Like everyone else with a vehicle, I swing in to a gas station to fill up when the need arises, but to be completely honest about things, I've never thought about whether or not there's a best-day or worst-day to do that.

Apparently, there is.

Getting the most bang for your buck at the gas pump doesn’t always come down to which station you choose, it can also be about the day you fill up. According to new analysis from GasBuddy, which examined statewide average fuel prices over the past year, weekly pricing patterns at gas stations are more predictable than you might think.

Across the country, Sunday emerged as the most common “cheapest” day to buy gas, while midweek days, especially Wednesday and Thursday, often translate into higher pump prices. The difference between the lowest-priced day and the most expensive day in a week can be as much as up to 45 cents per gallon in certain states.

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Let's Take A Look At The Numbers, And Break Down What It Means For Drivers In Illinois And Our Neighboring States, According To Gas Buddy

Let's start out with our state.

Illinois: 

  • Best Day to Buy: Sunday

  • Worst Day to Buy: Wednesday
    GasBuddy found that Sunday is the day when statewide averages tend to drop, giving drivers the best chance to pay less. Midweek, especially Wednesday, often sees prices climb.

Wisconsin:

  • Best: Sunday

  • Worst: Thursday
    Like Illinois, Wisconsin drivers will likely find cheaper gas on weekends, with Thursday often showing the highest averages.

Iowa: 

  • Best: Sunday

  • Worst: Wednesday
    Iowa’s gas price rhythm closely mirrors Illinois: cheaper on Sunday and pricier midweek.

Missouri:

  • Best: Sunday

  • Worst: Wednesday
    Missouri also tips toward Sunday deals, with Wednesday typically the most expensive day.

Indiana: 

  • Best: Monday

  • Worst: Thursday
    Indiana diverges slightly: Mondays tend to be the cheapest day and Thursdays the most expensive. This pattern underscores how weekly price cycles vary by region.

Kentucky: 

  • Best: Sunday

  • Worst: Wednesday
    Kentucky follows the broader Midwest trend, with Sunday filling up your tank for less and the middle of the week spiking prices.

Read the entire piece from Gas Buddy by clicking here.

LOOK: See how much gasoline cost the year you started driving

To find out more about how has the price of gas changed throughout the years, Stacker ran the numbers on the cost of a gallon of gasoline for each of the last 84 years. Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (released in April 2020), we analyzed the average price for a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline from 1976 to 2020 along with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for unleaded regular gasoline from 1937 to 1976, including the absolute and inflation-adjusted prices for each year.

Read on to explore the cost of gas over time and rediscover just how much a gallon was when you first started driving.

Gallery Credit: Sophia Crisafulli

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