Today (8/29/07) I got off I-80 at exit 303 to refuel. (Also to turn around, because I should have taken exit 301 to get to Nevada Hwy 225.)

There are two Cheron stations near this exit--one to the north and one to the south. I went south to the Chevron station at East Jennings Way and Idaho Street. Regular was $3.39 9/10. I thought that was high, but I foolishly assumed that's how it is in Elko. I might have left Elko believing that, but traffic congestion made a left turn from the Chevron Station difficult, so I turned right onto Idaho Street (westbound) so I could look for an opportunity to turn around. I saw a Tesoro station that was less than the Chevron, and beyond that I saw a Sinclair station and a Conoco station that were even less. These are across the street from the Main City Park by College Avenue and East Idaho Street. Regular at both the Sinclair and Conoco were $2.82 9/10. Are these obsolete signs? No, I stopped at the Sinclair's convenience store and had an ice cream. I told the lady at the store that unfortunately it was too late for me to buy gas there, because I got suckered into thinking the Chevron station by the exit was normal price for Elko and filled my tank. She said that several by the exits were like that.

Before getting onto I-80 West at exit 303 I looked at the north Chevron station at Alta Vista Dr and East Jennings Way. That was $3.19 9/10. That's less bad that the south one, but still overpriced. The moral of the story is that it's possible to pay reasonable price at exit 303 by turning south and then east onto Idaho street for a few blocks to pay what Elko residents pay. The Chevron station at Idaho Street and East Jennings Way is useful as a good example of what not to pay, and also as a marker of where to turn right.