Looking for E85 gas stations near me? E85 (also called flex fuel) is not sold at every gas station, so finding the nearest pump takes the right tools. Use the live E85 locator map below to find flex fuel stations near you, see which chains sell E85, check current prices, and find stations open now. Further down we cover whether your car can use E85 and whether it actually saves you money.
E85 Locator Map: Find E85 Gas Near Me
Pop your city or ZIP into the map and it pinpoints E85 and flex fuel stations around you. Tap a pin for directions, hours, and whether the pump is live right now, so you’re not guessing whether a given station actually carries E85.
Flex fuel near me: search any ZIP to find the closest E85 pump and confirm it’s open before you set off.
Where to Find E85: Gas Stations That Sell E85 Near Me
E85 is not available at every gas station, far from it. There are more than 5,200 public E85 stations across 40-plus states (U.S. Department of Energy, 2026), which sounds like a lot until you realize there are over 150,000 gas stations in the US total. So finding a station that sells E85 near you takes a bit more effort than finding regular gas.
Here are the best tools for locating E85 near me:
Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) – This is the government’s official E85 station locator and it’s honestly the best one. Run by the US Department of Energy, it lets you search by zip code, city, or state. The data is well-maintained and regularly updated.
The locator map above – Search your city or zip code to see E85 and flex fuel stations near you, with directions, hours, and “open now” status.
Google Maps – Search “E85 gas station near me” and it will show nearby options with hours and open-now status.
A flex-fuel price app – Several free apps and crowdsourced price sites let you filter by E85 and compare live prices reported by other drivers in your area.
E85 availability varies a lot by state. Texas, California, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, and several Midwest corn-belt states have the most stations. If you live on the East Coast or in the Mountain West, your options may be more limited.
Who Sells E85 Gas Near Me? (Gas Station Chains)
No single chain sells E85 at every location, but these are the gas station brands most likely to carry E85 flex fuel near you:
- Casey’s – widely offers E85 across the Midwest
- Kwik Trip – common E85 supplier in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa
- Sheetz – sells E85 at many East Coast and Mid-Atlantic locations
- RaceTrac – offers E85 at select stores
- Kum & Go and Maverik – common across the Midwest and Mountain West
- Speedway – E85 available at many locations
- Select Shell, Exxon, and BP stations, plus many independent and co-op stations
Because availability depends on the specific store, always confirm with the AFDC locator or the map above before driving out. A station may sell E85 at only one pump.
E85 Gas Prices Near Me
E85 is almost always cheaper per gallon than regular gas, but the per-gallon price is only half the story. Because E85 lowers your fuel economy, what really matters is the cost per mile. Here is how the national averages compare:
| Fuel | Approx. price per gallon (June 2026) | Typical FFV economy | Cost per 100 miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.07 | 25 MPG | $16.28 |
| E85 (flex fuel) | ~$3.15 (about 23% less) | 19 MPG (about 24% less) | $16.58 |
Regular price: AAA national average, June 2026. E85 figure is approximate, the national E85 average typically runs 20 to 25% below regular (AFDC). Your local numbers will differ.
At the national average, E85’s lower pump price is almost exactly cancelled out by the MPG penalty, so the cost per mile is about the same. Where E85 truly saves money is in regions where the per-gallon discount is much larger:
| Region | E85 discount vs regular | Does it save money? |
|---|---|---|
| Midwest (Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Nebraska) | Largest, often well over 25% cheaper | Usually yes |
| West Coast (California) | Large, sometimes near $1 per gallon less (LCFS credits) | Often yes, even per mile |
| Gulf Coast and Texas | Moderate | Near break-even |
| East Coast and Mountain West | Smaller, with fewer stations | Often break-even or worse |
To check live E85 prices near you, search your zip code in any flex-fuel price app or on the AFDC locator. As a rule of thumb, E85 needs to be at least 20 to 25% cheaper per gallon than regular to break even on cost per mile.
E85 Gas Stations Open Now
Need E85 right now? Most E85 pumps are located at major-chain and convenience-store gas stations, and many of those are open 24 hours. To find an E85 gas station open now near you:
- Use the locator map above or Google Maps, which show current hours and an “Open now” label for each station.
- Filter the AFDC locator by your location to see nearby E85 stations and their access hours.
- In rural areas where E85 pumps are limited, call ahead, some stations restrict E85 to staffed hours.
For a list of stations that stay open around the clock, see our guide to gas stations open 24 hours near me.
Can My Car Use E85?
This is the most important question, and the answer is simple: only if your car is a Flex-Fuel Vehicle (FFV). Putting E85 in a regular gas car can damage your engine, fuel lines, and fuel system components. Don’t do it.
Here’s how to check if your car is flex-fuel compatible:
Yellow gas cap – The easiest tell. Most FFVs have a bright yellow fuel cap, sometimes with “E85” or “Flex Fuel” printed on it.
Badge on the car – Look for a “Flex Fuel”, “FFV”, or “E85” badge on the trunk, tailgate, or side of the vehicle.
Owner’s manual – The definitive answer. Your manual will list all approved fuel types.
VIN check – The 8th character of your VIN can indicate flex-fuel capability. You can use online VIN decoders to check.
As of 2026, the new flex-fuel models available in the US are mostly from GM: the Chevrolet Silverado, Trailblazer, and Trax, the Buick Encore GX and Envista, and the GMC Sierra. Ford used to make a bunch of FFV models but has pulled back in recent years as it shifts toward EVs and hybrids.
That said, there are more than 20 million flex-fuel vehicles already on US roads. Many people own one without even realizing it, the yellow gas cap is easy to overlook if nobody told you what it means. Common used FFVs include the Chevy Silverado and Tahoe, Ford F-150 and Explorer, Dodge Ram and Charger, and various GM sedans.
Does E85 Actually Save You Money?
This is where it gets tricky, and where a lot of people get disappointed.
E85 is cheaper per gallon, usually by 70 to 90 cents compared to regular gas. But ethanol contains about 27% less energy than gasoline. So your car will burn through E85 faster, expect roughly 15 to 27% worse fuel economy depending on your vehicle.
Using the June 2026 national averages from the table above, regular gas at $4.07 a gallon and 25 MPG works out to about 16.3 cents per mile, while E85 at roughly $3.15 a gallon and 19 MPG works out to about 16.6 cents per mile. In other words, at the national average E85 costs about the same per mile, even slightly more, despite the lower per-gallon price.
The savings only work out if E85 is cheap enough to overcome the mileage penalty. As a rough rule, E85 needs to be about 20 to 25% cheaper than regular gas for you to break even. In some states like Iowa, Minnesota, and Illinois, E85 is cheap enough that it does save money. In other areas the gap isn’t big enough, so always compare the per-gallon prices in your area first.
Why Do People Use E85 Then?
If the savings are questionable, why bother? A few reasons:
Performance and tuning. E85 has an effective octane rating of around 100 to 105, which is significantly higher than premium gas (93). Performance car enthusiasts and tuners love E85 because it allows for more aggressive engine tuning, more boost in turbocharged setups, and cooler combustion temperatures. If you’re into modifying cars, E85 is a big deal in that community.
It’s renewable. Ethanol is made from corn and other plant materials, so it’s a domestically produced fuel that reduces dependence on imported oil. Some people choose it for environmental or energy independence reasons.
It’s actually cheaper in some regions. In corn-belt states like Iowa, Minnesota, and Illinois, E85 can be significantly cheaper, sometimes a dollar or more below regular gas. At that price gap, the math works out in your favor.
Engine cleanliness. Ethanol is a natural solvent that can help keep fuel systems clean, though this can also be a downside in older vehicles where it loosens existing deposits.
E85 Downsides to Know About
Worse fuel economy. Already covered this, but it’s the biggest practical downside. You’ll be filling up more often.
Harder to find. Depending on where you live, the nearest E85 station might be 20+ miles away. That’s a lot of extra driving that eats into any savings.
Cold weather starting. Ethanol can be harder to ignite in very cold temperatures. That’s why E85 sold in winter months actually contains less ethanol (sometimes as low as 51%). If you’re in a cold climate, you might notice harder starts on pure E85 in winter.
Not for regular cars. Worth repeating, if your car isn’t a flex-fuel vehicle, don’t use E85. It will damage seals, corrode fuel lines, and potentially wreck your engine.
E85 vs E15: What’s the Difference?
You might also see E15 at some gas stations. E15 contains just 15% ethanol (compared to E85’s 51 to 85%) and is approved by the EPA for all cars built after 2001. It’s basically regular gas with a little extra ethanol. The price difference between E15 and regular E10 gas is usually small, maybe 5 to 10 cents per gallon, and the mileage impact is minimal.
E15 is available at over 3,000 stations in 31 states and expanding. Unlike E85, you don’t need a special vehicle to use it.
Bottom Line
E85 makes sense in specific situations: you have a flex-fuel vehicle, you live in an area where E85 is genuinely cheap, and there’s a station conveniently located near you. For performance enthusiasts who tune their cars, E85 is fantastic for the high octane alone.
For the average driver? Check the math for your specific area before committing to E85 as your regular fuel. The per-gallon price looks tempting, but the MPG hit can eat up most or all of the savings. Use the AFDC locator or the map above to find E85 stations near you.
E85 Near Me: Frequently Asked Questions
Who sells E85 gas near me?
E85 is most commonly sold by chains like Casey’s, Kwik Trip, Sheetz, RaceTrac, Kum & Go, Maverik, and Speedway, plus select Shell, Exxon, and BP stations. Use the locator map above to see which stations near you carry it.
Where can I buy E85 fuel near me?
The fastest way is the AFDC station locator or the map above. Search your zip code to find the closest E85 pump, then check its hours before heading out.
How do I find E85 gas stations near me?
Use a dedicated E85 locator such as the AFDC tool, the map above, or search “E85 gas station near me” on Google Maps for nearby options with directions.
Are E85 gas stations open now?
Many E85 pumps are at convenience-store chains open 24 hours. The map above and Google Maps show live hours and an “Open now” status, so you can confirm before you drive.
Is E85 cheaper than regular gas?
Yes per gallon, usually around 20 to 25% cheaper, but because E85 lowers your MPG by 15 to 27%, the cost per mile is often close to regular gas. It saves money mainly where the per-gallon discount is large.
Can any car use E85?
No. Only flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) can run E85. Check for a yellow gas cap, a flex-fuel badge, or your owner’s manual before fueling.
At the opposite end of the scale is ethanol-free gas, which contains no ethanol at all and is preferred for boats, small engines, and classic cars.
Last updated: July 2026