MCLEAN, Va. —USA Today asked its readers to vote for the country's best road trip amenities and accommodations, including gas stations. Other categories included motels and campgrounds.
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial nominees, and the newspaper's readers picked the top 10 winners by popular vote. Readers could vote once per category, per day, and the contest was open for four weeks.
The experts asked, among other questions, how clean are the bathrooms? How fresh is the coffee? What snack options are available? Can I get a hot meal?
The top 10 winners in the Best Gas Station Brand category—all among CSP’s annual Top 202 ranking of c-store chains by size—are:
La Crosse, Wis.-based Kwik Trip is No. 13 on CSP’s 2020 Top 202 list with approximately 700 stores in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa (as Kwik Star).
West Des Moines, Iowa-based Hy-Vee is No. 45 in the Top 202 with approximately 160 c-stores in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Altoona, Pa.-based Sheetz is No. 14 in the Top 202 with approximately 600 stores in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and North Carolina.
Tulsa, Okla.-based QuikTrip is No. 11 in the Top 202 with approximately 850 stores in 11 states.
Ankeny, Iowa-based Casey's General Stores is No. 4 in the Top 202 with approximately 2,200 stores in 16 greater Midwestern states.
Salt Lake City-based Maverik is No. 23 in the Top 202 with approximately 360 stores in 11 Western states.
York, Pa.-based Rutter's is No. 87 in the Top 202 with approximately 80 stores in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland.
Savannah, Ga.-based Parker's is No. 105 in the Top 202 with approximately 70 stores in Georgia and South Carolina. “We’re honored by the support of our customers who voted for us and are humbled to be ranked alongside some of the largest, most highly respected convenience store companies in the industry,” founder and CEO Greg Parker said.
Des Moines, Iowa-based Kum & Go is No. 18 in the Top 202 with approximately 400 stores in 11 Midwestern states.
Whitehouse Station, N.J.-based QuickChek is No. 44 in the Top 202 with approximately 160 stores in New Jersey and New York.
Other nominees, also in CSP’s Top 202, included Allsup’s, Buc-ee’s, Cumberland Farms, Pilot Flying J, Royal Farms, Stewart’s Shops, Twice Daily, United Dairy Farmers, Wawa and Weigel’s Stores.
10Best offers travel guides that feature rankings of and insights into the best places to eat, things to see and do and places to stay for top U.S. and global destinations. No business ever pays to be listed, it said. The team of local experts—in their fields and their cities—live where they write about.
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