Ya gotta eat, right? I don’t know about you, but nothing stirs my hunger quite like expending nearly zero calories as I hurtle down the highway on the way from my current A to a distant B. And while ducking onto an exit ramp to enjoy a leisurely meal would be nice, I’m generally trying to cut down the total road trip time, so if the tummy fill-ups can be tied into fuel-tank fill-ups (or battery charge sessions), all the better. But what to eat?
As you are no doubt aware, gas station fare is highly variable. At the low end of the spectrum, there are the “really, we’re just a gas station” stops that offer a sole wire rack loaded with bagged salty and sweet snacks of the Cheeto-Dorito-Pringles-Yodel-Ding Dong/Ring Ding families and their ilk, which are better than nothing. But do stay away from the flavor-dusted consumables, which, as seen in the top graphic, tend to be messy for car consumption unless you’ve got moist towelettes at the ready.
At the high end of the gas station food pyramid, you’ve got your Quick Trips and RaceTracs and the like, which offer delicacies of the hot-roller variety and possibly pizza by the slice and breakfast sandwiches if you’re early enough.
At the very pinnacle, there’s Bucc-Ee’s, the truck stop/super-sized gas station that doubles as a take-out restaurant, gift shop, car wash (depending on location), candy store, and source for all manner of outdoorsy accouterment. The real attraction, though, is the brisket, as Mercedes will tell you:
Also not to be missed at Bucc-Ee’s: the best restrooms on the road. If you can hold it until you reach the home of Beaver Nuggets, you’ll be glad you did.
While unquestionably delicious, the brisket sandwich does leave much to be desired when it comes to convenient eating while behind the wheel. Exactly how important on-the-go convenience is to your best and worst road snack choices is entirely up to you; I’m not setting any rules here. Interpret today’s Autopian Asks as you like:
What Are The Best And Worst Gas Station Snacks?
Top graphic images: Doritos; DepositPhotos.com
I don’t eat from gas stations much at all… and I don’t drive long distances like I used to, so not from truck stops in years. On the rare occassion I do need something while slogging across the LA basin in rush hour traffic, I either get an iced coffee or that light blue Gatorade (whatever it’s called now). Not the medium blue, only the light blue.
I think most or all of those Gatorade drinks are not allowed to be sold in Europe due to the food colorings used.
The answer is always jojos. For either category.
The thing I buy basically every time I can find it is cheese stuffed potato puffs at Caseys and Kwik Trips. I’m sure they’re terrible for you, but they taste so, so good.
I make the ~4 hour trip from Detroit to Columbus a few times a year, and I always try to wait until I make it across the border to stop, as gas tends to be a fair bit cheaper in Ohio. If my bladder can’t hold out, there’s a handful of Love’s near the border, and they’re all fine. Clean bathrooms and a decent snack selection.
My go-to is a bag of sour gummy worms, some sort of chocolate, usually either a Reese’s Cup(Or Pumpkin, or Egg, depending on season, they’re better than the standard cup.) and then usually a couple of drinks. Often something carbonated, like a Dr. Pepper Zero, or an energy drink. Something non-carbonated, often an Arizona Arnold Palmer or other tea. And then a water.
If my bladder is able to hold out, there’s a Casey’s in Carey, Ohio off of Rt. 23. Then I’ll usually grab a slice of Za or some chicken tenders depending on what looks good under the heat lamps.