this trend spreads, you can expect mega-retailers to bolt fuel pumps onto their already sprawling parking lots. Costco already sells gas at most of its stores across the state.

And they’re not alone. Dollar General, the same place you’ve stocked up on bug spray, batteries, and off-brand soda, is also getting into the fuel game in a few places. With Dollar Generals scattered across Montana like hay bales, it’s something to watch.

For big-box stores, it’s all about bundling. Pick up a 5-gallon tub of mayo, a kayak, and 20 gallons of unleaded on your way out. But for homegrown Montana brands like Town Pump, it could mean serious competition. If Walmart or Costco start undercutting prices, expect some loyal customers to rethink where they fill up.

Will it drive prices down? Maybe. Will it squeeze out the little guys? Also maybe. For now, we wait. But one thing’s certain. If Costco ever starts offering fuel samples like they do with the cheese cubes, Montana might never be the same.