What do people look for out of a quick pit stop while on a long road trip? Some people like a cheap gas station right off the highway for getting up and going. Some like to stop for some good food to get their lunch on the run. Then some people have no place to be, and all day to get there, so they turn each stop into an experience. Here is a guide to where you should stop on your way to your spring break destination.
5. Royal Farms
Known mostly for their world-famous fried chicken, Royal Farms, or “ROFO”, has a high-quality inside stop. While gas is being pumped, customers can enjoy a clean convenience store with a wide variety of snacks and drinks. Many Royal Farms are also known for stocking Krispy Kreme donuts. However, if you are traveling south, locations are scarce, focusing on the Mid-Atlantic, including North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey.
4. Racetrac
There is no big appeal to Racetrac, but it is consistent across the board. They will almost always be right at the average in gas prices and their snack selection inside is solid. There is some fresh food made inside; however, it is very “get-what-you-pay-for” and much as you would expect of gas station food. There are nearly 600 Racetrac locations across the United States, primarily in the South and the lower Midwest. The majority of these locations reside in the state of Georgia.
3. Chevron
This is your “get-and-go” racecar pit-stop station. Chevrons are known to be the cheapest option around town, with the lowest prices in Habersham County. The Cornelia location sits at $2.43 per gallon, while no other chain breaks $2.49. The inside of these stops is not a traveler’s first pick, but the fast pumps and great deals give roadtrippers the chance to get what they need and start cruising again.
2. Wawa
The bias of a northerner or Floridian will tell you it is better than Buc-ee’s. From the best gas prices to high-quality, quickly made food to a wide selection of snacks. Some may confuse the inside of Wawa with that of small grocery stores with a deli. It is also one of the very few chains that carry 91 premium gas for performance-engineered vehicles. The downfall of this marvel of a business is availability. Outside of Florida, the most southern location is Norfolk, Va. However, rumors imply upcoming expansions in Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio. If you see the famous flying red bird, that means it is time to check out a Wawa.
1. Buc-ee’s
If you are looking for a quick place to stop, this is not it. Buc-ee’s locations are more about the experience for people on island time. It can be overwhelming walking in, but the selection of food, both fresh and snacks, includes everything you could want. On top of that, the other half of the store features the souvenir section. Every item you can think of with Bucky the Beaver’s face on it. Not to mention the massive bathrooms that double as locker rooms with showers intended for tractor-trailer drivers. Some people live by this chain, calling it a bucket list item for non-frequent flyers. For others, it is a one-time thing. Their 60 locations are spread across 12 southern states, with plans to expand north in the near future. They have recently done so by adding a location in northern Virginia next to James Madison University.
