Gas Stations see business climb 69% during Memorial Day weekend

(June 7, 2019) BOSTON — GasBuddy reveals how impactful the holiday weekend was for fuel and convenience retailers, with gas stations along major highways seeing a 69% lift overall compared to the previous weekend. Meanwhile, quick service restaurants only saw a 27% lift and coffee shops saw a 20% lift.

Lunchtime visits from 11a.m. to 3 p.m. made up 36% of all traffic to gas stations over the holiday weekend. When compared to the previous weekend, gas stations saw a 105% uplift in foot traffic during lunch hours.

“We are a society growing more obsessed with convenience, apparent even in how we travel. According to our data, roadtrippers are looking for an all-in-one stop to get their gas, coffee, snacks, and meals," says Frank Beard, convenience store and retail trends analyst at GasBuddy. "Beyond convenience, quality matters and fuel retailers continue to build offers that compete directly with major fast food brands.”

In GasBuddy’s first-quarter Foot Traffic Report, lunchtime visits on weekends were also the busiest time at gas stations convenience stores. And in the company’s recent convenience store foodservice study, 75% of Americans believe gas station convenience store foodservice has improved in the past 5 years.

Memorial Day weekend is just the beginning of the summer travel season. Nearly 70% of Americans will be making at least two road trips this summer.