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Gas stations are an essential part of the infrastructure, they refuel cars and help keep them on the road. Most importantly, they help make the whole driving experience seamless for the driver.
These stations serve cars, trucks, and buses with more than a million gas pumps scattered across thousands of US cities, towns, and highways.
In this article, we are going to learn precisely how many gas stations are there in the US, how they are spread out across the country, and how the count changed over time. So, let’s get started!
Current Number of Gas Stations in the United States
If you ask yourself how many gas stations are in the US, the current number is about 150,000.
This number includes both small independent locations and major brands like Exxon, BP, Shell, 7-Eleven, and Chevron.
150,000 might seem like a high number, but it is actually much smaller than it was a few decades ago. Back in the golden age, there were more than 200,000 gas stations in the United States.
Almost a quarter of the heyday number is completely gone with the wind. You might ask why such a steep decline?
The biggest reason behind this decline is efficiency. Cars these days are more efficient and use less fuel. So, there is no need for so many gas stations like back in the day.
Where Are Gas Stations Located?
The sophisticated network of gas stations across the country matches the driving culture in the United States.
Urban areas like Los Angeles and New York have hundreds of gas stations that serve local drivers. These gas stations are situated in a small area.
On highways across Texas, Florida, and California, you have long lines of gas pumps that make coast to coast travel possible. You can choose a regular station with a pump and few amenities or one with a huge store like 7-Eleven, where you can get anything you want.
In rural America, there are also many gas stations, but their frequency is lower. Since there is not a lot of traffic, there is a gas station every 20 or 30 miles compared to only 2-3 miles in big cities.
So, these drivers often manage fuel a bit differently compared to drivers who live in urban areas.
Gas Stations in Los Angeles
We know how many gas stations are in the US, but how many gas stations are there in Los Angeles?
This city has one of the densest networks, with a whopping 2704 stations located in the city area.
The high population and long commutes push demand for these stations. This explains the reason why Los Angeles has more stations than many smaller states in the US.
Typical Gas Pump Layout in the US
When we ask how many gas stations are there in the US, it also helps to think more about the pumps themselves, the layout, and the importance of these stations throughout the nation.
Modern gas stations have multiple pumps, especially in areas that are around highways with a ton of traffic. This is essential in order to be able to serve so many vehicles that come and go.
So, although the number of stations nationwide dropped, the number of pumps increased to over a million.
Also, in many of these stations, there are large stores and diners where you can shop and grab a meal really quickly.
Gas Stations and the Driving Culture of the United States
Gas stations are central to the American way of life. We just couldn’t imagine our lives without them.
Gas stations are not only places to buy coffee, grab a meal, or use them as restrooms, but they are also places for socialization.
You just enter your favorite gas station, have a few chats with folks, and bond with them. Many business deals also happen in gas stations.
People love them, and this is why they are so equipped with everything that you can ever imagine.
If you are a fan of long road trips, you would fall in love with this lifestyle even more. There is no better feeling than when you stop over at a gas station to fill up your car with gas and recuperate some of the energy lost while driving with some fizzy drinks or a cup of coffee.
How the Market Is Changing
The question of how many gas stations are in the US also means that we should look at the future. The market is shaped by several different factors:
Electric Vehicles (EVs): With the recent introduction of EVs, gas stations are starting to fall out of favor in some areas where these vehicles are very common. Like California, for example.
Fuel Efficiency: Modern vehicles are designed to be efficient, and this reduces the need for having many stops. This also affects the number of gas stations needed.
Mergers and Chains: With so many big chains like 7-Eleven or Exxon, independent stations are finding the market too difficult to compete in. Many of them close or decide to sell to these large brands.
Why the Number of Gas Stations Matters
Knowing how many gas stations are in the US is useful for a couple of different reasons.
Reason number one is the fact that by knowing this, you know that you can travel the country safely and reliably. You can pre-plan your road trip and find all of the gas stations on your way to your destination. Plan how many times you will need to stop at a gas station and fill up the gas tank.
If you have a business, for example, if you are a trucker, you will know if in the area there are gas stations where you can fill up. This will allow you to pre-plan your fuel needs.
Also, the number of stations indicates how developed the economy is in the area. More stations mean more need for energy in the area and more possibilities for business.
Conclusion
So, how many gas stations are there in the US today? The right answer is about 150,000. With a total of 1 million gas pumps.
The gas station number dropped from 200,000 in the past three decades because vehicles became more efficient and there was less of a need for fueling.
But the network is still one of the largest in the world, especially in large cities like Los Angeles, where there are more than 2,700 stations.
The future of gas stations depends on how the EV industry will grow, but we believe they will stay for at least a couple more decades.