Costco opened its first standalone gas station on June 25, 2026, in Mission Viejo, California, marking a historic shift in how the wholesale giant delivers fuel to members. The 40-pump station at 25732 El Paseo, located just off Interstate 5 at Oso Parkway, operates without any attached warehouse store, convenience shop, or food court—a stark departure from Costco’s traditional gas station model.
The station sits under a 17,234-square-foot fueling canopy and is exclusively accessible to Costco members, who must present their membership card to pump gas. On opening day, regular unleaded gasoline was priced at $4.79 per gallon, roughly 56 cents below the Orange County average of $5.35 per gallon, according to reporting from the Orange County Register and ABC7. This aggressive pricing immediately positioned the station as a competitive threat to nearby convenience retailers including Circle K, ExtraMile, BP, and Shell locations in the area.
The Mission Viejo location replaced a shuttered Bed Bath & Beyond store in the Mission Viejo Freeway Center. The station operates daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. and is Costco’s largest fueling site to date, according to the AI overview from search results and C-Store Dive reporting. Costco has three warehouse stores with gas stations within a few miles—two in Laguna Niguel and one in San Juan Capistrano—but the standalone model offers members a fuel-only option without needing to visit a full warehouse.
Costco’s fuel business has become increasingly central to the retailer’s customer loyalty strategy. During the company’s third-quarter 2026 earnings call in May, President and CEO Ron Vachris noted that each four-week fiscal period set new company volume sales records, with the final five weeks becoming Costco’s five highest-volume fuel weeks ever. Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Gary Millerchip emphasized that the fuel business strengthens customer loyalty across Costco’s broader operations, noting that some long-standing members were using Costco gas stations for the first time.
The company is already developing a second standalone gas station in the Kapālama Kai area of Honolulu, Hawaii, targeted to open in 2027. This expansion suggests Costco views the standalone model as viable beyond its initial California pilot, though the retailer has not yet detailed broader rollout plans. Representatives from Costco did not respond to requests for comment on the Mission Viejo site or the company’s long-term strategy for standalone gas stations, according to C-Store Dive.
Sources
- Orange County Register — confirmed opening date, station specifications (40 pumps, 17,234-square-foot canopy), opening-day pricing ($4.79 per gallon for regular unleaded), and location details
- ABC7 Los Angeles — reported opening date, station specifications, Orange County average gas price ($5.35 per gallon), and context about California gas tax increase
- C-Store Dive — confirmed ribbon cutting on June 24, 2026, members-only access, competitive pricing impact on nearby retailers, and Costco’s earnings call commentary on fuel business growth
- Costco.com — verified Mission Viejo gas station location and confirmed members-only access model
