Many visitors to Central Florida know that renting a car at Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the ultimate freedom. You have a vehicle at your disposal for the entirety of your trip, and that allows you to not only come and go as you please, but also lets you go just about anywhere without the hassles and occasional uncertainties of shuttles, buses, taxis, and ride-sharing.
Of course, you have to return your car at the end of your trip, which leaves you with the question of whether or not to fill up your tank before you return the vehicle (should you prepay for the gas? Read this to help you decide). If you decide to fill up just before you get to MCO, that’s great!
Just don’t fill up at these places.
Suncoast Energys
The Suncoast Energys gas station is officially located at 5928 Butler National Dr. but is easily visible from S. Semoran Blvd., which is the N/S running street just north of MCO. It consistently has one of the highest prices for gasoline in the country, regardless of what “normal” gas prices are.
<— Northbound // Southbound, towards MCO —>
And if charging upwards of over two times the going rate for gasoline wasn’t enough, for YEARS this gas station didn’t even post prices! People didn’t know how much the gas was until they got to the pump. Eventually, the City of Orlando enforced an ordinance that gasoline prices had to be posted in an easily viewable spot. For a while there, Suncoast Energys was fined $250 daily because they didn’t have signs. Now they do. One sign. That you can barely see from the main road because of course, you can’t.
via Yelp/Will S.
Yep, that’s just shy of $6 per gallon. As a comparison, most gas stations have been charging between $3 and $4 per gallon (depending on current trends) for well over a year.
If you look at this place’s Yelp pages, you’ll see dozens of people who paid their ridiculous prices because they didn’t know better. No wonder why it only has 1 star.
Sun Gas
Oh, and the Sun Gas station directly across the street, at 5600 Butler National Dr.? Almost as bad. Maybe a few cents less. And it also collected fines for not showing its prices for a while. The big problem with that gas station is it’s the very last one, southbound, before you reach the airport.
<— Southboard towards MCO // Northbound —>
So Where Can You Go?
There’s a Wawa that’s just a block or two up, at 6500 S. Semoran Blvd, that has almost normal prices. You’re welcome to go there for your gas, if you’d like. Or go a little more north and there will be other places with regular prices. (see below the map for places closer to the tourist areas).
Top = North // Bottom = South to Orlando Int’l Airport
You can also click here to see the places that are just off the Greeneway (Rt. 417) and the Beachline (Rt. 528), both of which are the main roads between MCO and the tourist areas. The gas stations on these two highways have “normal” prices.
But whatever you do, please don’t buy gas at Suncoast Energys or Sun Gas!
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
6 comments
Unfortunately, we fell for it. I was driving with my German friends as they were returning to the airport in their rental car. They needed to fill up and pulled into the first station they saw driving north. Not wanting to miss their flight they paid dearly at this cheater gas station. Hope others see this post.
We come in from Melbourne on 528 West and stop for gas at Narcoossee Road, exit 13. There is a gas station to the right off the exit ramp, and a 7-11 to the left if you want some snacks. Less traffic than going to the Wawa at Semorian, but the food is better at Wawa.
There’s a gas station on Vinland Ave right across from Marriott Village. It consistently has much higher prices than even Suncoast Energys. Last week it was $7.99/gallon. Or was it $8.99? Anyhow, it makes Suncoast Energys looks inexpensive. Always has.
There’s also a gas station at the cell phone lot at the airport. It’s about 50 cents more than “normal” but that’s not so bad considering.
In Calif gas is already $7 a gallon so at the airport it’s probably be $9
Glad to see this information shared. I got caught in this years ago and actually wrote to the DA regarding it. The DA did respond and indicated they could charge whatever they want.
There oughta be a law, huh?