If you’re planning a road trip this year, whether within or outside of Louisiana, you’re likely to stop at a gas station a few times.
Thousands of gas stations throughout the United States provide places to fuel up, get snacks, and use the restroom. Despite your familiarity with gas stations, you may not know much about them.
These are 15 lesser-known facts about gas stations, covering everything from the history of filling stations to the price of gasoline. We gathered information from industry trade associations and news sources.
1: Number of Gas Stations
When the fuel light comes on, it may appear that there is never a gas station in sight, but this is most likely just a mental illusion. According to the National Association of Convenience and Fuel Retailing, there are approximately 145,000 fueling stations in the United States.
Approximately 120,000 of these stations operate as convenience stores.
Kiosks, grocery stores, and low-traffic areas like marinas are among the others.
While it may seem like there’s never a gas station in sight when the fuel light comes on, that’s probably just in your head. There are around 145,000 fueling stations in the United States, according to the NACS, the association for convenience and fuel retailing.
Among those stations, around 120,000 operate as convenience stores.
The others include kiosks, grocery stores, and small-volume locations, such as marinas.
2: Average Transactions
When you fill up at your regular gas station, you may wonder how much gas is sold there each day.
In 2022, an average convenience store sold 3,905 gallons per day.
The average transaction involves 7.4 gallons of gasoline. That makes sense, given that only 56% of people completely fill their gas tanks when they fuel up.
3: Most People Go Inside
Do you fill up your gas tank and head out, or do you stop inside the store before leaving?
When it comes to buying gas, the vast majority of Americans visit convenience stores.
Common reasons for going inside include purchasing items, using the restroom, or withdrawing cash from ATMs. Some people pay for their gasoline purchases at the pump.
4: Popular Fueling Times
If you’re stuck waiting for an open pump, you may be visiting the gas station at the wrong time.
According to research, the most popular times to buy gasoline are between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Approximately 35% of Americans purchase gasoline at this time.
During the pandemic, fewer people purchased gas in the mornings because they worked from home. Those numbers have now recovered, with approximately 25% of people purchasing gas between 6 and 10 a.m.
5: Most Drivers Buy Regular
Some people may wonder whether they should buy regular or premium gasoline.
While some high-efficiency engines require premium gas, the majority of vehicles can get by with regular gas.
That is reflected in recent data, which show regular-grade gasoline accounting for nearly 88% of total sales. Midgrade fuel is the least popular, accounting for only 1.2% of total sales.
6: Credit Card Transactions
With a credit card, you can easily pay for gas at the pump.
Most Americans appear to agree, as card sales account for the vast majority of fuel purchases.
Approximately 75% of people use credit cards to pay for gas. This includes all debit and credit card transactions.
7: Gas Station Owners
Many Americans are familiar with the names ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron, and BP.
But just because a gas station has one of these names does not imply that it is owned by that refiner.
The American Petroleum Institute reports that refiners own less than 5% of the country’s retail stations. The vast majority of branded stations are owned or operated by licensed independent retailers.
8: Transportation of Gas
Have you ever wondered how gas is delivered to convenience stores and other fueling stations?
The process includes more than just transporting fuel from refineries to gas stations.
Typically, petroleum products are transported from refineries to terminals via underground pipeline. Specialty trucks that can safely transport gas pick it up at terminals and deliver it to service stations.
9: Confusing Fraction Prices
If you look closely at gas station pricing boards, you’ll notice that prices frequently end in a fraction. Typically, it is an additional nine-tenths of a cent.
This practice originated in the early 1900s, when states began taxing gas sales. To pass on the tax to customers, gas stations began raising prices by nine-tenths of a cent.
At the time, gas cost an average of 10 cents per gallon, so adding a full cent was an excessive increase.
10: New Jersey Stands Alone
In terms of gas stations, New Jersey stands out.
It is the only state in the nation where it is illegal to pump your own gasoline.
New Jersey has banned self-service gas stations since 1949. Until 2023, Oregon also prohibited self-service stations, but it is now legal to pump your own gas there.
11: First Filling Station
There is some debate about where the first gas station in the United States was.
According to the NACS, the Automobile Gasoline Co. opened in St. Louis in 1905 and is widely regarded as the first station. Others believe that the first gas station opened in Seattle in 1907.
However, there is a clear answer to the question of the oldest gas station still in operation.
That title goes to Reighard’s gas station in Altoona, Pennsylvania, which opened in 1909.
12: Special Nozzles
When you completely fill your car’s tank, there is no need to manually turn off the nozzle. This is because fuel nozzles use a unique technology for automatic shut-off.
A small hole at the tip of the nozzle connects to a pipe that leads to the handle. When the tank is not completely full, air flows through this pipe.
However, when gasoline begins to clog the hole, the vacuum created in the pipe activates a lever that disables the nozzle.
When you fill your car’s tank up all the way, there’s no need to shut off the nozzle manually. That’s because fuel nozzles use a special technology for automatic shut-off.
The tip of the nozzle has a small hole connected to a pipe leading to the handle. Air flows through this pipe when the tank isn’t full.
However, when gasoline starts to block the hole, the vacuum created in the pipe triggers a lever that turns off the nozzle.
13: Owners Prefer Cheap Gas
Many Americans cringe when gasoline prices rise.
However, some people may be unaware that gas station owners feel the same way.
Gas stations buy gasoline wholesale, and when the price of gas rises, the owners are unable to raise their prices significantly because customers are more likely to shop around for the cheapest gas.
When prices are low, gas stations may be slower to lower their prices, resulting in higher profits.
14: Most Sold Fuel Brand
Many Americans probably don’t know the difference between major fuel brands.
But one brand sells more motor oil than the others.
Shell is the best-selling gasoline brand in the United States, according to Statista. Other well-known brands include ExxonMobil, Speedway, Chevron, and BP.
15: Variations in Price
When you’re on a budget, you might look around for the cheapest gas in your area. Have you ever wondered why these price differences exist in the first place?
According to the NACS, the three most important factors influencing gas prices are taxes, fuel blends, and profit margins.
Other considerations may include wholesale costs, business locations, and seasonal variations.
