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Kwik Trip goes big with 88 octane gasoline

In November, we featured a story on the rapid growth of 88 octane gasoline in the state of Minnesota. This progress continues and the state now has 250+ stations selling 88 octane. Much of the growth in 2017 was due to Kwik Trip’s adoption of the fuel. Kwik Trip is a Wisconsin-based business that operates in three states, with more than 150 fuel stations in Minnesota. In the course of one year, Kwik Trip added 88 octane (also known as Unleaded 88 or E15) to more than half of their stores in their 3-state market.  Kwik Trip has 330 stores offering 88 octane , with nearly 140 of those in Minnesota. That means that almost every Kwik Trip station in Minnesota now has unleaded 88! Like any industry, fuel stations and convenience stores must often change to keep up with technology and consumer demand. By creating more demand for the lower-priced, higher octane fuel in Minnesota, other retailers are beginning to follow Kwik Trip’s lead and are adding 88 octane to their pumps.

It’s important to note that 88 octane gasoline is approved by the U.S. EPA for vehicles model year 2001 or newer, which means a vast majority of cars and trucks on the road today can use the fuel. Consider this stat taken from an article published by Agrinews , “over 60 million gallons of E15 was sold at Kwik Trip during the first year of the rollout and now averages sales of 25,000 gallons per store each month. That volume equates to 1.38 billion miles driven with Kwik Trip’s E15.”

That’s quite a good track record! In that same article, Kwik Trip manager of fuel procurement and marketing is quoted saying they haven’t had any claims from consumers using 88 octane . “We guarantee our fuel so our customers know that if they have a problem they’re going to reach out to us, and we have had nobody reach out to us on our unleaded 88 product. We’re very excited about those results.”

The market will continue to change, with more and more retailers adding the 88 octane. Perhaps we’re on track to see another year of exponential growth for this cleaner-burning fuel.

Buying Gas From a Station on This List Is Better for Your Car

When you’re deciding where to pull over for gas, do you look for the Top Tier logo? Maybe you should start!

Engine-cleaning detergent additives in gasoline really do make a difference and are worth the extra price to keep your car healthy, according to independent laboratory testing from AAA .

The group’s researchers found “significant” differences in the quality of gasoline sold across the country.

Top Tier Gas: These Are the Best Gas Stations, AAA Says  

Since the 1990s, the Environmental Protection Agency has required a minimum level of detergent for all gas sold, but some automakers believe the EPA standards aren’t good enough.

To be considered Top Tier, the gasoline must have a higher concentration of detergent added to it.

AAA said it was surprised to find that detergent additives made such an impact on gasoline quality. The group is now urging drivers to use a gasoline that meets Top Tier standards for engine cleanliness and performance.

“Among brands tested, non-Top Tier gasolines caused 19 times more engine deposits than Top Tier brands after just 4,000 miles of simulated driving. Such carbon deposits are known to reduce fuel economy, increase emissions and negatively impact vehicle performance, particularly on newer vehicles.”

Every service station that sells Top Tier fuel must add the detergent package to all grades of gasoline.

According to AAA, Top Tier gasoline costs an average of three cents more per gallon, but money expert Clark Howard says it doesn’t have to be more expensive.

“The most important thing about the report is that many of the nation’s giants of gas discounting sell Top Tier gasoline, including Costco and QuikTrip,” Clark said. “There are many who decide to buy gas only at major oil company stations believing their gas to be superior. However, you can have what the study finds is the best gas at the lowest prices.”

Where do you find Top Tier fuel options? They’re all over! According to Top Tier, about a third of gas stations meet the fuel quality standards.

Here Are the Top Tier Licensed Retail Brands in the United States:

• Belmont Car Wash
• Costco Wholesale
• CountryMark
• Diamond Shamrock
• Express Mart
• Gold Medal Gasoline
• Harmons Fuel Stop
• HFN – Hawaii Fueling Network
• J&E Wendy
• Kirkland Signature Gasoline
• Meijer Express
• Ohana Fuels
• Phillips 66
• Ranger Fuel
• Ranger Mustang
• Ranger Stallion
• Ranger Thoroughbred
• Reeder’s
• Road Ranger
• Rutter’s
• Simonson Station Stores
• Tulalip Market
• Value America
• Waterway Fuels

Updated: October 2023

Don’t see your gas station on this list? Check for the Top Tier logo on display at the service station or ask an employee.

If you haven’t been using high-quality gasoline, it’s not too late to start. AAA says you can reverse some of the damage by making the switch to Top Tier gasoline.

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Quiktrip gas prices: everything you need to know.

Source: Pixabay

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for half a year, you’re likely aware of skyrocketing gas prices, especially at the start of the year. Gas prices have repeatedly broken record highs, which caused an unprecedented amount of pain at the pump. Fast forward to today, gas prices have finally come down for about 70 or more days. According to AAA gas prices, the national average of gas prices is now $3.857 per gallon – a far cry from almost $6 per gallon during the price surge.

Having said that, we here at CoPilot like to be updated with today’s gas prices from various states and fuel brands across the nation. For today’s highlight, we’ll look at QuikTrip Gas Prices.

Are QuikTrip’s fuel prices competitive compared to other brands? Does the company offer good quality gas? Are there ways to save when pumping your vehicle at a QuikTrip gas station? We have the answers below and more.

How Much Does QuickTrip Gas Cost?

QuickTrip or QT is a convenience store chain based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and primarily serves the Midwestern, Southern, and Southeastern United States and Arizona. QuikTrip has 949 locations across 16 states and 267 cities. With 230 locations, Texas has the most QuikTrip stores, followed by Georgia and Missouri, with 151 and 134 sites, respectively.

On a related note, many people confuse QuickTrip and Kwik Trip gas stations, but they’re not the same company. KwikTrip goes by a different name, Kwik Star, in states where QuickTrip operates.

For today’s QuickTrip gas prices analysis, we’ll look at several national stores and compare them with competing fuel brands. As per usual, we’ll use GasBuddy for reference.

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Comparing QuickTrip Gas Prices

Update (7/28/2023): gas prices continue their upward trajectory over the last few weeks. according to aaa, the national per-gallon average for fuel is $3.732 and it’s on track to increase in the following months..

In QuickTrip’s headquarter state, Tulsa, OK, the company offers per-gallon pricing of $3.43 for regular and $3.63 for premium. For Tulsa, QuickTrip’s gas prices are hardly competitive as it failed to break into the top ten lowest prices in the area. The lowest gas price comes from Sam’s Club at $3.15 per gallon; next is Costco at $3.19 per gallon. QuickTrip didn’t get into the top ten cheapest gas prices for the whole state of Oklahoma.

For Tucson, AZ, QuickTrip’s gas price is $3.28 per gallon for regular fuel and $3.78 for premium. This location boasts the lowest gas price in Tucson and is tied with brands like Costco and Walmart at $3.28 per gallon. When you consider the whole state of Arizona, the same $3.28 per gallon price of QuickTrip remains the cheapest, which is quite impressive.

Heading to Kansas City, MO, QuickTrip offers a per-gallon price of $3.14 for regular and $4.09 for premium. Once again, QuickTrip has the lowest per-gallon price in Kansas City and is tied with Costco and Sam’s Club at $3.14. The rest of the top ten is populated by brands like BP, Conoco, Sinclair, and Casey’s. For the state of Missouri, QuickTrip may not be the lowest priced, but it did break into the top ten at $3.07 per gallon. The lowest price in the state is from MFA Oil at $2.59 per gallon.

Last but not least, QuickTrip has a per-gallon price of $3.09 for regular fuel in Waco, TX. While it’s not the cheapest fuel in Waco, it’s top-ten pricing from QT. The lowest gas prices are from Circle K and Valero at $3.04 per gallon, followed by Murphy USA and HEB at $3.09 per gallon. For the whole state of Texas, QuickTrip didn’t make it into the top ten, where the lowest price is from Exxon at $2.92 per gallon.

Overall, many of QuickTrip gas stations offer great prices and can compete with the cheapest gasoline in several areas. This is even more impressive since QT is a Top Tier gasoline, which we’ll talk about more below.

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Is QuickTrip Gas Good Quality?

Some say that commercial fuel brands are essentially the same since they have to adhere to the standards set by the government. In reality, not all gasoline brands are created equal. In this case, Top Tier gasoline has been scientifically proven to provide benefits you won’t find in non-certified brands.

With that said, QuickTrip or QT is a Top Tier brand , meaning its fuel products are treated with an approved Detergent Gasoline additive at the right concentration. As a Top Tier brand, QuickTrip’s fuel will less likely help develop deposits in your engine’s fuel injectors and intake valves. The deposit buildup can affect your vehicle’s performance and fuel economy. According to research conducted by AAA, fueling with Top Tier gas will keep your engine 19x cleaner than standard fuel.

Many Top Tier brands are prominent companies like Chevron, Texaco, and Shell. However, QuickTrip manages to offer reasonable prices, despite being a Top Tier gas brand.

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How to Save on QuickTrip Gas Prices With Fuel Rewards Program?

With skyrocketing gas prices, you need all the help you can get to save on gas. Like most prominent brand names, QT has a fuel rewards program that patrons can take advantage of to save on fuel. The primary way to save on QT gas is through one of its three types of reward cards:

• QT Gift Cards: This works like a standard gift card that you may use for shopping from convenience stores and pumping fuel at QT’s gas stations. Gift cards are available and reloadable from any QT location and online.
• QT Fleetmaster Cards: These cards work like your standard fuel cards, with extra perks like 5¢ or 3¢ savings per gallon at any QuickTrip locations. You may also avail of the Fleetmaster Plus card, which is accepted in 95% of fueling locations nationwide. However, you can only avail of up to 3¢ off per gallon.

There are several ways to register for the QuikTrip Fuel Rewards Program, and oddly enough, not one of them is to visit the store in person. Instead, you can sign up online/website, through the QuickTrip app, and by phone.

QuikTrip Gas Prices Update [7/28/2023]

AAA reports that the current national average for gas prices stands at $3.732 per gallon . Over the past few months, there have been fluctuations in gas prices, with a recent trend showing an upward trajectory in the last few weeks. According to CBS News , the current surge in gas prices can be attributed to the escalating prices in the global market.

When it comes to QuikTrip gas prices, the fuel chain remains one of the cheapest sellers of gas in many regions in the U.S. For instance, in Blue Springs, MO, QuikTrip offers a per-gallon price of $3.56 for regular and $4.06 for premium. However, QuikTrip prices are generally more expensive compared to chains like Costco, Circle K, and Fastrip.

With that said, experts believe that gas prices will continue to rise before they start to decrease, especially with the few more weeks of summer.

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Compare Kwik Trip Fuel Cards

Pick the best card for your fleet's fuel, gas, and diesel needs.

Extended Fleet Card

Business Plus Mastercard®

DataTracker Card

REBATES & DISCOUNTS

Earn 3 cents per gallon on fuel purchases 1

Enjoy a 5% rebate on gasoline fuel purchases for the first 60 days 1

Save 10% on most in-store purchases within the Kwik Trip network 2

Accepted at any Kwik Trip / Kwik Star location

Accepted at any fueling station that accepts Fuelman® cards

Accepted at any fueling station that accepts Mastercard® cards

Use to purchase maintenance service in addition to fuel

In Store Card

Network access to high speed diesel pumps

ONLINE TRACKING TOOLS

Online Reporting

Custom Reporting and Account Management

ACCOUNT MONITORING & SECURITY

Track usage by card

Card restrictions by gallon amount, time of day, day of week, etc.

Product restrictions

Driver ID and Odometer Prompting

Driver or Vehicle ID and Odometer Prompting

Driver ID and Vehicle ID and Odometer Prompting

Real-Time transaction review

Exception alerts  

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1 New accounts will earn a 5% rebate on gasoline purchases made at Kwik Trip or Kwik Star locations for the first 60 days after account setup. Not valid on off-road diesel, aviation, bulk fuel, propane or natural gas purchases. Rebates will not apply to returns or chargebacks. To receive rebates, invoice must be paid in full and on time. The 3 cent rebate is subject to change beginning 12 months after account set-up.

2 Kwik Trip, Inc. reserves the right to exclude certain items from the 10% in-store purchase discount subject to state law minimum mark-up requirements, or which are otherwise prohibited by law from earning such discounts. Examples of products subject to mandatory minimum mark-up requirements include, but are not limited to, cigarettes, Lotto, lottery tickets, and gift cards.

Please see Client Agreement - at  www.kwiktripfleet.com/terms/kwiktrip-pl  and  www.kwiktripfleet.com/terms/kwiktrip-mc  for rate, fee and other cost and payment information.

The Kwik Trip Business Plus Mastercard® is issued by Fifth Third Bank, N.A. or another financial institution, pursuant to a license by Mastercard® International Incorporated. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. 

Kwik Trip named 2024 Best Gas Station Brand in the country by USA TODAY 10Best

Kwik trip was named the favorite gas station brand in the country and also made the list of best gas stations for food..

Kwik Trip is ranked the best gas station brand in the nation by USA TODAY readers.

The national newspaper announced Wednesday morning its 2024 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Kwik Trip made a couple of lists in the Road Trips division.

Kwik Trip ranked No. 1 in Best Gas Station Brand and came in third for Best Gas Station for Food , behind Royal Farms and Casey’s.

Other Road Trips categories included Best Glamping Spot, Best Luxury RV Resort, Best National Park Lodge, Best Rental Car Company, Best Roadside Attraction, Best Roadside Motel, Best RV Campground and Best Vintage Trailer Hotel.

The awards highlight the best places and attractions in travel, food, drink and lifestyle. Each week, USA TODAY 10Best hosts a panel of industry experts who nominate their favorite places and attractions across a range of categories. 10Best editors look into each nomination and select a set of nominees that readers vote on for four weeks.

Kwik Trip has become a phenomenon.

Wisconsinites will not be surprised that Kwik Trip ranked first in the favorite gas station brand category. Since opening its first location as a neighborhood grocery store in Eau Claire in 1965, the convenience store brand — now based in La Crosse — has grown to a Midwestern convenience store and gas station with almost 900 Kwik Trip and Kwik Star locations in Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and South Dakota. As Kwik Trip has continued to grow, it has collected a fan base that turned the brand into a phenomenon.

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin took a deeper dive into the brand and its popularity in 2022.

Part of Kwik Trip's success has been through the use of social media, turning a convenience store and gas station into a more humanized brand voice that connects to its followers. A digital content supervisor told USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin that Kwik Trip has used social media platforms to bring the brand to life, listening and learning from its fans and followers.

Kwik Trip has Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat accounts. It even has a Spotify account with more than 160 followers who can listen to the company's "Kwik Trip Checkout" or "Chicken Jammies" public playlists.

Why do people love Kwik Trip?

There are multiple fan groups on social media dedicated to members' love for Kwik Trip, including a Wisconsin Kwik Trip Enthusiast Club, Kwik Trip Enthusiasts Club and even a Kwik Trip Missed Connections group. Some fans have held photo shoots at their local stores, even on prom and wedding days.

In the 2022 article, customers shared with USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin why they loved Kwik Trip. Many said they appreciated the company's high standards for cleanliness, helpful and caring employees and a variety of "grab and go" food options. Customers said they feel like they're a person in a Kwik Trip and not just another customer.

Many people love how interactive the brand is on social media, often posting jokes and quips and responding directly to comments on its social media posts. Kwik Trip also leans into its Midwest brand, partnering with various Midwest social media personalities like comedian Charlie Berens and various Green Bay Packers players.

More Kwik Trip news: Would you try a blueberry doughnut-flavored potato chip? You can find them at Kwik Trip.

More Kwik Trip news: She's from Green Bay. He's from the United Kingdom. On their wedding day, they went head over heels at Kwik Trip.

Contact Caitlin at  [email protected]  or follow her on Twitter  @CaitlinShuda .

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USA TODAY 10Best

From roadside attractions to gas stations, these are the best road trip stops

May 15, 2024 // By 10Best Editors

By 10Best Editors May 15, 2024

Summer is just around the corner — are you ready to make the most of it? Start planning a road trip with our rankings of the best gas stations, glamping spots, RV campgrounds and resorts, national park lodges, rental car companies, and more.

To find the top spots for 2024, a panel of experts selected nominees across 10 categories, then our readers voted for their favorites. After four weeks of voting, the results are in.

Click on each category below to see the full winners list:

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Best Gas Station Brand: Kwik Trip

Kwik Trip, a Wisconsin-based, family-owned company, operates more than 800 stores in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, South Dakota, and Illinois. Their bakeries make more than two dozen different types of items each day, and all milk is sourced from dairy farms within a 100-mile radius of La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Full list of winners: Best Gas Station Brand »

Best Gas Station for Food: Royal Farms

Royal Farms offers a breakfast menu that’s available any time of the day or night. That's in addition to other hot food menu items, including sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, and their popular fried chicken. The stores also sell a wide variety of packaged snacks along with fountain and bottled beverages. Some locations even feature a Blending Bar, where you can craft a milkshake.

Full list of winners: Best Gas Station for Food »

Best Glamping Spot: Sky Ridge Yurts in Bryson City, North Carolina

Sky Ridge Yurts provides guests with a glimpse into the splendor of Appalachia with eight distinct structures all available for booking. Whether guests spring for the three-person Santeelah or six-person Fontana, each space comes equipped with cooking areas, full baths, and both heating and air conditioning.

Full list of winners: Best Glamping Spot »

Best Luxury RV Resort: Camp Margaritaville RV Resort & Cabana Cabins in Auburndale, Florida

Camp Margaritaville RV Resort invites guests to “get into the island state of mind” in central Florida. Located conveniently between Orlando and Tampa, their oversized sites have plenty of room to accommodate all RV sizes and include full hookups, free Wi-Fi and cable access, a charcoal grill, and a picnic table. Each week, the resort features live music and entertainment with delicious food trucks and fun activities for all family members.

Full list of winners: Best Luxury RV Resort »

Best National Park Lodge: Jackson Lake Lodge in Grand Teton National Park

Jackson Lake Lodge offers nearly 400 guest rooms, some with excellent views of the Tetons, one of America’s most scenic mountain ranges. A limited number of guest rooms are on the third floor of the main lodge, but most are in numerous multiple-unit cottages that flank the lodge. The huge lobby with enormous windows offers guests a picture-perfect view of the surroundings.

Full list of winners: Best National Park Lodge »

Best Rental Car Company: Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Equipped with thousands of locations, Enterprise Rent-A-Car serves as the one of the largest vehicle rental companies in all of the United States. Though rentals are available to any form of customer, the company is popular with consumers in need of a replacement vehicle while theirs is in the shop.

Full list of winners: Best Rental Car Company »

Best Roadside Attraction: Lucy the Elephant in Margate City, New Jersey

Listed on the National Park Registry of Historical Landmarks, Lucy the Elephant stands six stories high in Josephine Harron Park. Visitors can stop by and have their photos taken with Lucy, and, for those who wish to go inside the elephant, guided tours are available.

Full list of winners: Best Roadside Attraction »

Best Roadside Motel: The Groovy Nomad in Trenton, Georgia

A renovated 1959 roadside motel, The Groovy Nomad now features 10 themed rooms that will offer a fun and eclectic background for your next road trip. Try "Elvis' Jungle," inspired by the King of Rock 'n' Roll's Jungle Room at Graceland, let loose your inner flower child in "Flower Power," or tap into your '80s kid in "Pac-Man."

Full list of winners: Best Roadside Motel »

Best RV Campground: Inn Town Campground in Nevada City, California

Inn Town Campground, just minutes outside Nevada City, California, has several RV sites, many with full hookups and a few with water and electric only. Each site has its own picnic table, and campground amenities include barbecues and a swimming pool.

Full list of winners: Best RV Campground »

Best Vintage Trailer Hotel: The Vintages Trailer Resort in Dayton, Oregon

The Vintages Trailer Resort, situated in Willamette Valley, has a “neighborhood” of rental trailers. Each unique trailer comes with pour-over coffee, bathrobes, hotel-quality linens, and a propane grill for cooking. Park amenities include a pool, general store, complimentary cruiser bikes, and a nearby dog park.

Full list of winners: Best Vintage Trailer Hotel »

Congratulations to all these winners! Remember to visit 10best.usatoday.com daily to vote in more Readers' Choice Awards.

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USA Today names Kwik Trip best gas station in the U.S.

WISCONSIN — USA Today released its top 10 picks for the best gas stations in the U.S. Its winner will come as no surprise to Wisconsinites: Kwik Trip.

USA Today said it evaluated the entire gas station experience — not just the fuel itself — when deciding which establishments made the cut. The team said it considered bathroom cleanliness, the freshness of the coffee and snack options.

An expert panel selected the top 10 gas stations and readers voted for their favorites.

The final rankings were:

• Royal Farms
• TravelCenters of America

Wisconsin-based Kwik Trip is family-owned. With more than 800 locations, drivers can find Kwik Trips in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, South Dakota and Illinois.

USA Today applauded Kwik Trip’s snacks. Its bakeries make more than two dozen types of treats every day. Plus, Kwik Trip sources all of its milk from local dairy farms that fall within a 100-mile radius of La Crosse, Wis. 

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Kwik Trip voted best gas station, ranks highly for food in USA TODAY's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards

Wisconsin’s beloved Kwik Trip is getting its flowers on a national stage. It was named the best gas station brand and ranked highly for its food in the USA TODAY 10BestReaders’ Choice Awards.

Based out of La Crosse, Kwik Trip has become ubiquitous on the region’s roadside and has expansion plans popping up regularly. The USA TODAY awards are a multiphase process: first, the selections are decided by a panel of industry experts, then USA TODAY editors vet those nominations and they're then voted on by readers for four weeks.

In the best gas station brand category, Kwik Trip bested Hy-Vee and Casey’s , which placed second and third.

Meanwhile, for best food, Kwik Trip was in third place, behind Royal Farms and Casey’s.

Kwik Trip has a strong reputation for its food — a collection of hot food items like burgers and fried chicken, as well as packaged goods, including the recently announced limited-release Blueberry Dunker-flavored potato chips.

More: 'See ya next time': How a neighborhood grocery store grew into today's Kwik Trip phenomenon

Buc-ee’s , which intends to build one of the largest gas stations in the world near Madison , placed 10th in both categories.

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Kwik trip announces new 'dunker' chip coming to stores this weekend.

The chips will roll out in almost 900 stores on May 18

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Kwik Trip announced a new "Urge" brand potato chip coming to stores this weekend. The gas station posted a picture of the new "Blueberry Dunker Donut" ripple potato chip on X.

Yeah, it's big news. Blueberry Dunker Chips rolling out to stores this weekend. 💙 pic.twitter.com/az8a9HRB9e — Kwik Trip (@KwikTrip) May 13, 2024

The chips are already drawing mixed reactions. Some comments on X accused Kwik Trip of going too far, while others commented that they would get multiple bags.

Kwik Trip said the chips will be in almost 900 stores beginning on Saturday. The chips will be available for a limited time only, but Kwik Trip did not say when they will leave stores.

Kwik Trip also sold a limited-time "Glazer" potato chip in 2019.

One Harley, 11 days, 503 stores: Wisconsin woman completes epic Kwik Trip Kwest

STURGEON BAY – In the well-established chronicles of Wisconsinites' fanatic love for Kwik Trip , one woman set a new (hot) bar Wednesday morning when she parked her Harley-Davidson at the pump at the Egg Harbor Road location in Sturgeon Bay.

With a 13-cent fill-up complete and receipt secured, Whit Meza completed an epic "Kwest" to visit all 503 Kwik Trip stores in Wisconsin, plus as many others as she could in neighboring states — a 4,500-mile journey completed in just 11 days.

"It's you!" a customer enthused as he spotted Meza. He recognized her from coverage of her ride and asked for a selfie with her. The Sturgeon Bay store staff welcomed her inside with a round of applause.

A self-professed Kwik Trip super fan, Meza said her 2022 summary of Kwik Trip activity got her thinking about how she could level up in 2023. She found an answer in her other passion in life: endurance motorcycling, long-distance rides generally involving riding at least 1,000 miles in 24 hours.

"With me being a long-distance motorcycle rider, I kind of united the two," Meza said. "This was the perfect, perfect opportunity to do something like this because no one has ever done that before."

Meza set out from her hometown of Ripon, about 90 miles northwest of Milwaukee, on May 7. She spent an average of 15.5 hours each day on her Harley-Davidson Pan America Special. It rained most of one day and was particularly cold in Superior, but Meza said those moments were offset by days spent driving through the Wisconsin countryside as spring bloomed.

Let's ride through some highlights of Meza's journey.

Meza's Kwik Trip Kwest by the numbers

Meza originally planned to visit all 852 Kwik Trip and Kwik Star stores, but adapted her plan as it became clear 77 stores per day would not be feasible. She instead focused on every Wisconsin store but did venture into the three other states where Kwik Trip operates.

She set rules for her Kwest in line with those required to get an endurance ride certified by the Iron Butt Association, an 82,000 member group dedicated to safe, endurance motorcycle riding. She tracked her progress on an app, collected receipts to track her fuel and food purchases, took video and photos to document her progress and, since this is a Kwik Trip challenge, she bought all her meals and snacks at stores along the way.

Here's various stats and data Meza tracked during her journey to put the feat into perspective:

• 4,557 miles traveled
• 546 Kwik Trips/Kwik Stars visited
• More than $500 of gasoline
• 154 hours riding, an average of 15.5 hours per day
• Estimated 2.75 hours spent each day in or at Kwik Trip stores
• Four states visited: Wisconsin (503 stores), Iowa (40 stores), Michigan (2 stores) and Illinois (1 store)

She ate her favorite hot bar item every day, had a "guilty pleasure" purchase, but saved the Glazers for the finish line

Meza ate 33 straight meals at Kwik Trip and as a brand fanatic and bona fide Kwik Trip Ambassador since 2019, you know she has a favorite item.

"The breakfast sandwich, the egg, cheese and sausage croissant is my go-to," she said, noting she ate one for breakfast every morning of the 11-day trek.

Beyond that, she focused on high-protein, high-energy foods: Eggs, protein shakes and snacks that would give her a boost of energy for the 15-plus hours of riding each day. When she would arrive at a store but didn't need gasoline or food, she'd pick up her "guilty pleasure" item: M&Ms.

She said endurance riding doesn't leave much room for popular bakery treats like Glazers.

"The donuts will be for celebrating today," Meza said. "I saved that for the last celebration, to get that sugar high."

Amid visits to 546 Kwik Trips, 2 stores stood out

Meza said visiting roughly 50 stores a day meant some of them blended together, but she said two stores stood out among the green roofs and red-striped awnings.

The store at 611 Gateway Ave., in Mauston, was huge, she said, with fuel stations and weight scales for semi-trucks, large semi parking lots and the consumer-focused store.

"It's just big. It's a larger spot than I realized," Meza said. "It felt like one of the largest ones."

The other one stood out for its unique decoration: Bessie , a cow decorated in Kwik Trip branding that's located in front of the store in Thorp.

"It was just a cute little rendition of Wisconsin that I found unique," she said.

She did it for the destinations, but came to love the journey across Wisconsin

Meza took vacation from her job as a social media specialist for Destination Door County for the trip. She posted updates to her Instagram page and plans to upload video from the trip to her YouTube channel .

And while her trek reinforced her love for Kwik Trip, Meza said she also developed a deeper appreciation of the natural beauty to be found throughout Wisconsin.

"You can drive in a car, but you're kind of closed off from being able to smell the fresh blooms or people that are making a fire across the street," Meza said. "There are so many senses you don't get to experience without riding a motorcycle. I got to see a lot and experience a lot in Wisconsin."

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Contact Jeff Bollier at (920) 431-8387 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at @JeffBollier .