When you’re on a roadtrip, you NEED your go-to stops.
A well-done travel stop is so much more than a gas station. It gets your rested and rarin’ to get back on journey.
A bad choice puts you in a bad mood for hundreds of miles.
We’ve got you covered with the best travel stops no matter where you’re traveling in the country…
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Before we get to the best travel stops in every part of the country, let’s define the perfect pit stop.
We’re excluding Alaska and Hawaii here (the former because it’s so far away and the latter because you physically can’t road trip to an island).
We’re using three categories and a bonus wild card…
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I’ve seen a sign before that says “Mom-Approved Restrooms.”
That says it all.
Some of us are fine with restrooms that look like the ones you find at a campground.
But most of us prefer clean, well-lit, multi-stall bathrooms.
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I know I don’t want to be standing in line waiting for a handful of pumps even before I go into the convenience store.
And it’s the worst if you get behind someone who parks at the pump and takes 15 minutes to get back.
After all that, I don’t want to be going into a phone booth-sized convenience store after I’m done with my gas. I want to feel like I can take a minute to breathe and enjoy a mini-shopping trip for drinks, food, and maybe some souvenirs.
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The best gas stations have plenty of drinks and snacks but also some sort of prepared foods, ideally hot.
Having a restaurant attached or their own semi-famous food offerings is ideal.
That makes a stop so much more efficient vs. fighting over which fast food joint to hit up after gassing up.
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I don’t need a gas station to wow me, being clean, efficient, and fueling my car and my body is excellent.
But if you can entertain me (and the kids in my family) for a few minutes, that helps make the journey as good as the destination.
Let’s get to the travel stops…
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Wawa is absolutely beloved in its home state of Pennsylvania and in the areas it serves, up and down the Atlantic seaboard.
Think Florida up to New York.
Wawa’s are a nice, manageable size with solid bathrooms.
But it’s the food that people love the most about Wawa. Its hoagies are the go-to, and it’s got very nice coffee and drink options (e.g. lots of milk and cream options, marshmallows for your hot chocolate, good Wawa-branded bottle drinks like lemonade, etc.).
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Stewart’s Shops are a New York state thing (with a few in Vermont as well).
As you can see by the picture, they’re homey, solid stops for the road weary.
What sets them apart is their famous ice cream. Maybe not a traditional raod trip snack, but that’s what makes it so refreshing!
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One of my go-to’s in states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, Virgina, and West Virginia, Sheetz is pretty ideal in its sizing.
You’re assured of plenty of pumps, restroom stalls, and food choices…bigger than regular old gas stations, but not so big (like Buc-ee’s) that you add 30 minutes of tourism time to your trip.
Special shout-out to the Hollywood Snack Pack they carrry (delicious pretzel sticks, cheese, grapes, and apples).
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If Buc-ee’s is in the state, Buc-ee’s wins!
They’re MASSIVE, many of them over 70,000 square feet!
Tons of everything you need and barbecue that many travelers swear by.
Buc-ee’s is currently in:
Texas
Alabama
Georgia
Kentucky
Florida
Tennessee
South Carolina
Missouri
Colorado
And two more states are coming soon!
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Kwik Trip was founded in Wisconsin and still has a majority of its gas stations there (roughly 500 out of 900).
Tons of cheap, hot food is a Kwik Trip calling card, from pork rib sandwiches to fritters to burritos.
Beyond Wisconsin, you can find it in Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, South Dakota, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
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Casey’s is pretty prevalent and popular in the Western Midwest states like Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Minnesota, and Nebraska.
Honestly, they’re solid but nothing special inside. Locals swear by the pizza, though.
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This one isn’t a chain, it’s a single original.
If you’ve ever driven anywhere near its home of South Dakota, you’ve seen the billboards advertising “Free Ice Water” or “X Miles to Wall Drug.”
While the ice water is a sad little tap, the massive store and cafe is well worth the stop. The food is delicious, and after the 100th sign you see, curiosity has to be quenched!
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• For fun lists, healthy living tips, and bar conversation topics, make sure to follow The Coconut Mama. Click here to access The Coconut Mama’s profile page and be sure to hit the Follow button here or at the top of this article!
• Have feedback? Add a comment below!
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In Yermo, California, Eddie World is pretty similar to a Buc-ee’s.
It’s California’s largest gas station with three fast-casual restaurants, clean bathrooms, beef jerky, and tons of candy, including a Mexican candy section.
A must-stop for sure!
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Maverik calls itself “Adventure’s First Stop” and features the great outdoors in its stores.
Most of its gas stations are in Colorado and Utah, so it definitely goes with the vibe.
In total, it hits 13 states, including Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
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There you go, the best travel stop in every part of the country:
East Coast: Wawa
New York: Stewart’s
Mid-Atlantic: Sheetz
Southeast: Buc-ee’s
Eastern Midwest: Kwik Trip
Western Midwest: Casey’s
South Dakota: Wall Drug
California: Eddie World
West Coast: Maverik
But the question is…
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Of all those great gas stations we listed, which one makes the best travel stop?
Or is it another place that we missed?
Let us know in the comments section.
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