How to Use Costco for Fuel on Long Road Trips

For many drivers in the United States, Costco is already a go-to for groceries, tires and electronics. For long road trips, though, the biggest hidden gem is often the fuel station. Costco’s combination of generally lower gas prices, consistent fuel quality and nationwide footprint can shave meaningful dollars off a multi-day drive.

That advantage becomes clearer when viewed through using Costco for road trips and van life, where fuel strategy, timing and location planning all shape total travel costs.

Why Costco Fuel Matters So Much On Long Road Trips

Fuel is usually the single largest variable cost on a long drive. Over a 2,000 mile route, even a modest 20 to 40 cents per gallon savings can add up to significant money, especially for SUVs, trucks and RVs with large tanks.

Costco’s business model focuses on high volume and low margins, and that tends to translate into fuel prices that are often lower than nearby brand name and independent stations. For a family driving across several states, planning to refuel at Costco where possible can be the difference between a merely expensive trip and a well optimized one.

Costco fuel is not just about price. Costco sells Kirkland Signature gasoline that meets Top Tier performance standards, a voluntary higher standard for detergents and additives that is designed to reduce engine deposits over time.

Top Tier gasoline requirements emphasize detergents that help keep fuel injectors and intake valves cleaner than the minimum federal standards. For drivers putting thousands of miles on a car in a matter of days, that level of quality and consistency can offer extra peace of mind compared with chasing the absolute rock bottom price at unknown stations.

Availability is another crucial factor. Costco now operates hundreds of warehouses in the United States, and a large percentage of those locations include fuel stations. For most major interstate corridors and metro areas, there is usually a Costco within a reasonable detour of the highway.

That makes it realistic to string together Costco fuel stops across a multi state itinerary, especially if you plan in advance and treat those stops as anchor points for meals and rest breaks.

Finally, Costco often pairs fuel savings with other road trip friendly services. Many locations offer car washes, tire centers and propane services, and the warehouse itself can be a convenient place to restock road snacks, bottled water, a cooler, windshield washer fluid and road trip essentials. Thinking of Costco as a multi purpose road hub rather than just a gas pump can make long days on the road smoother and more predictable.

Membership, Eligibility and How Non Members Can Still Use Costco Fuel

Costco fuel stations in the United States are generally restricted to members, which is a crucial detail for road trip planning. According to Costco’s official fuel Q and A, the gas stations are open to Costco members only, with one key exception. Non members can buy fuel if they are paying with a Costco Shop Card. That means the average driver cannot simply pull off at Costco and fill up without some planning.

A standard Costco Gold Star membership is a paid annual membership that allows the holder to shop in warehouses and use fuel stations. The Executive membership tier adds an annual 2 percent reward on qualified Costco purchases up to a certain limit, which can be attractive for frequent drivers who expect to buy a lot of fuel and in warehouse items over the course of a year.

For many households that take several long road trips or frequently commute, the fuel savings combined with in store discounts can quickly offset the membership fee.

The workaround for non members is the Costco Shop Card. Costco’s official conditions specify that only members can purchase and reload these prepaid cards, but anyone in possession of a valid Costco Shop Card can use it to buy fuel, typically with the help of an attendant who can authorize the pump.

In practice, a family member or friend with a membership can buy a Shop Card for someone who does not belong to Costco, allowing that person to legally purchase fuel and select merchandise. For a one time long road trip, it may make financial sense to ask a member you know to provide a card loaded with enough value for your fuel budget.

Drivers should be aware that membership requirements can be enforced at the pump. At many Costco locations, you insert a membership card before your payment card to verify eligibility.

When paying with a Shop Card, you usually bypass the membership card step because the Shop Card itself is the credential. Given these rules, it is wise to confirm that your membership card and any Shop Cards are valid, funded and physically with you before leaving home. Relying on digital wallet versions alone may not be enough at all locations if a card reader or system is finicky.

Payment Methods and Maximizing Rewards On Fuel Purchases

Knowing what forms of payment work at Costco fuel stations is critical so you do not end up at a pump with a nearly empty tank and a card that will not process.

Costco’s current payment policies specify that U.S. fuel stations accept all Visa credit cards, most PIN based debit or ATM cards, Costco Shop Cards and mobile wallet options such as Apple Pay when linked to a compatible Visa card. Other major credit card brands, such as Mastercard or American Express, are not accepted directly at the pump in the United States, even if you can use them online or at other retailers.

For road trippers, this means that carrying at least one Visa credit or debit card is practically mandatory if you want to rely on Costco fuel. Before departing, check expiration dates, verify that cards are active, and consider notifying your issuer of upcoming travel if you will be crossing state lines or regions where your normal spending patterns do not apply.

It is wise to have a backup Visa card in case of a fraud alert or decline on your primary card. Mobile payment options can be a good secondary method, but do not assume every pump will process them flawlessly, especially in heavy travel seasons when systems are under load.

There is also a rewards angle to consider. The co branded Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi offers cash back rewards on fuel purchases at Costco. As of early 2025, Costco and Citi announced that cardholders earn 5 percent cash back on gas purchases made at Costco locations, up from the previous 4 percent, on the first set amount of gas and EV charging purchases annually before the rate drops to a baseline level after that cap.

Many other Visa reward cards also offer enhanced earnings on fuel spending, although usually not as high as the co branded product at Costco pumps.

On a long road trip where you may spend several hundred dollars on gas alone, that level of cash back can meaningfully increase your total savings beyond the posted pump price.

When planning your fuel budget, factor in the effective price after rewards, and consider dedicating one specific rewards card to fuel purchases for easier tracking. Just remember to keep an eye on annual caps and to pay balances in full to avoid interest charges that would erase any benefit.

Finding Costco Fuel Along Your Route

Using Costco for fuel on a road trip only works if you can reach stations without painful detours or disruptions to your schedule. The first step is mapping your route and then overlaying Costco locations that have fuel stations.

Costco’s own warehouse locator tool allows you to filter for gas station services and check individual warehouse hours, including separate fuel station hours that can differ from store hours. Many popular navigation and map apps also highlight Costco fuel as a point of interest, although it is still smart to double check the availability of fuel at each warehouse.

When planning a multi day itinerary, identify logical refueling windows based on your vehicle’s range. For instance, if your car can travel 350 miles on a full tank, target Costco locations that are 250 to 300 miles apart, giving you a cushion for traffic, detours or unexpected delays.

Where possible, pair fuel stops with meal breaks or grocery runs inside the warehouse. This reduces the number of separate stops you make in a day and can help keep your travel time under control, especially when driving with children.

Travelers should pay close attention to fuel station hours, which are often earlier and later than the warehouse hours but not necessarily 24 hours. Many Costco gas stations open before the warehouse and close slightly earlier in the evening.

If you like to start driving before sunrise or push late into the night, check specific hours for each planned stop on the days you expect to be there. Arriving after the fuel station closes, even if the warehouse is still open or vice versa, can put you in a bind if you were counting on that stop.

It is also wise to have a backup fuel plan near each Costco stop. While rare, pump outages, long lines, power issues or temporary closures can and do occur. Use your mapping tools to note at least one conventional gas station within a few miles of each planned Costco location.

That way you maintain flexibility and avoid running your tank down to fumes in hopes of saving a few cents per gallon. The key is to treat Costco as your preferred option, not your only option, across long, unfamiliar stretches of highway.

Timing, Crowds and Practical Pump Side Strategy

Costco fuel stations are popular, and that can translate to long lines at peak times. For road trippers, this is both an inconvenience and a potential schedule buster. Midday weekends, late Friday afternoons and holiday eves are usually the most congested.

When possible, aim to refuel during off peak windows such as mid morning on weekdays, early afternoons on non holiday Mondays or Tuesdays, or later in the evening before the station closes.

Even with careful timing, expect some queuing at many urban or high traffic locations. Costco designs its fuel stations with one way traffic and extra long hoses that can reach either side of a vehicle, and this helps streamline flow. As you pull in, watch for attendants guiding cars and follow posted arrows to keep traffic moving.

Be ready to pull up promptly when the car in front of you finishes, and have your membership card or Shop Card and payment card in hand before it is your turn. Efficient pump side habits reduce the chance of backing up the line and keep stress levels lower for everyone involved.

On a long road trip, it can be tempting to top off the tank constantly whenever you see a cheap price. With Costco, a more strategic approach often works better. Because locations are not found at every exit, you will likely plan specific refueling points. Aim to arrive with at least one quarter tank remaining rather than waiting until your low fuel light is on.

This gives you margin if the station is unusually busy, temporarily closed or requires a short detour. It also avoids the anxiety of creeping into an unfamiliar city on near empty, searching for a particular warehouse.

Pump etiquette is particularly important when you are far from home. After inserting your card and selecting fuel grade, stay near your vehicle rather than sitting inside with the doors locked. This allows you to respond quickly to any error messages, handle drips or nozzle issues and move your car forward the moment you are finished.

If you need to throw away trash, clean windows or reorganize the trunk, do as much as you can while the tank is filling, not after. Save longer tasks, phone calls and restroom breaks for the parking lot or warehouse after you have cleared the pump.

Budgeting, Real World Savings and When Costco May Not Be Worth the Detour

For many drivers, the question is not whether Costco fuel is cheaper in absolute terms but whether the savings are worth the detours and time spent reaching those stations on a long trip. In general, Costco gas stations have a reputation for posting prices several cents below nearby brand name stations.

Over a 15 to 20 gallon fill up, a 20 cent per gallon discount yields a savings of 3 to 4 dollars, while a 40 cent difference can mean 6 to 8 dollars per stop. Multiplied over multiple refuels, that can be a reasonable percentage of your total fuel budget.

However, road trips are about more than simple math. Detouring too far off route, getting stuck in heavy warehouse traffic, or waiting in thirty minute lines to save a few dollars can erode the value of your vacation time and add fatigue.

Financial commentators often caution against extreme frugality that disregards time and convenience. The smartest way to use Costco for fuel on a road trip is to favor locations that sit close to your main route or in suburbs where traffic is manageable at your planned arrival time.

One effective strategy is to prioritize Costco fuel in expensive fuel markets. If you know you will be passing through regions where gas prices are significantly above national averages, such as certain coastal cities or remote mountain towns, anchoring your stops at Costco can protect you from the steepest price spikes.

In areas where gas is relatively cheap everywhere, the relative savings from Costco may be smaller, and using a closer independent station for one leg of the journey might make more sense if you are tired or the weather is poor.

Factor your membership cost into the bigger picture. If you are already a Costco member for everyday shopping, the marginal cost of using fuel on a road trip is effectively zero.

If you are contemplating purchasing a new membership solely for a one time cross country drive, calculate how much fuel you expect to buy, estimate realistic per gallon savings, and compare that to the membership fee. In some cases, the combined value of fuel savings, in warehouse purchases and rewards earnings may justify joining shortly before your trip.

Combining Costco Fuel With Other Road Trip Essentials

Planning to use Costco for fuel opens the door to using the warehouse as a wider road trip resource. Many drivers find that aligning fuel stops with grocery runs reduces costs on meals and snacks.

You can stock up on shelf stable items such as nuts, trail mix, granola bars and bottled drinks, then supplement those with prepared foods from the deli or food court for quick, budget friendly meals. With a cooler in the trunk, you may be able to pack enough food from a single Costco run to cover several days of lunches and snacks.

Costco’s tire centers and automotive services can be especially useful if you are logging high mileage in a short period. Before departure, consider scheduling a tire rotation, balance and pressure check at your home warehouse.

During the trip, if you experience a slow leak or tire issue near a city with a Costco, you might be able to get assistance there at a reasonable price, especially if you originally purchased your tires from Costco. Although services vary by location and walk in availability is not guaranteed, having the option on your radar can be reassuring.

Other departments can solve road specific problems on the fly. Need a new cooler after your old one cracks, or want a shade canopy for a beach stop? Costco often carries seasonal outdoor gear at competitive prices.

If a road trip unexpectedly turns cold at high elevations, browsing the clothing section at a fuel stop might yield affordable jackets, gloves or blankets. The key is to stay disciplined, as the abundance of bargains can make it easy to overspend on impulse purchases while you simply meant to refuel.

By thinking of each Costco fuel stop as a multi purpose resupply point, you can streamline the rhythm of a long drive. Fill the tank, top up windshield washer fluid, clean the car interior, restock snacks and drinks, stretch your legs and use restrooms, all in one visit.

This kind of bundling reduces random stops at unfamiliar small stations and helps maintain a sense of routine and comfort for everyone in the vehicle, especially on multi day journeys.

The Takeaway

Using Costco for fuel on long road trips can be a smart, financially sound strategy for many drivers. The combination of generally lower pump prices, Top Tier fuel quality and a broad footprint of stations makes Costco an appealing anchor for refueling plans.

When layered with membership rewards and careful timing to avoid peak crowds, those savings can accumulate over thousands of miles in ways that are tangible to your travel budget.

To get the most from this approach, however, you need to plan. Confirm your membership status or secure a Costco Shop Card, bring at least one reliable Visa card or debit card, map Costco fuel locations along your route and research station hours in advance.

Stay realistic about when Costco is the right choice and when it is better to use a closer or quieter station to protect your time and energy. Treated as one valuable piece of your road trip toolkit rather than a rigid rule, Costco fuel can help stretch your dollars without stretching your patience.

Ultimately, the goal of a long road trip is not just to spend less but to travel well. When you can combine both by using Costco strategically for fuel and other essentials, you create a smoother, more predictable journey that leaves more room for what matters: the destinations, the landscapes and the people sharing the drive with you.

FAQ

Q1: Do I have to be a Costco member to buy fuel at Costco on a road trip?
In most cases yes, you must be a Costco member to purchase fuel at Costco stations in the United States. The primary exception is when you pay with a Costco Shop Card, which allows non members to buy fuel even though only members can purchase and reload those cards.

Q2: What payment methods work at Costco gas stations while traveling?
U.S. Costco fuel stations accept all Visa credit cards, most PIN based debit or ATM cards, Costco Shop Cards and mobile wallet options such as Apple Pay when they are linked to a Visa card. Other credit card brands, like Mastercard or American Express, are not accepted directly at the pump.

Q3: Is Costco gas really cheaper than other stations along the highway?
Costco gas prices are often, though not always, lower than nearby competitors, sometimes by 10 to 40 cents per gallon. The exact difference varies by region, local competition and market conditions. Over a long trip with multiple fill ups, those savings can become significant, particularly for larger vehicles.

Q4: How can I find Costco fuel locations along my road trip route?
The most reliable way is to use Costco’s official warehouse locator and filter for locations with gas stations, then cross check those with your navigation app. Many mapping apps also show Costco fuel as a point of interest, but you should still verify that each warehouse on your route actually has a fuel station and check its hours.

Q5: Are Costco gas stations open 24 hours a day?
No, most Costco gas stations are not open 24 hours. They generally open earlier than the warehouse and close slightly earlier in the evening, but exact hours vary by location and day of the week. Always confirm the specific hours for the stations you plan to use on the dates you will be passing through.

Q6: Is Costco fuel considered good quality for long distance driving?
Yes, Costco sells Kirkland Signature gasoline that meets Top Tier performance standards, which call for higher levels of detergents and additives than the minimum federal requirements. This standard is designed to help keep engines cleaner over time, which is reassuring when you are putting many miles on your vehicle.

Q7: Can I use mobile payment like Apple Pay at Costco gas stations?
In the United States, many Costco fuel stations accept Apple Pay and other mobile wallet payments when they are linked to a compatible Visa card. However, technology and terminal behavior can vary, so it is wise to bring a physical Visa credit or debit card as a backup in case a specific pump does not process mobile payments correctly.

Q8: Is it worth getting a Costco membership just for one long road trip?
It depends on your expected fuel use and whether you will also shop at Costco. Estimate how many gallons you will buy on the trip, approximate the per gallon savings versus other stations, and compare that potential savings plus any in warehouse purchases and rewards earnings to the membership fee. For high mileage trips or households that expect to use Costco after the trip, the membership can be worthwhile.

Q9: How can I avoid long lines at Costco gas stations when traveling?
Try to time your fuel stops for off peak hours, such as mid morning or early afternoon on weekdays, and avoid weekend middays and holiday eves when possible. Choosing warehouses slightly away from dense city centers and staying flexible with your schedule can also help reduce wait times at the pumps.

Q10: What should I do if my planned Costco fuel stop is unexpectedly closed or too crowded?
Always have a backup fuel option near each planned Costco stop. Before your trip, identify at least one conventional gas station within a few miles of every warehouse on your route. If you arrive and find a temporary closure, mechanical issue or impractically long line, use the backup station rather than running your tank too low waiting for Costco to become available.