Staying Fit
A heated rivalry has been brewing for decades in Pennsylvania. Clear allegiances have formed. Regional identities have been established. A film to document the distinct divide was even in the works.
No, we’re not talking about a turf war over sports or whether to put french fries inside your sandwich. We’re talking about Wawa vs. Sheetz — a hotly contested debate over two gas station chains with large menus and roots in the Keystone State and its mid-Atlantic neighbors.
With a recent Payless Power survey estimating that Americans spend an average of 20 minutes and $70 per trip at their favorite fuel-up spot, it’s no surprise that Pennsylvanians and many others around the country are so passionate about picking where to pump.
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Whether you’re looking for the cleanest bathrooms, the best food or a distraction on a long car ride, here are some of the best gas station pit stops in the country:
Buc-ee’s, Sevierville, Tennessee
The exterior of Buc-ee’s in Sevierville, Tennessee.
Buc-ee’s
If size matters in picking your pit stop, there’s nothing bigger and better than Buc-ee’s newest location near Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This 74,700-square-foot behemoth is open 24 hours a day and has 120 pumps and more than 350 employees.
According to Today, it’s the world’s largest gas station — at least until Buc-ee’s opens a 75,000-square-foot location in Luling, Texas. The chain known for its brisket sandwiches and fudge originated in Texas in 1982 and now has dozens of locations in the South.
Kwik Trip, Kenosha, Wisconsin
For four consecutive years, Kwik Trip has ranked No. 1 on USA Today’s readers’ choice list of best gas station brands. In addition to their experience at the pump, voters weighed coffee freshness, bathroom cleanliness and snack selection. The Wisconsin-based company operates more than 800 stores in the Midwest, including its largest in Kenosha, and is known for its Glazers Donuts. Kwik Trip’s bakery makes more than two dozen different items each day, and its milk is sourced from local dairy farms and bottled within 24 hours of reaching their dairy.
