THE BEST GAS STATIONS IN THE US
Are you someone that will only stop at a specific gas station on a roadtrip? Yeah, me too. I’m constantly on the road and I will literally only stop at a select few gas stations if I have choices.
I’ve taken the liberty to compile a list of the top 5 best gas stations in the US. A few things were taken into consideration: How abundant are they? What’s their inventory like? Do they have good food? How are there bathrooms? And a few other factors that will be pondered in the content analysis.
This list is 100% my opinion. If you have some controversial opinions for me, I’d love to have a discussion in the comments. Without further ado, let’s get into it.
5. Loves
Loves is kicking off the list as your typical truck stop travel center. They’re scattered out pretty far and wide, about 600 locations in 42 different states. You’ll usually see these on long stretches of highway directly off an exit.
I like to think of Loves as an upgraded Pilot. They’ve got a good bit of inventory, pretty much any gas station item you can think of including coffee (not great), energy drinks, and snacks. Most Loves will have pre-made food like sandwiches, hotdogs, and salads. To be honest I’ve never indulged in what they had to offer, I usually stick with my gas station specialty at Loves: Monster, CorePower shake, and Old Wisconsin Turkey Bites.
In terms of their facilities, not bad. I wouldn’t pass up a Loves if I really had to go. But there are definitely better options.
4. Quiktrip
Coming in at number 4 is a solid player in the game, Quiktrip. You’ll find these guys pretty much anywhere in the midwest and the south. They’ve got about 1,000 locations across 17 states.
I like QT, they’ve got some pretty good customer service. They’re one of those places that’ll greet you with a “welcome in!” anytime someone walks in the door, even when it’s really busy. It’s kind of funny. Their bathrooms are usually in good shape, I’ve never had any real complaints. If I see one off an exit chances are I’ll make a universal stop to get some gas, take a leak, and gather some provisions.
Quiktrip falls a little short for their grab and go style food. They do have a few made-to-order options though. If you’re a health freak like me and don’t want to blow up your diet, QT probably isn’t going to be the best selection for a stop. They offer things like pizza, bbq, and tacos. You might not fare too well on a long trip with these food options.
3. Wawa
The gas station cracking the 3 spot and probably the best name on the list is Wawa. Wawa is primarily in the northeast spanning across only 7 states. They have quite a few locations in Florida, which would be the outlier.
I’m a big fan of Wawa and their food menu. They’ve got just about anything you can think of. They have made-to-order and grab-and-go style along with a solid inventory in the convenience store section. My personal favorite is the southwest chipotle chicken panini. They’ve got other decently healthy options too like power bowls and salads. The quality of their food is really pretty good for a gas station.
Bathrooms here are great. All of the ones I’ve been in have been sparkling.
The only real gripe I have with Wawa would be their locations. They have a ton of stores, just under 1,000 but they’re so condensed into states like NJ, the eastern side of PA, and MD. I know there’s FL too but if you’re on a longer roadtrip chances are you’re not going to be passing by a Wawa like some other convenient stops.
2. Sheetz
I might get some ridicule for this one but coming in at number 2 is Sheetz. I’m a little biased towards Sheetz since I’ve been several years in western PA where there are oh so many. Sheetz is only in 6 states in the Northeast: MD, NC, OH, PA, VA, and WV.
I would say Sheetz is very comparable to Wawa. They both have great food, excellent bathroom situations, only in a few states. The biggest reason Sheetz topped Wawa in this list is purely for the fact that Sheetz has been a personal lifesaver. I’ve done quite a bit of travel across rural NC, PA, and WV and when I’m in the middle of nowhere and in a pinch, I know I can find a Sheetz to save the day.
1. Buc-ees
Was it even a question? Obviously Buc-ees is coming in at number one. If you’ve never been to one, you need to make it a priority. If you took away the hundred gas pumps at each Buc-ees, you could easily mistake it for a grocery or general store. They have EVERYTHING. A bakery, wall of beef jerky, fresh bbq running all day, full merchandise section, you name it. Their bathrooms? Spotless. They’ve got TV’s in there, room for an army, and all the necessities and privacy you could ask for. When someone tells you it’s an experience to step inside a Buc-ees, believe them because it’s true. You don’t even want to get me started on how awesome their logo is.
Buc-ees only has 44 locations primarily in southern states, Texas being the most abundant. They make up for it from the total scale of each store and not to mention their advertising is pretty good. I recently drove past a sign say “only 262 miles to Buc-ees. You can hold it.”
Honorable mentions
I had to throw in a few honorable mentions: Circle-K, Sinclair, and Speedway. They’re good gas stations and good stops, but not on the same level as the players listed above.
Next time you’re on the road, make a point at some of these gas stations. I guarantee your roadtrip experience will be exponentially better if you map a route to include some of these. And if you make it to a Buc-ees, don’t forget to pickup a shirt.
