It sounds like a headline ripped from an ‘80s cyberpunk novel, but the U.S. is facing a sudden gas shortage after a ransomware attack against Colonial Pipeline resulted in many Americans panic-buying (and in many cases panic-overbuying) gasoline.
The shortage has raised gas prices and left parts of the east coast with minimal fuel supplies. For those having trouble fueling up their tank, here are a couple of apps that show you where nearby gas pumps are, and which ones actually have gas to sell.
GasBuddy (Android, iOS)
GasBuddy has seen a surge in downloads for iOS and Android during the current gas shortage. The free app shows all nearby gas stations and lets you search by company, and includes a real-time price map and outage tracker. The features will help you see which locations still have fuel in stock without having to call ahead or drive around town looking for the most affordable option.
In addition to the search and supply tracking functions, GasBuddy also helps you find fuel-efficient routes, track your trips, and you can even pay for your gas in the app (at participating gas stations). While these features are unique to the smartphone app, you can search for the cheapest gas by state on the GasBuddy website. There’s also a fuel demand tracker that forecasts price and supply estimates.
Google Maps (Android, iOS, desktop)
Google Maps is another option—one that most folks already use on their smartphones. The web version is also easily accessible from any browser.
Open Google Maps, and type “Gas Station” into the search bar, or go to “See nearby places” > More > Gas stations. Some gas stations will show you the current prices. Use the filters at the top of the search results to only show stations open now, or ones that are open 24 hours. If you have an electric vehicle, Google Maps also shows nearby EV charging locations.
Google Maps also lets users submit reviews and other current information for businesses, which could help identify gas stations with current stock. There are no dedicated options in Google Maps for marking a gas station as empty, however, so you’ll need to check the latest comments and reviews.