This California gas station broke the $10 mark. Here’s why

NewsGas hits $10.49 a gallon at one California station. There’s a reason whyA gas station in remote Gorda, along California’s Big Sur coast, was charging $10.49 a gallon after its prices moved beyond the $10 mark. (AP Photo/Phil Klein)ASSOCIATED PRESSThink gas is expensive where you live? One remote California station is charging $10.49 a gallon, according to an article published in The New York Times. The pumps are in Gorda, a tiny roadside stop along the Pacific Coast Highway in Big Sur. Reporting about the station says premium unleaded reached $9.999 in the spring before climbing to $10.49 by the end of summer. The location helps explain the eye-popping price. Gorda is a remote outpost 27 miles north of Hearst Castle. It operates off the power grid and relies on generators that consume thousands of gallons of diesel each month. The station’s higher prices help the business deal with difficult periods when wildfires, landslides or highway repairs cut into traffic. The price stands out even in California. A September cleveland.com report said unleaded gasoline was averaging about $6 a gallon in the state at the time. The station’s owner, Leonardo Vargas Flores, has even changed the software controlling his pumps so the displays can show prices above $9.999. He and his wife also operate other businesses at the remote stop. Drivers elsewhere aren’t getting much relief either. MLive recently reported the national average at $4.37 per gallon, while NJ.com has also tracked this year’s higher fuel costs.Chris Pugh covers trending news and national breaking stories, focusing on the moments, conversations, and cultural flashpoints shaping the national news cycle. Chris worked as a digital reporter for...This article was produced with assistance from AI tools and reviewed by Cleveland.com staff.