I get a little obsessed about "making good time" when I'm on a road trip. So little things, like the location of a gas station, make a big difference to me when it comes to shaving off those precious seconds. I can appreciate this Shell, first and foremost, for its location. When you get off of the freeway, it's only a few blocks in on 200 N and it's on the south side of the road. That's a right turn, and it's a quick stop. Especially if your bladder is a-burstin'.
There's also something to be said for the convenience of stopping for food and gas and bathroom at the same break. Even more time saved. So I was also okay with the big ol' cooler section with drinks, the large assortment of snacks, and the fact that a Subway is attached. I don't love Subway (it's a long story about having them every day in college and also about the fact that there are so many excellent sandwiches in this world but none are from Subway) but in the name of making good time, it's a viable option.
That was the protocol: fill up with gas, go inside and order a sandwich, get to the bathroom, buy some dill pickle sunflower seeds (a fella has to stay awake and sunflower seeds are magic for this) and get back on the road. I accomplished it in 12 minutes. The whole stop from freeway exit to freeway entrance was less than 20. I measure these things. It's a big deal to me when I travel solo and get all George Costanza.
Obviously, if you're looking for better food and better prices on gasoline, you'd be best served to head further into town. And for the locals, I'm not sure how much of this stretch of 200 N is really your jam. I used to frequent the Wendy's nearby and they never once got my order correctly. But you can get away with that when its people traveling the freeway.
Shell did me right. It's all about convenience and not love or passion or preference, but for convenience on a road trip, it's tops. read more