Fuel availability on the drive to Georgia via Upper Lars: are there shortages and fuel limits at gas stations?

From messages by 3 participants in 1 source · Last activity: 22 days ago

TL;DR

In summer 2026 drivers heading for the Upper Lars border crossing reported queues and purchase limits at filling stations. In late June the Lukoil station near Nizhny Lars allowed no more than 20 litres of each petrol grade per tank, in early July diesel on the highway was capped at 100 litres, and in Vladikavkaz petrol was available almost everywhere in the morning but mostly only at Rosneft stations after lunch. These are individual drivers' observations on specific days, and the situation may have changed since.

What the community said

As a rough guide to costs, in September 2026 a traveler wrote that driving from the Saratov region to Batumi (about 1,700 km) cost them less than 20,000 roubles in petrol.

23 days ago Saratov region to Batumi, about 1,700 km (September 2026)

In Vladikavkaz in early July 2026, one driver observed that petrol was available at almost every filling station in the morning, with queues of around 5–10 cars. After lunch it was mostly possible to fill up only at Rosneft stations, and not always even there. Limits varied by station: some dispensed around 30 litres, others allowed a full tank.

100 days ago Vladikavkaz: petrol in the morning almost everywhere, after lunch mostly Rosneft, limit about 30 L (July 2026)

In early July 2026 a driver described the highway as very difficult: from the Voronezh area onwards, every filling station in both directions had queues 300–500 metres long. Diesel was limited to 100 litres per fill; the driver had no information on petrol for that stretch.

101 days ago From the Voronezh area: queues of 300–500 m, diesel capped at 100 L (July 2026)

In late June 2026 the Lukoil station near Nizhny Lars dispensed no more than 20 litres of each petrol grade into one tank. A Russian-speaking driver reported prices at the time of 67 roubles per litre for AI-92, 73 for AI-95 and 97 for AI-100 — this station is on the Russian side of the crossing, so prices there are in roubles.

110 days ago Lukoil near Nizhny Lars: up to 20 L of each petrol grade per tank (June 2026)