For consumers, Costco is the favorite U.S. gas station and Wawa has the best food, according to a survey from Texas electric company Payless Power, Fort Worth.
In addition, people are willing to drive 21 minutes out of their way to visit a Buc-ee’s—the longest time given among an average of 18 minutes—and only 16% selected their gas station based on price. The survey, released this month, asked 1,011 Americans about their gas station preferences.
“A gas station may seem like an odd thing to feel passionate about, but many major and regional gas chains have developed cultlike followings over the past decade,” the report said. “What’s driving this phenomenon, and how loyal are consumers to their favorite fuel spots?”
Among 25 gas stations presented to respondents, the favorite fuel stops are:
Another ranking in the survey listed “America’s Best Stops.” The top five are:
“With locations in almost every state, Costco offers familiarity and consistency, not to mention the convenience of getting your groceries, furniture, and gas all in one place,” Payless Power said. Most loyal gas station customers visited their favorite station twice weekly for gas or a snack. Gulf fans were particularly loyal, visiting three times per week on average. “They were also the most consistent, with 73% of them always choosing Gulf over other stations,” Payless Power said. “In comparison, only 45% of people whose favorite fueling spot was 7-Eleven said the same of their preferred station, demonstrating a spectrum of gas station allegiance.”
When choosing a gas station, 58% of respondents said they always visit their favorite, 26% go the one closest to their location and 16% choose the one with the lowest price.
When it comes to the overall experience, Wawa placed first with the highest average spend on each visit:
- Wawa: $84.46
- Love’s: $74.43
- Shell: $73.11
- Speedway: $69.82
- Circle K: $62.32
- Buc-ee’s: $58.03
- Gulf: $57.70
- Mobil: $51.64
- 7-Eleven: $41.82
- Costco: $40.24
Wawa loyalists were the quickest shoppers at 16 minutes, but they outspent every other fan base. “On average, customers spent 20 minutes and $69.95 per visit to their favorite gas station,” Payless Power said.
Specific best-of category lists broke down as follows:
- Cleanliness: Costco, Sam’s Club, Buc-ee’s, Wawa, Sheetz
- Price: Costco, Sam’s Club, Buc-ee’s, Love’s Circle K
- Food quality: Wawa, Buc-ee’s, Sheetz, Costco, Casey’s
- Customer service: Buc-ee’s, Costco, Wawa, Sam’s Club, Casey’s
“Customers are looking for much more in a gas station than cheap gas,” Payless Power said. “While price is important, a clean station with quality food and customer service alone could earn a healthy following. For example, Shell was the third favorite station in the country, but 70% of consumers said they had the most expensive gas.”
The survey also asked: What are the most important qualities of a gas station?:
- Quality food: 60%
- Consistently low prices: 55%
- Clean pumps: 45%
- Clean bathroom: 44%
- Good hours: 41%
- Clean convenience store: 35%
- Safe: 33%
- Well lit: 30%
- Rewards program: 27%
- Cheap food: 20%
What would make you change the brand you’re loyal to?:
- Lower prices: 49%
- Better fuel: 49%
- Cleaner pumps: 35%
- Cleaner bathrooms: 34%
- Better hours: 34%
- Better rewards program: 31%
- Cleaner convenience store: 27%
- Safer: 25%
- Better lit: 22%
- A car wash: 19%
“As gas stations offer more amenities and expand their food menus, so too are they growing their fan bases,” Payless Power said. “Steadfast station supporters will drive significantly out of their way to patronize their preferred station and happily part with a considerable amount of money once there.”
Of those surveyed, 10% were baby boomers, 22% were Gen X, 43% were millennials and 25% were Gen Z. Also, 57% were men and 43% were women. Respondents were required to correctly answer an attention-check question during the survey to prove they were taking it seriously. Click here to see the full report.