Convenience Stores and Road Trips

A Road Trip just wouldn’t be the same without stopping at a convenience store along the way. Whether you’re making a stop to use the restroom, grab some snacks or just fill up your gas tank, travelers often find the convenience store an oasis in the middle of an asphalt desert.

According to the website convenience.org, there are nearly 150,000 convenience stores in the U.S. Interstate travel and consumer demand continues changing the industry.

In recent years, the competition among different convenience store chains has elevated to a level where made to order selections, unusual items and rewards programs have worked to heat up the loyalty battle in many parts of the country.

Here are my thoughts on the convenience store chains I’ve visited over the years (in no particular order). It’s not at all a complete list, but is one aimed at providing information that might help you make a decision on where to stop.

Pilot/Flying J Travel Centers

Since I live in the Knoxville, Tennessee area, I’m starting with a hometown operation that now has 750 locations across the country. Pilot Travel Centers (and the Flying J Truck Stops that became part of the company) cater to both truckers and the road tripper too. Recently, Pilot sold off its convenience store only locations to the Iowa based Casey’s chain, later announcing a $1-billion plan to renovate its existing chain.

Pilot Travel Centers like this one cater to both the family traveler and the trucker.

Most Pilot Travel Centers offer up a variety of fresh food options like pizza or hot meals like meatloaf and mashed potatoes. Many Pilot Travel Centers include fast food restaurants like Wendy’s, McDonald’s and Arby’s which broaden the options at each stop. Pilot has also partnered with Cinnabon, a staple of many American malls. Small kiosks in the Pilot stores offer up the tasty cinnamon rolls and other baked treats to weary travelers.

If you’ve passed a Pilot truck on the road, chances are you’ve seen the claim that Pilot has “the best coffee on the interstate.” Since I’m not a regular coffee drinker, I’m not really sure how the Pilot varieties stack up to the competition, but they do offer a wide selection of roasts and specialty coffee beverages.

In December 2021, the Pilot Corporation sold 40 of its gas stations (not truck stops) to Iowa based Casey’s.

Navigating your way through a Pilot is relatively easy, but sometimes heading to the restrooms may leave you feeling like you’re going through a maze. However, the restrooms are generally large and clean and offer private stalls with doors that stretch nearly all the way from the floor to the ceiling.

If Pilot becomes part of your road trip you might consider downloading the store’s app and join the rewards program. You can earn free fountain drink, take advantage of store specials, get discounts on gas and rack up points on your purchases.

Speedway

Headquartered in Ohio, Speedway stores now include nearly 4,000 locations. When they first moved into the Knoxville area, the new stores were more spacious and included made to order food options at the Speedy Café. For several years, we frequented Speedway, not only on road trips, but also going to and from work or just stopping into our local one to get a drink and a pizza or sub sandwich.

Recently, the 7/11 company purchased Speedway. So far, the Speedway name remains in place, but the stores now sell the “Big Gulp” and “Slurpees” along with a variety of 7/11 branded products. The most notable difference to me (so far) has been the change in the made to order food options, but you can still order pizza, sandwiches and some fried foods and breakfast items. In stores without the Speedy Café, some offer up Speedy-to-go stations which have some of the same foods, but not made to order.

The Speedy Rewards program allows you to earn points on store purchases and gas. You can use them to get free food or gift cards to Speedway or dozens of other establishments. There are also “clubs” within the rewards program where you can earn free fountain drinks, sodas and coffee.

In my experience restrooms at Speedway are very hit and miss. The chain which began in 1959 has lots of older, small stores which often live up to the old “gas station” stereotypes. And in recent years, even the “newer” larger stores have had trouble with consistency when it comes to cleanliness.

Casey’s

In my many trips to the Midwest, it’s almost a guarantee that if you are in a small town you’ll find a Casey’s General Store. You’ll find them in cities too, but in the small towns, they are a true hub of activity. There are 2100 of them in 16 states.

Pizza is one of the main reasons people flock to Casey’s. The breakfast variety with toppings like eggs, bacon, sausage and cheese is almost legendary. And the made to order pizza the rest of the day brings in plenty of repeat customers, especially in places where there are no other pizza places around.

Casey’s carries an increasing number of store brand products ranging from chips and candy to a full line of bottled soft drinks. Signing up for the rewards program earns you free food, drinks and discounts on gas. The newest stores in Tennessee (the ones that used to be Pilot stores) don’t yet have kitchens, so the signs say “Future Home of Casey’s Pizza.” Some fall under the Good Stop by Casey’s banners. These stores still have franchised fast food restaurants in them.

While Pizza is what makes Casey’s stand out from the rest, you’ll find plenty of drink selections there including a line of Casey’s brand sodas.

As far as restrooms are concerned, most Casey’s stores aren’t very big, so as a result you might have to wait for one to come open, but given the stores are often the only business in town with public restrooms, it can be “worth the wait.”

Quik Trip (QT)

On my first trip up to Northern Missouri and Southern Iowa, we made a stop at a QT in Columbia, Missouri. It was one of the best places to fill the tank up with gas before heading north. Ever since then, I’ve been a fan of this convenience store with 900 stores in 14 states.

Looking for something to top off that hot dog or sandwich you just bought at QT? No worries, they probably have you covered.

When you step inside the store, you’ll likely notice the large drink stations, usually on either side of the store. Altogether there are dozens of fountain soft drink choices, frozen drinks, coffee and tea. And if you can’t find what you are looking for, the drink selections in the coolers have many other choices. QT has roller food and in some cases, made to order menus. Recently I discovered a QT in Lebanon, TN had breakfast pizza which was probably as good as the one at Casey’s.

Most QT stores are laid out so the men’s restroom is on one side and the women’s on the other. Generally the restrooms are large enough that you don’t have a wait and they are clean. QT has a rewards program, according to their website. However, I haven’t used it yet, so I’m not sure how it compares to other stores.

Sheetz & WaWa

Many election cycles back, I remember Presidential Candidates visiting both Sheetz and WaWa stores in Pennsylvania or some other Northeastern State. These two chains have become quite the rivals leading some people to ask are you “Team Sheetz” or “Team WaWa?” My experience with WaWa is limited, but I found one in Pennsylvania that had a Coca-Cola Freestyle Machine and that was definitely a mark in the store’s favor. The other thing I remember about WaWa is the fact that some of them sold gas and some did not. In those cases, after stopping a few times on a trip to New Jersey, I deducted that if a WaWa sold gas you could “wee-wee” inside. If it did not have gas then you couldn’t “wee-wee” inside. Not sure if that was really the case, but found it to be an interesting observation and it’s becoming a running joke in the family.

WaWa has 950 stores selling gas and another 750 that are just convenience stores. According to the WaWa website the store offers a rewards program, but since the nearest store to me is several hours away and I haven’t been to one since 2016, I probably won’t be signing up for the program anytime soon.

When we can find a Sheetz on a road trip we almost always stop. The made to order foods and drink selections are always a good choice on a visit.

My Sheetz experience is quite different. On a trip several years ago to D.C. I made a stop at my Alma Mater, Emory & Henry College just 30 miles away from the Tennessee State line. A friend at the college said we needed to be sure and stop at Sheetz which she described as a convenience store that sold great food. I had no idea at the time, that Sheetz was a large chain or that the food would be so good!

Sheetz made to order kiosks offer up burgers, chicken sandwiches, milkshakes, coffee drink and a whole lot of fried sides. The food is what sets Sheetz apart from the competition. The chain has large, clean restrooms, plenty of gas pumps and a loyalty program to earn free food, drinks and more.

Buc-ee’s

What the Buc-ee’s chain lacks in numbers of stores (60 and counting) it makes up for in the sheer size of each one. Currently, this Texas based store holds the world record for largest convenience store and longest car wash. By the end of 2023, Buc-ee’s will break those records when a store planned for Sevierville, Tennessee opens that will be 74,000 square feet with a car wash longer than a football field.

My first Buc-ee’s visit required a bit of a detour, something my kids thought was crazy. “Dad, it’s just a convenience store?” Little did they know it’s not just a convenience store, it’s an experience. The Buc-ee’s in Leeds, AL (near Birmingham) covers more than 50,000 square feet and had more than 100 fueling positions. Inside, you’ll find a 20 foot long counter of beef jerky, a station cranking out dozens of flavors of fudge and employees working furiously chopping up beef brisket and serving it up on sandwiches.

In addition to having hundreds of choices in drinks and snacks, Buc-ee’s also carries a line of seasonings and sauces.

Need something to drink. No problem. The Buc-ee’s soft drink fountains offer up just about anything you would want including a Buc-ee’s line of soft drinks, frozen creations, coffee and more. And that’s just what’s lined up along the wall. The coolers offer up hundreds more selections.

Want some snacks to go with those drinks or sandwiches, no worries. Buc-ee’s selections might just overwhelm you, but if you have to make one choice, make it a package of Beaver Nuggets. These sweet corn puffs come in multiple flavors, but trust me, after eating one of the regular nuggets, you’ll be hooked!

When you go into a Buc-ee’s you’ll notice they have shopping carts. While you think you might not need one, just grab one in case. With more than 50,000 square feet of store, you won’t have a problem finding stuff to put in your cart.

On the other end of the store, a pickup truck filled with stuffed beavers (the Buc-ee’s mascot) provide a gateway into a merchandising bonanza of Buc-ee’s items that include t-shirts, pajamas, boxer shorts and even swimwear.

When you are at Buc-ee’s you have to make a “pit stop” in the World Famous Restrooms.

And while you’ll probably need a cart when you visit Buc-ee’s, you’ll also need to check out the restroom. The chain boasts having the cleanest restrooms of any convenience store and when you go to Buc-ee’s, well you really gotta go, if for no other reason to see what the fuss is about.

Store made fudge, fresh brisket sandwiches, and kolaches are just a few of the things you’ll find in a Buc-ee’s store.

As I mentioned earlier, there are plenty of other convenience store chains. Kwik Star and Kum n’ Go are both chains we like when traveling in the Midwest and are worth checking out. Love’s Truck Stops are expanding fast with some having East Tennessee based Petros Chili and Cheese restaurants.

What stores on this list have you visited, or which ones would you add (and why?). Just let me know in the comments.