In Mission Viejo, California, Costco is about to try something unusual: a gas station without a warehouse sharing the same blacktop, or even a $1.50 hot dog. The spring 2026 opening will mark the company’s first standalone fueling site, and it’s a bold experiment in keeping members loyal without the usual in-store lure.
The largest gas station Costco has ever planned
The location, just outside Los Angeles in Orange County, received approval from the city’s Planning and Transportation Commission in March. The plan is for a 40-pump facility, the largest Costco has ever built. Construction is expected to start this fall.
Costco said its goal is simple: let members fill up faster and more cheaply while easing congestion at its existing warehouses, where long lines at the pump can snarl traffic.
Membership is the key motivator
U.S. drivers have clearly embraced Costco gas. Roughly 60% of the company’s more than 130 million members reportedly use its fuel offerings.
While gas margins are slim compared with other items like rotisserie chicken or electronics, cheap fuel keeps members coming back. It’s not just about price at the pump, either. Costco credit cardholders get 5% rewards, adding another perk to the equation…