STATELINE — Gas is nearly 80 cents cheaper per gallon in Idaho compared to Washington, and that’s causing many drivers to head across the border.
New data confirms there have been more trips from Washington to Post Falls since gas prices spiked earlier this year.
Driver analytics company Arity released new data that confirms drivers are heading to Idaho for cheaper gas. In the past few months, that number jumped by nearly 10 percent when gas prices spiked.
Visits across the border have come down slightly since then, but the data shows Washington drivers are still heading to Post Falls more often.
“It’s been really booming. There’s been a lot more people coming over, it’s been good for business,” said Seth Sakuma, manager of A1 Smoke Shop.
Even though data from Arity shows fewer people making the trip from Washington to Idaho for cheaper gas prices, many of the gas stations in Stateline are still seeing lines at the pump.
“Stateline has always been really good for people who don’t want to pay Washington prices. I used to live in Colville and I’d drive all the way here just to get gas and cigarettes,” said Joni Hepler, manager of Liberty Stop-N-Go.
The demand for gas is high enough at the two gas stations at Stateline Plaza that its owners are building eight new gas pumps set to open next month.
“It will decrease the stress levels a lot. A lot of people get angry waiting for a pump and get cut off. This hopefully will make it a lot easier, the way the pumps are set up is a lot better,” said Sakuma.
The manager at the Liberty Stop-N-Go in Stateline says the cheaper nicotine products also draw people from Washington.
For customers like Rick Lloyd, the amount he saves on both cigarettes and gas will keep him coming back.
“This [car] is about 14 gallons and change, so if it’s empty, it’s about a buck difference, you’re going to save about $14. Come over to buy a carton of cigarettes, you save about $30, so that’s $45 back in your pocket,” said Lloyd, who comes to Idaho for gas and cigarettes.
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