Where's the best gas station food in Iowa? These Iowa-based brands rank for food, branding

[TBoneTX 47,100]

Any recommendations for (or against) places like this in your state?

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Where's the best gas station food in Iowa?  These Iowa-based brands rank for food, branding

 

You know you are an Iowan when dinner suggestions include a trip to the closest gas station for pizza.

Not only does some of the best gas station food come from Iowa, but two Iowa-based convenience stores also ranked in the top 10 in the country for best brand by USA TODAY's 10BEST Readers' Choice.  A panel of experts determines finalists in each category before readers vote to make the final selections.

Can you guess which Iowa gas stations made the cut?  [...]

 

https://www.press-citizen.com/story/news/local/2025/05/14/caseys-hyvee-rank-for-best-gas-station-food-brand-in-us-usa-today-10best/83600002007/

[Dashinka 25,554]

With all our road trips, many through Iowa, we generally do not look to gas stations for meals.  My wife is meticulous in packing relatively healthy meals annd snacks for our trips, and we eat on the drive.  Our interest is more in bathroom cleanliness, and we usually find Loves Truck Stops to be the best although YMMV.

[hplusj 521]

I knew the winner would be Casey's 😂 Their pizza is insanely good.

 

I have to say though, I was driving through the South in January and there is nothing, absolutely NOTHING in Iowa that tops Buc-ees,  oh my damn lol

[TBoneTX 47,100]

16 hours ago, Dashinka said:

we eat on the drive

This is actually a pretty good system.  When I've been on solo road trips, I can't eat while driving, so I've made sure to either eat a big hotel breakfast or (the night before) buy convenience-store sandwiches for breakfast, then skip lunch so as to maximize my day, and pig out for supper.  I also fill the gas tank in the evening wherever I'm stopping for the night, whether it needs it or not; this precludes having to interrupt a trip to find gas.

16 hours ago, Dashinka said:

Our interest is more in bathroom cleanliness, and we usually find Loves Truck Stops to be the best

Good philosophy, and come to think of it, I agree with you about Loves.

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In Iowa, I was impressed with Kwik Star or however they spelled it -- really clean stores, and great product selection, especially sandwiches.  One of the best car washes I've ever been through, too.

Edited May 21 by TBoneTX

[Dashinka 25,554]

On 5/20/2025 at 8:23 PM, TBoneTX said:

This is actually a pretty good system.  When I've been on solo road trips, I can't eat while driving, so I've made sure to either eat a big hotel breakfast or (the night before) buy convenience-store sandwiches for breakfast, then skip lunch so as to maximize my day, and pig out for supper.  I also fill the gas tank in the evening wherever I'm stopping for the night, whether it needs it or not; this precludes having to interrupt a trip to find gas.

Good philosophy, and come to think of it, I agree with you about Loves.

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In Iowa, I was impressed with Kwik Star or however they spelled it -- really clean stores, and great product selection, especially sandwiches.  One of the best car washes I've ever been through, too.

Always wondered about the Iowa 80 Truck Stop.  We have never stopped there, thought about it once, but there was a backup on the exit ramp so drove on.  Is it a tourist trap like Wall Drug, or is it pretty good?

 

As to road trips, yes, we tend to prepare ahead of time.  Full tank the night before, and a good breakfast before setting out, and the aforementioned meals/snacks in the car (we have an plugin cooler we position strategically).  Our longest trip together was from Cody, WY to SE MI.  We tried to take an extended break at rest areas in Southern WI, and also SW MI (just inside the state line), but the most we could get was 20 minutes before we gave up and kept driving.  I bring along a good sleep mask so I can catch a few zzz’s when my wife is driving, and that usually works.

[TBoneTX 47,100]

21 hours ago, Dashinka said:

Always wondered about the Iowa 80 Truck Stop.

Never heard of it, so I searched it:

https://iowa80truckstop.com

Sounds intriguing.

21 hours ago, Dashinka said:

As to road trips [...]

Good planning -- sounds like you have things down to a comfortable science.