Montana Gas Prices: The California Shock I Didn't Expect

Montana has gotten a little good news when it comes to gas prices.

Amid Rising Costs: A Shift in Gas Prices

We've been keeping a close eye on prices lately as they have continued to climb, but we're finally seeing a little bit of a drop. Montana is still among the 11 states with the highest average gas prices, but at least we're heading in the right direction.

Sometimes, though, you don't realize how good you have it until you compare it to somewhere else.

I was reminded of that recently when I took a trip to San Diego, California. It was my first time ever visiting San Diego, which was pretty cool considering I've been a Chargers fan for most of my life.

The Eye-Opening Cost of Gas in California

Of course, one of the things I noticed while I was there was the price of gasoline.

Wow. I knew gas was expensive, but until you see those prices lit up like that, you don't realize how bad it actually is.

We saw regular gasoline selling for as much as $6.99 a gallon at some stations. At another station, regular gasoline was $6.39 a gallon, or $6.29 with a 10-cent-per-gallon cash discount.

The higher grades were even more expensive, with plus at $6.59 and V-Power at $6.79.

Then there was diesel.

$8.57 a gallon.

That's the kind of price that really makes you stop and look twice.

We didn't rent a car during our trip. We used Uber to get around quite a bit, and one of the things I noticed was just how many electric vehicles and hybrids we saw.

When you're paying nearly seven bucks a gallon for regular gasoline, I can understand why an electric vehicle starts to look appealing.

California isn't the only place where gas prices have given me a new appreciation for what we pay here in Montana.

After another trip to Seattle, Washington, I was reminded that Montana still has the advantage when it comes to gas prices.

On the drive, I saw regular gasoline selling for $5.79 a gallon in Ellensburg, Washington, without a cash discount, and including tax. That's still a pretty steep price to pay at the pump, and it's another example of how expensive gasoline can be in other parts of the West.

Montana vs. Neighboring States: A Stronger Perspective

Meanwhile, back here in Montana, we're still paying more for gas than we'd like, but we're getting a little relief as prices begin to drop.

When you compare what we're paying here with what I saw in Southern California and Washington, it puts things into perspective. Montana's gas prices may be frustrating, but we're still coming out ahead of some of our neighbors.

That's not exactly a consolation when you're filling up your tank here, but it does give you something to think about.

A Fresh Perspective on Gas Prices: Finding Relief

We complain about Montana gas prices, and we have every right to when they continue to climb. But after seeing what drivers are paying elsewhere, I came home with a slightly different perspective.

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Gas may be expensive in Montana right now, but it could be a whole lot worse.

After those trips, I don't think I'll complain about filling up in Montana quite the same way again.