Florida: Where Is Our Best Gas Station Food?

In a recent feature by USA Today's 10BEST, numerous gas station food chains across America were highlighted for the tasty items they are cooking up. There was just one problem, the majority of these chains were based well outside of the Sunshine State. So, this begs the question, what gas stations have the best food in Florida these days?

10BEST said that in order to qualify for their list, these places were all “serving up delicious food and snacks that make them destinations in and of themselves, from fried chicken and pizza to organic salads and veggie burritos."

Among their list are chains like Buc-ee's and TravelCenters of America. While these places do have a few spot locations across the state, they are not all that common.

Last year, Mashed did a similar feature detailing the best gas station food in each state. For Florida, they named El Carajo's Croquettes in the Miami area the place to fill up your tank and yourself.

Although WaWa is synonymous with New Jersey and Pennsylvania, it also has a heavy concentration in Florida. In fact, WaWa has 280 stores across the state according to the data analysis site ScrapeHero. Florida is sandwiched between New Jersey and Pennsylvania when it comes to the top three WaWa states. 27% of this northeast-based chain is actually here.

Why is WaWa the spot to go to? To start, they offer affordable meals at a reasonable price. For example, you can get a freshly cooked pizza pie for $8. In addition, their food offerings are consistent. You can grab a turkey sub on the east coast of the state and then place the same order on the west coast of the state, and the two sandwiches will taste quite similar.

The breakfast items at WaWa are also a great way to start the day. There are over a dozen options, from omelet sandwiches to avocado toast to a sausage egg and cheese sandwich on a pancake or waffle. Their hot coffee has become so popular that they have begun to bag it for customers to bring home and brew themselves.

WaWa has over 40 locations in the greater Tampa Bay area and 10 locations from Fort Myers down to South Naples.

Of course, you can fill up on gas while visiting your local WaWa. If you are a WaWa enthusiast, they even now offer catering services. This is everything from hoagie and soup bundles to hot tray items.

According to Infrastructure Report Card, there are 617,000 bridges in the United States. Outlets such as Attractions of America and Mr. Hudson have each come up with lists of the most beautiful bridges. Two of them call Florida home.

A bridge can be a historical landmark in addition to a pathway that connects communities. Certain bridges, like the Golden Gate in San Francisco, draw thousands of tourists each year. People plan trips around visiting this site and taking in its incredible views. Unsurprisingly, the Golden Gate Bridge is either #1 or #2 on each of the aforementioned lists.

The bridge that it shares the top spot with is famous for its ability to walk or bike over. The Brooklyn Bridge connects Brooklyn Heights to Manhattan via six lanes. Many charity-driven bike rides also cross here as it offers unique perspectives into New York City without any tollways.

In Florida, American Road and Transportation lists over 12,000 bridges in the Sunshine State (though not all of them are in functional condition). There are two however, that stand above the rest. One is architecturally astounding. The other feels like a gateway into a mysterious paradise.

"American bridges are often designed with looks to match their engineering ingenuity," Mr. Hudson explains.

What's fascinating about bridges in America, is they are constructed of different materials and serve different purposes. For example, the final and tenth selection in Attractions of America's feature is the Benson Bridge, Multnomah Falls, in Oregon. This is a foot traffic bridge that is only 45 feet long. It allows visitors to walk 105 feet above the Lower Multnomah Falls cascade

Let's take a look at the two most beautiful bridges in Florida.

Connecting St. Petersburg to Terra Ceia, this bridge is 4.1 miles long. This stunning bridge over Tampa Bay is often lit up with colors that highlight the skyline. Furthermore, since 2018, there has been a Skyway 10K race that closes the bridge each year.

This two-lane bridge is technically part of Route 1. It's a magical gateway into the Florida Keys. Mr. Hudson points out, "the Seven Mile Bridge usually has space for sightseers to park up and admire the Florida Keys." In 1982, a heavy renovation made the lanes wider, allowing for a safer and more comfortable drive. The last annual seven-mile bridge run took place this past April.