Best Gas Station for Food (2024) - USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards (2024)

Fill up your car and your stomach

Best Gas Station for Food(2024)
May 15, 2024

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Gas stations, convenience stores, and truck stops are more than just a place to grab a quick bite when you're on the go. They're serving up delicious food and snacks that make them destinations in and of themselves, from fried chicken and pizza to organic salads and veggie burritos.

USA TODAY 10Best editors teamed up with a panel of seasoned road warriors to highlight their favorite chains across the U.S., then readers voted for their top picks. Here are the 10 best gas station chains where you're sure to enjoy some good food.

Photo courtesy of Buc-ee's

No. 10:

Buc-ee's

Buc-ee's is known for their nut confections (like butter toffee pecans), barbecue, jerky, and a large menu of comfort foods. The country stores also serve fudge, banana pudding, and trail mixes.

Photo courtesy of QuikTrip

No. 9:

QuikTrip

Through their QT Kitchens counters, QuikTrip serves food that’s made fresh to order each day. The vast menu includes frozen treat concoctions, specialty drinks, breakfast biscuits, macaroni and cheese, sandwiches, pizza, and tacos, among other yummy fare.

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Photo courtesy of Weigel's

No. 8:

Weigel's

Weigel's has dozens of locations in the East Tennessee region, each serving up sweets from the bakery such as doughnuts, cookies, and muffins. They also serve hot foods like pizzas, sandwiches, fried chicken, and breakfast foods.

Photo courtesy of QuickChek

No. 7:

QuickChek

With a food counter serving soups, salads, sandwiches, wraps, and seasonal dishes, as well as a bakerythat sells a variety of baked goods, such as their signature cookies, QuickChek aims to redefine "fresh convenience." They also have bottled and fountain beverages, and energy drink enthusiasts enjoy their Red Bull Infusions.

Photo courtesy of Maverik — Adventure's First Stop

No. 6:

Maverik

Maverik is a chain with hundreds of stores in Western states, known for its adventure-themed murals and logo. BonFire Foods, an eatery within the store that makes fresh food every day, offers items like pizzas, wraps, salads, sandwiches, and burritos.

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Photo courtesy of TravelCenters of America

No. 5:

TravelCenters of America

TravelCenters of America is a chain of full-service truck stops and travel centers, with stores that serve homestyle food in their full-service restaurants. Additionally, they offer a number of fast food restaurants across their many locations, from Popeyes to Taco Bell, grab-and-go options, packaged snacks, and groceries.

Photo courtesy of Rutter's

No. 4:

Rutter's

Rutter's 24-hour shops have a food service counter that’s also open all hours and serves a variety of items, from seafood and burgers to pizza and subs. They also have a full breakfast menu and a children’s menu that includes grilled cheese sandwiches and a hot macaroni and cheese dish.

Photo courtesy of Kwik Trip

No. 3:

Kwik Trip

Kwik Trip is known for its bakery which serves bread, muffins, cookies, bagels, and doughnuts. In fact, it bakes approximately 24,000 glazed treats in just one hour. The convenience store also offers burritos, pizza, salads, soups, and fried chicken.

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See Also

Casey's General Store Pizza: The Unlikely Hero of Your Next Midwest Road TripAmerica's Best Gas Station Road Trip FoodCasey’s General Stores Pizza has a loyal following because of this key ingredientCasey's Devotees Love Convenience Store Pizza—we Asked The Head Pizza Chef Why

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Photo courtesy of Casey's

No. 2:

Casey's

Casey’s stores are popular for their pizza, in addition to sandwiches, wings, and breakfast items. They also have pre-packaged foods like ice cream, candy bars, potato chips, and protein bars.

Photo courtesy of Royal Farms

No. 1:

Royal Farms

Royal Farms offers a breakfast menu that’s available any time of the day or night. That's in addition to other hot food menu items, including sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, and their popular fried chicken. The stores also sell a wide variety of packaged snacks along with fountain and bottled beverages. Some locations even feature a Blending Bar, where you can craft a milkshake.

Chez Chesak

Chez Chesak

‘Chez’ Chesak is Executive Director of the Outdoor Writers Association of America, an adventure travel writer, board member of the Society of American Travel Writers and 22-year veteran of the outdoor and travel industries. While he’s lived all over the U.S. and traveled to more than 30 countries, he has the most fun when he’s exploring with his wife Sally and two daughters. An avid outdoors person, he’s happiest on a trail, on skis, or nestled into a sleeping bag. Learn more about him and his work at www.chezconnects.com.

Jacky Runice

Jacky Runice

Born in Bucktown when bulletproof was a home safety choice and not a coffee order, Jacky Runice has been knocking around Chicago as a professional print, online and broadcast journalist and editor specializing in separating the riff from the raff in culture, entertainment, food, travel and pure unadulterated fun. Jacky is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).In her best Chicagoese, Jacky asks, "Who has the time or money to blow on hotels, attractions, restaurants, exhibits and activities that blow?"

Jenny Peters

Jenny Peters

Jenny Peters – aka Jet Set Jen – is a Los Angeles-based freelance journalist, editor and party columnist specializing in travel, entertainment, film, food, wine, fashion and the other good things in life. She is a founding/voting member of the Critics Choice Association, who present the Critics’ Choice Awards every January. Her favorite places to be are on the beach in Southern California playing volleyball, scuba diving with the sharks in warm tropical waters or strolling the streets and soaking in the atmosphere of one of the world's great cities (New Orleans and Florence are her favorites).

Melanie Reffes

Melanie Reffes

Melanie is an island girl at heart . Born in Manhattan, she now lives on the sunny island of Montreal and covers the Caribbean for a variety of publications including USA TODAY 10Best, CaribbeanTravel.com and MarryCaribbean.com.A journalist with a boatload of writer awards under her belt, Melanie's affection for the Caribbean started young when her family vacationed in Puerto Rico. An avid fan of spicy food, Melanie enjoys the diversity of Montreal - especially during the warmer months -when she's not en route to the Caribbean. She holds a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Toronto.

Molly O'Brien

Molly O'Brien

Molly O'Brien is a Los Angeles-based freelance travel journalist, who writes and edits for a variety of international travel and lifestyle outlets including Fodor’s Travel, Travel + Leisure, and Business Insider among others. She's lived on both coasts from Massachusetts to California and has so far made Greater Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area, San Luis Obispo, Barcelona, and Los Angeles her home.Molly earned her journalism degree at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on the Central Coast of California and since then has worked professionally in the fields of hospitality and travel PR and most recently, as a freelance travel writer and editor.Molly especially enjoys covering feature profiles about interesting people doing interesting things such as chocolate making, beekeeping, wing-walking, and interesting destinations like under-the-radar wine spots, the best brewery towns, and lesser-known ski destinations.She also loves to write about a boutique hotel with a good story. When she's not writing, Molly enjoys spending time outdoors, exploring new coffee shops and breweries, and of course, traveling.Her favorite city in the world (so far) is Barcelona, Spain, but she loves traveling anywhere that offers sunny weather and ample hiking opportunities. She loves spending time in the mountains, enjoys connecting with nature through camping and glamping adventures, and is always up for learning about the world through fun, immersive experiences (and then sharing those stories!).You can connect with Molly here:Instagram: @metropolitanmollyTwitter: @Molly_A_OBrienFacebook: @MetropolitanMollyLinkedIn: @mollyannobrienwww.metropolitanmolly.com

Olivia Christine Perez

Olivia Christine Perez

Olivia Christine Perez is an outdoor + travel wellness expert, author, and the creator ofO. Christine: a travel and wellness platform inspiring thousands of people to travel more and get outdoors for their wellness. Living with an autoimmune disease herself, Olivia helps people find wellness through the outdoors, self-care adventures, and mindful travel experiences. You can follow her work atochristine.comandinstagram.com/ochristine.

Tamara Gane

Tamara Gane

Tamara Gane is an expert panel member for 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. She's based in Reno/Lake Tahoe and in addition to USA Today 10Best, her work has been published in Travel & Leisure, Fodor's Travel, The Washington Post, SF Gate, Houston Chronicle, Lonely Planet, and more.

10Best Editors

10Best Editors

USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.

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