Prices for Filling Up in Tennessee: Where Nostalgia Meets Nausea at the Fuel Pump

Jan 06, 2025 at 07:21 am by WGNS News


RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN - Tennessee continues to shine brightly as one of the top 10 cheapest states to fill up your gas tank—how fortunate! Currently, gas prices in the Volunteer State are averaging a mere $2.74 per gallon. If we take a little trip back to 1947, the year WGNS first graced the airwaves, you might find yourself feeling a bit queasy. Back then, it cost $3.45 to fill a 15-gallon gas tank, and gas prices averaged a jaw-dropping $0.23 per gallon. Sure, that sounds like a steal—until you realize that $0.23 back then is equivalent to about $3.00 today. Maybe we should hug our wallets a little tighter.

In Rutherford County, you can currently snag regular unleaded gas at an enticing $2.73 per gallon, according to AAA, the Auto Club. Meanwhile, Bedford County just south of Murfreesboro is strutting its stuff with an average of $2.76 per gallon for regular unleaded. Over in the Woodbury area to the east, brace yourself for a price of $2.75 per gallon. As if that weren’t exciting enough, Wilson County has the same prices that are being seen in Murfreesboro, with Lebanon and Mt. Juliet offering 87-Octane at $2.73 per gallon. Prices rise even higher in Davidson County, just northwest of Smyrna and LaVergne, where regular unleaded is a whopping $2.82 per gallon. And in Brentwood/Franklin, get ready to pay a princely sum of $3.08 per gallon. Yikes! In fact, the Brentwood/Franklin area proudly clinched the title for the highest-priced fuel in the state throughout 2024—an accolade that residents can’t stop raving about.

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When we consider the entire state of Tennessee, premium fuel now averages $3.58 per gallon, which, fun fact, is 7 cents higher than last week’s $3.46. As for mid-grade fuel, it's on the rise too, averaging $3.16 per gallon, which is a staggering 9 cents higher than just seven days ago.

For the diesel devotees out there, today’s average is $3.27 per gallon—a thrilling 4 cents higher than last Monday. Yes, we’re kicking off the month in exactly the same way we did last month. How exciting! To add a cherry on top, diesel prices are actually .43 cents cheaper today than they were a year ago (good ol' January 6, 2024, when diesel was $3.70 per gallon in TN).

Now, let’s play a fun game of “Where to Find the Cheapest Fuel in Tennessee’s Larger Cities.” Clarksville is currently the champion, offering regular unleaded for just $2.64 per gallon while premium will set you back $3.38. Right behind it is Chattanooga, where regular unleaded costs $2.70 and premium is priced at $3.44—what a steal! Kingsport rounds out the top three, with regular unleaded at $2.70 and premium capping off at $3.46 per gallon.

On the flip side, let’s explore the "High Roller" big cities. The City of Nashville takes the crown for the priciest fuel, averaging $2.80 per gallon for regular unleaded and a staggering $3.61 for premium. Morristown isn’t far behind with $2.76 for regular and $2.53 for premium. And Memphis shows up for the third highest price, with regular unleaded hitting $2.75 per gallon and premium a slight bite at $3.57.

Scroll Down to see a Historic 10-Year Look at Gas Prices in TN vs. U.S. (GasBudy.com):

  1. January 6, 2024 in TN: $2.74/g (U.S. Average: $3.06/g)
  2. January 6, 2023 in TN:  $2.97/g (U.S. Average: $3.27/g)
  3. January 6, 2022 in TN:  $3.00/g (U.S. Average: $3.31/g)
  4. January 6, 2021 in TN: $2.07/g (U.S. Average: $2.30/g)
  5. January 6, 2020 in TN: $2.35/g (U.S. Average: $2.59/g)
  6. January 6, 2019 in TN:  $1.95/g (U.S. Average: $2.22/g)
  7. January 6, 2018 in TN: $2.26/g (U.S. Average: $2.49/g)
  8. January 6, 2017 in TN: $2.14/g (U.S. Average: $2.37/g)
  9. January 6, 2016 in TN:  $1.74/g (U.S. Average: $2.00/g)
  10. January 6, 2015 in TN:  $2.03/g (U.S. Average: $2.18/g)

So there you have it, Tennessee’s gas prices—a charming blend of nostalgia and the thrill of inflation. Buckle up, folks; it’s going to be a wild ride at the pump!