The First Timer's Guide to Sheetz, the Fan-Favorite Convenience Store: These Are the 5 Things You Can't Leave Without

When I moved from Louisiana to Pennsylvania, I expected to face many changes. I was moving from the bayou to the heart of Amish country, and those two places don’t have a lot in common.

I expected snow, and different types of food, I even expected different customs and traditions. What I did not expect, however, was how intensely people pledge their allegiance to one convenience store over another. Here in Central PA, the “gas station wars” are a hot topic, and the debates over the best one get heated. I have even witnessed some discussions devolve into name-calling and threats!

In the middle of all these tense talks, one gas station does appear to beat the competition, and that's Sheetz.

If you're not familiar with the fan-favorite convenience store, I'm here to break down everything you need to know before you go—the best things on the Sheetz menu (and the things you should skip), plus all the tips and tricks you need to make your Sheetz experience top notch.

Related: The First-Timer's Guide to Buc-ee's

What is Sheetz?

Sheetz was founded by G. Robert "Bob" Sheetz in 1952 as a dairy store in Altoona, Pennsylvania. The second store was opened in 1963 under the name "Sheetz Kwik Shopper” and by 1969 it had grown to seven stores in the Keystone State.

Sheetz began to offer gasoline in 1972, which helped the brand expand, but in the early 1980s, Sheetz really started to take off. That is when an employee invented the now famous Made-to-Order (MTO) concept, which lets customers order customized food items. This was a significant innovation not just for Sheetz, but for the entire convenience store industry.

By the 1990s, Sheetz began opening stores in multiple states, and throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, they innovated with more products, touchscreen ordering and even drive-thrus.

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Where Can I Find a Sheetz Near Me?

Today, Sheetz operates more than 600 stores across Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, and North Carolina, but it's still a privately held, family-run business. They sell a huge, impressive array of grab-and-go drinks and snacks, as well as hundreds of MTO foods.

What's So Great About Sheetz?

While the food is great (more about that in a minute), there are some other things that people should know about Sheetz.

• You never have to wonder if they're open. Sheetz locations are open 24 hours, so you can get your coffee or fries fix at any time.

• It's a great place for a pit stop. Another thing that I love about Sheetz is that they tend to have very clean bathrooms. When you take a road trip with kids, that’s one thing you really appreciate.

• You get rewarded. I love the My Sheetz Rewardz program. To join, all you have to do is download the Sheetz app and “every time you make a qualifying purchase and scan in, you’re earning pointz to be used toward FREAKIN’ awesome Rewardz,” according to the Sheetz website. “The more pointz you earn, the faster you’ll climb the ranks from Fan (0-999 pointz) to Friend (1000) to FREAK (2,500).”

Why does this matter? Because the more points you earn, the more discounts you’ll get. I regularly get free fountain drinks, free hot dogs, free coffee, and more, and that’s worth being labeled a “Sheetz Freak,” to me!

Additionally, rewards members get 3 cents a gallon in fuel savings just for signing up, all day, every day.

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My 5 Favorite Menu Items at Sheetz

Ok. Now it's time for a menu deep dive. When I go to Sheetz, this is what I'm getting.

1. Tacos. I always get tacos when I go to Sheetz and they never disappoint. They're fried and remind me of the Jack-in-the-Box tacos (in the best way) and you can add a variety of toppings. I prefer mine made with pico, lettuce, jalapenos and sour cream.

2. Wisconsin Cheddar Bites. I am about to shock the masses with this confession, but I don’t really like cheese, and I don’t particularly care for fried cheese, but the Wisconsin Cheddar Bites at Sheetz are one of my favorite fried foods. These bite-sized pieces of deliciousness are made with Wisconsin cheddar cheese that is breaded and deep-fried until crispy on the outside and gooey (and even slightly chewy) on the inside. Sheetz has a lot of dipping sauces you can pair these with.

3. Dr. Pepper BBQ Sauce. Speaking of dipping sauce, the Dr. Pepper BBQ sauce at Sheetz is a fan favorite and it’s definitely my top sauce. This condiment combines the classic taste of barbecue sauce with the distinct, slightly swicy flavor of Dr Pepper. It’s not really something you buy, but you can request it with your Wisconsin Cheddar Bites, chicken tenders, and more, and Sheetz does charge for extra sauces.

4. Iced Coffee. I once tested the iced coffees at the major local convenience stores, including Wawa, Turkey Hill, Rutter’s, Royal Farm, and Sheetz and the winner was Sheetz. As far as gas station iced coffees go, Sheetz is pretty good. You can make your own at the coffee island or you can order different drinks (and customize them) from the MTO menu. I like the Cold Brew made with Salted Caramel Creamer and topped with cold foam. You can also get seasonal flavors, frappes, and espresso drinks.

5. Fries. Sheetz has a whole section on its menu dedicated to its spuds. You can get cheesy bacon tater tots, curly fries, regular fries, hashbrowns, and loaded fry platters. Some people don’t care for Sheetz fries, claiming they’re microwaved, but they’re not. My husband works in commercial equipment and he’s assured me that Sheetz uses actual fryers to make their fries. We’ve always enjoyed them, especially with the Dr. Pepper BBQ sauce.

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3 Menu Items to Skip at Sheetz

While there are some really good things about Sheetz, there are also some things I don’t care for.

1. Soft Pretzels. I live in the land of soft pretzels, and compared to the amazing pretzels I can get at the local Markethouses, Sheetz pretzels are stale, too salty, and not cooked properly. They’re either overcooked or undercooked, and they have a bland flavor (aside from the salt). This is one Sheetz food I skip.

2. Bratwurst. I don’t care for the Sheetz bratwurst, and I have had them made several ways. There’s something about the way the meat is cooked that makes it too greasy and it has an odd after-taste, to me. Many people swear by these, though, and my kids do love Sheetz hot dogs, but I have to pass on the bratwursts.

3. Shmagel. This is egg, cheese, and choice of meat on a toasted bagel, which is a pretty basic breakfast sandwich, but I don’t like the way Sheetz cooks their breakfast meats or eggs. They are bland and require a lot of salt and pepper to make them taste better. You can add one of the many sauces that Sheetz offers, and even load it down with other toppings, like banana peppers, lettuce, and tomato to give it more flavor, but if you want a basic bagel breakfast sandwich, this isn’t the best one out there.

I don’t have a favorite convenience store chain in Pennsylvania—I think each one of them does at least one thing better than all the others—but I do find myself stopping at Sheetz the most. Maybe it’s the marketing, or maybe it’s because there are so many where I live. Either way, I could verbally pledge my allegiance to one, but my money is spent at Sheetz.

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