Finding gas stations for a road trip

[Junkie]

at close to 170 miles many bikes won't make it even on a full tank

 

[aciurczak]

Tuono owners need not apply.

 

[Cincinnatus]

MSR bottle - fill with fuel, use for emergency refuels.

http://www.rei.com/product/783963/msr-fuel-bottle-with-crp-cap-30-fl-oz

 

[russ69]

They are thankfully rare, but there certainly are places in the US with some pretty significant distances between gas stations. Some examples are Tonopah, NV to Ely, NV via route 6, which is almost 170 miles apart....

Wow, that's a stretch. My car has about 450 mile range, so even going across the desert, I don't even think about running out of gas but I guess on the small tank bikes you could run out if you didn't plan ahead. Bikes suck on long trips (I lost my desire to be uncomfortable).

 

[louemc]

There's a long stretch of I40 in Arizona where you could get in trouble if you skip one and decide to wait for the next station.
At least it used to be that way. I was coasting down hills in neutral and was on fumes looking for lights on the horizon one night.
I just made it.

I'd have to look on a road map to check the hwy number..but I think I was doing the same thing once in 1987. Bike was a 1100 GIXXR, touring-ized

 

[louemc]

Actually I seem to find more and more small towns that no longer have a operating gas station. It seems like some rural people have to drive pretty far for gas.

I'm surprised everyone seem to think gas is available everywhere. That's not been my experience when traveling.

And of course in Oregon where they don't have self serve, stations are even more likely to be closed at night.

Especially there...They aren't about to pay an attendent to sit in a gas station, where nearly no vehicles pass by, after 5PM.

 

[team1813]

They are thankfully rare, but there certainly are places in the US with some pretty significant distances between gas stations. Some examples are Tonopah, NV to Ely, NV via route 6, which is almost 170 miles apart. Austin, NV to Fallon, NV is 112 miles without gas. The hope is that the signs on either end of these gaps are clear enough to remind people that continuing on without a full tank isn't the wisest choice.

I just did Beatty NV to Tonopah NV on the 95. 94 miles and nothing in between. Had I not seen the sign leaving beatty I would have been screwed because my map showed destinations like "Scotty's Junction"; however, I did not realize that literally meant a junction as in two road crossing and a sign.

 

[boney]

Especially there...They aren't about to pay an attendent to sit in a gas station, where nearly no vehicles pass by, after 5PM.

Oregon Gas Station hours:

Guess what day and what time it was when I got there.

 

[Parx400]

There is no site or app I know of that will do your work for you.

1. Plan you trip on google maps.
2. Figure out how many miles you can do on a tank.
3. make markers on the map at towns along the way.
4. Call and make sure there is gas still there.
5. Build it all again in Mapsource and put in on the gps. If you are good with map source you can do it all there but it drives me crazy.


I planned out a 2500 mile trip doing this that was mostly dirt roads. Gas stops atleast every 120 miles except for one day that was 185.

 

[team1813]

3. make markers on the map at towns along the way.

Keep in mind, there are some "towns" on maps that do not have gas. I always fill up when there's any doubt about the future, and I always leave in the morning will a full tank. Riding down to fumes and praying the next dot on the map has a gas station is a great way to make a fun trip not so fun.

 

[Parx400]

Keep in mind, there are some "towns" on maps that do not have gas. I always fill up when there's any doubt about the future, and I always leave in the morning will a full tank. Riding down to fumes and praying the next dot on the map has a gas station is a great way to make a fun trip not so fun.

I agree. On a long trip if I have done 60 miles I stop for a piss and gas if I see it. You never know if these small towns have gas or not still. I tried to call ahead on my trip but many of them never use the phone. On my 185 miles day there use to be gas somewhere in the middle but I heard it was closed. I never even found the station. This was on the Western Tat. One of our guys ran out of gas down the street from the pump.

 

[BURNROPE]

I ride with an informal group and we can do a 200+ mile ride from Holister to Pismo Beach without seeing a gas station.

 

[louemc]

Oregon Gas Station hours:

Guess what day and what time it was when I got there.

It could be like one minute after the posted time ... Cause at a station in the mountains (south of Bend) I'm sure I was a couple minutes before closing time, and the kid said...we shut down, before closing time...to close at closing time.

I was driving my Subaru...and just stopped to top off the tank, for extra assurance...so...it was still no problem...but an eye opener.

 

[DefyInertia]

Two major things come to mind that I didn't see mentioned:

1. You have to account for getting lost, having to double-back, etc....this is mostly an issue when heading into the forest, but still applies to street touring to some extent.

2. Options for gas can be inconvenient and add shitty miles (congestion, highway, straight roads) to an otherwise good or doable-in-a-day route. Thus it is nice to know your options...or better yet, have a healthy range (at least 200+).

Lastly...I'm not a supporter of things that make it easier for the masses to venture away from the cities...I've done my homework, know my way around, and like it the way it is "way out there".

 

[louemc]

Two major things come to mind that I didn't see mentioned:

1. You have to account for getting lost, having to double-back, etc....this is mostly an issue when heading into the forest, but still applies to street touring to some extent.

2. Options for gas can be inconvenient and add shitty miles (congestion, highway, straight roads) to an otherwise good or doable-in-a-day route. Thus it is nice to know your options...or better yet, have a healthy range (at least 200+).

Lastly...I'm not a supporter of things that make it easier for the masses to venture away from the cities...I've done my homework, know my way around, and like it the way it is "way out there".

 

[boney]

It could be like one minute after the posted time ... Cause at a station in the mountains (south of Bend) I'm sure I was a couple minutes before closing time, and the kid said...we shut down, before closing time...to close at closing time.

I was driving my Subaru...and just stopped to top off the tank, for extra assurance...so...it was still no problem...but an eye opener.

Seneca, OR. Next gas 25 miles one way.

 

[NoGall]

Lastly...I'm not a supporter of things that make it easier for the masses to venture away from the cities...I've done my homework, know my way around, and like it the way it is "way out there".

I swear... The popularity of GPS has put a few more people on the road in places where I wish they weren't. Planning and researching is half of the fun, but that's probably old school talking.

 

[thedub]

Just curious, how many carry an extra fuel container(s) on long road trips?

3. make markers on the map at towns along the way.

Keep in mind, there are some "towns" on maps that do not have gas. I always fill up when there's any doubt about the future, and I always leave in the morning will a full tank. Riding down to fumes and praying the next dot on the map has a gas station is a great way to make a fun trip not so fun.

You neglected to quote step 1 and 4. If you plan your trips on google maps you will know exactly where the gas station is. And if you call ahead you will know it still exists and the fueling hours.

 

[boney]

Just curious, how many carry an extra fuel container(s) on long road trips?

Never.

 

[BluesCruiser]

If you have an iPhone, The GasBuddy app seems to work pretty well around here. Have no idea what it is like out on the road.