13 Gas Stations With Food That's Just As Good As Your Destination

If you're lucky enough to live along the East Coast in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or North Carolina, then you may already know that Royal Farms is more than just a gas station. If you don't live in one of these states — but are going to be visiting or driving through them — then make sure you plan to stop by to refuel both your car and your belly.

Royal Farms is most well-known for its fried chicken. Instead of starting from frozen, as you'd probably expect from a gas station, the company always uses fresh chicken. After hand-breading each piece with a secret concoction, the chicken is pressure-cooked. And, even better, it keeps making the chicken all day long. So, you'll be able to find it hot and ready for you no matter when you stop by. In addition to its famous fried chicken, Royal Farms also sells subs and wraps along with several side options like mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, coleslaw, and hand-cut Western fried.

Buc-ee's has been around for over 40 years, and continues to grow in popularity. It's added several new locations, and now operates dozens of locations across Texas, Florida, Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina. When you have the chance to stop at one of these locations, don't miss it. If you're hungry, you won't be hurting for options at Buc-ee's. Its barbecue selections are among the most popular options you'll find. The brisket and pulled pork are two of the top choices of many travelers with one Redditor claiming the brisket, "is one of the best BBQ sandwiches I've ever had." Other meal options that you can order at Buc-ee's include breakfast tacos, chicken fajita tacos, and sausages on a stick.

Not hungry enough for a full meal? Don't worry; the snacks available at Buc-ee's are some of the other items that the store is most well-known for. Grab a bag of the Beaver Nuggets, beef jerky, caramel corn, or peach rings to get you through to your next stop. Or, for something a little sweeter, pick up a cinnamon roll or stop by the fudge counter.

Maverik, which recently expanded the number of locations it operates by acquiring Kum & Go stations, is another gas station that serves surprisingly good food. Located across 12 western states, Maverik has a lot of food options to choose from so you can keep going to your destination. Craving some pizza? Try one of the traditional or Detroit-style bonfire pizzas, such as the Hawaiian, chicken bacon ranch, or taco. The kitchen also offers buffalo chicken burritos and club or Italian sandwiches that can be served up in no time flat. If you can't tell by some of these offerings, Maverick's menu is largely inspired by Tex-Mex cuisine, a perfect fit for its western U.S. location.

Don't forget to add a side or a dessert to your order. There are several sweet baked goods, such as chocolate chip cookies, pink sugar cookie bars, donuts, and muffins, along with candies, chips, pints of Ben & Jerry's ice cream, and more.

Parker's Kitchen is a smaller chain with only about 70 locations in South Carolina and Georgia. So, it may not be as likely that your travels will take you by one of these gas stations for foodies, but if they happen to, make sure you stop by to see what all the fuss is about. Unlike many other fast food options, Parker's Kitchen puts a high emphasis on the quality of its ingredients. Its chicken tenders, for example, are always made using fresh poultry that has never been frozen. Its chicken tenders are hand-breaded and fried in quality soy oil. Once you taste one of these chicken tenders, you'll notice the difference.

Download the Parker's Kitchen app as you're planning the visit. You can browse through the menu online and even place an order so it is ready to grab as soon as you arrive. In addition to the popular chicken tenders, you'll find that there are lots of other options to choose from. Perhaps you'll want to try one of the breakfast bowls, a real Southern treat made with grits, eggs, and the breakfast meat of your choice. If you're going to be stopping by around lunch or dinner, you might want to order the fried bone-in pork chops, cornmeal fried catfish fillets, cheeseburger, or pulled pork sandwich. The menu really is extensive, so you'll want to check it out for yourself.

Sheetz is another chain that is concentrated along the East Coast. It has over 700 locations across Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. One of the best things about Sheetz is that you can get a hot and delicious meal at any hour of the day. This can be a huge benefit if you're traveling through the night and need a little pick-me-up. You won't have to resort to just a bag of chips or a candy bar anymore.

Sheetz offers online ordering and touchscreen machines in its facilities. Using these makes it simple to order precisely what you want and also allows you to customize your purchase. That's right, Sheetz offers made-to-order food, which is certainly a welcome treat from a gas station restaurant. Customize your burger, breakfast sandwich, sub, or Shnack wrap, to match your exact preferences. You can also try some chicken strips, chicken Shwinzgz, hot dogs, bratwurst, and more. If you're watching calories or carbs, Sheetz even offers an Eat Shmart category on its menu with selections such as salads, low-calorie subs, and various breakfast offerings.

Compared to some of the larger chains that make our list, Rutter's is rather small. There are only about 80 locations across three states: Pennsylvania, Mayland, and West Virginia (though, all but a handful are in Pennsylvania). However, the Rutter's menu offers a lot of choices to fit different cuisine preferences. From sloppy Joes, subs, burgers, pizzas, soups, salads, and lots of different appetizer options, you won't be left wanting to find something delicious to enjoy here. Plus, Rutter's has a rotating menu with limited-time special offerings. Some that have been available in the past include a peanut butter burger, loaded potato pizza, and pulled pork fries. Stop in to find out what the current specials are.

In addition to hot food, you can also take care of your grocery shopping needs when you stop by Rutter's. Pick up some staples if you're staying close by or some extra snacks to help you finish off a long drive.

If you're ever near Sacramento, California, and craving a warm and gooey cinnamon roll, then you'll have to make a stop at the 76 Station on Sutterville Road. Located inside the gas station shop is a little place called Spinners. If you were to just drive by the gas station, you never would be able to guess that its modest and standard-looking shop was home to some of the best cinnamon rolls in the land. But, it is.

Spinners was founded by Larry and Sandy Taing over three decades ago. In those years, they have built up quite a reputation. People are known to hit up Spinners whenever they want a warm and delicious treat. In addition to standard cinnamon rolls, Spinners even offers specialty options, such as walnut, or apple-filled rolls. Make sure you arrive hungry, because these aren't little cinnamon rolls, either. They're nice and big to fill you up — you just might have to turn it into a meal. The little bakery also sells cookies, muffins, and other baked goods.