It used to feel like a small personal victory to cross into South Carolina and fill up for twenty or twenty five cents less per gallon, the kind of quiet bargain that made the detour worthwhile, but those days are gone now that their fuel excise tax has climbed to the point where the price is basically the same as here at Costco. With about 3/4ths of my tank being nothing but air, this stop turned into a perfectly timed chance to fill up as inexpensively as it gets anymore, and there was something satisfying about watching the numbers climb without feeling like I was being taken for a ride.
Most folks still don't realize that if you're in a regular sized car you can pull up on either side of the pumps because Costco uses extra long hoses that easily reach across your vehicle, so you can just pick whichever line is shortest instead of waiting behind a row of SUVs all committed to the same side. It keeps things moving, or at least it does for the people who know the trick.
The setup here is straightforward. Just regular and premium gas, no diesel, no squeegees, no frills. Scan your Costco membership card to start, then your credit card, and the pump wakes up immediately. It's quick, efficient, and exactly what you expect from Costco fuel, which is part of the appeal. On a morning when the rest of the shopping center felt like a maze of tight aisles and questionable decisions, the simplicity of the gas station was a welcome contrast, a little pocket of order before diving back into the madness of Sycamore Commons.
[Review 168 of 2026 - 4556 in North Carolina - 25358 overall] read more