We analyzed 100,000+ Google reviews & searches to determine which gas station is rated better online: Sheetz or Wawa.
Specifically, we analyzed the ratings, number of reviews, and review text for all Sheetz and Wawa gas stations in Pennsylvania — 566 locations and 84,785 reviews total. Additionally, we analyzed 110,870 Google searches in PA for each chain to understand popularity and brand following. We focused our analysis on Sheetz and Wawa locations in Pennsylvania only, to ensure an apples-to-apples comparison — especially since PA is a key battleground state for these two rival brands.
Today, we’re sharing what we found.
Here’s a summary of our most interesting findings:
1.) In Pennsylvania, Wawa is searched on Google 37.9% more often than Sheetz.
2.) Wawa locations are reviewed 11.9% more often than Sheetz locations — Wawa has an average of 160 reviews per location vs. Sheetz’s 141 average reviews per location.
3.) Wawa’s fuel prices on average are 6.82% cheaper than Sheetz’s fuel prices. As of March 17, 2025, Wawa’s average price for regular gasoline in Pennsylvania was $3.08, compared to $3.29 at Sheetz. However, in regions where both chains are well represented, the difference in fuel prices is not statistically significant.
4.) Sheetz customers care the most about fuel prices, bathrooms, and overall cleanliness — these topics were the most frequently mentioned in reviews.
5.) Wawa’s customers talk about coffee in reviews 8.13x more than Sheetz customers.
6.) Based on foot traffic, the busiest Sheetz in Pennsylvania is located on Liberty Street in Erie, while the busiest Wawa is on Pennrose Avenue in Philadelphia.
7.) The closest Sheetz and Wawa locations in Pennsylvania are just 629 feet apart — entrance to entrance — in Reading, PA.
8.) Both brands have similar average review ratings. Wawa’s average rating per location is just 1.49% higher than Sheetz’s, with Wawa averaging 3.804 out of 5 compared to Sheetz’s 3.748.
Brief History
In 1952, Bob Sheetz opened the first Sheetz convenience store in Altoona, PA. 12 years later, in 1964, the first Wawa food market opened about 150 miles west of Altoona in Folsom, PA.
Over the following decades, a fierce rivalry emerged between the two brands, fueled by loyal followings and passionate fans on both sides. This rivalry has been covered over the years — with news articles, Reddit threads, a Wikipedia page, and even a documentary.
We took a unique approach to exploring this rivalry. Read on for a deeper dive into our findings.
Sheetz vs. Wawa: Google search demand
Using Google Trends data, we analyzed search demand in Pennsylvania for “Sheetz,” “Wawa,” and related terms.
Among the several hundred thousand people searching for terms like “Sheetz near me” or “Wawa along my route,” there were 37.9% more searches related to Wawa than Sheetz in Pennsylvania.
Of all the factors we analyzed, this proved to be the strongest indicator of following and popularity between the two brands in Pennsylvania. In general, people are simply searching for Wawas more often than Sheetz — whether it’s for directions on a trip or to find their nearest gas station locally.
Sheetz vs. Wawa: Google reviews
Disclaimer: Google reviews may not fully represent the public’s overall perception of either brand, as most reviews (especially for gas stations) tend to come from customers who have had either a very positive or very negative experience. This was evident in our analysis, where 68% of all Google reviews for Wawa and Sheetz gas stations in Pennsylvania were either 1-star or 5-star ratings.
There was no statistically significant difference in the average Google ratings across all Sheetz and Wawa gas stations. The average rating for Wawa gas stations in Pennsylvania, per location, is 3.805 out of 5, while Sheetz gas stations average 3.748 out of 5.
That said, while the overall sentiment of customer reviews is similar for both brands, it’s interesting to note that Wawa’s customers are leaving reviews 11.9% more often than Sheetz customers.
If we were to use the volume of reviews as an indicator of fanbase strength, it could suggest a slightly more passionate following for Wawa compared to Sheetz. While this might be a stretch, it does correlate with our finding that 37.9% more people are searching for Wawas on Google than Sheetz.
Standout individual locations
Several gas stations stood out based on their Google reviews. Here’s a breakdown of the top and worst locations between the two brands, using review data from Google.
- Most-reviewed Sheetz: 330 Westminster Dr, Williamsport, PA 17701 (1,242 reviews, 4.2 average rating)
- Most-reviewed Wawa: 8250 Limekiln Pike, Wyncote, PA 19095 (1,016 reviews, 3.9 average rating)
- Highest-rated Sheetz (with >100 reviews): 1978 Baltimore Pike, Gettysburg, PA 17325 (523 reviews, 4.5 average rating)
- Highest-rated Wawa (with >100 reviews): 418 W Baltimore Pike, Clifton Heights, PA 19018 (198 reviews, 4.5 average rating)
- Sheetz with the most 5-star reviews: 330 Westminster Dr, Williamsport, PA 17701 (647 5-star reviews)
- Wawa with the most 5-star reviews: 12004 Roosevelt Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19116 (524 5-star reviews)
- Sheetz with the most 1-star reviews: 3025 Babcock Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15237 (96 1-star reviews)
- Wawa with the most 1-star reviews: 2535 Aramingo Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125 (202 1-star reviews)
Which brand has the cheapest fuel prices?
One topic that repeatedly came up in our research for both brands was the price of gas or diesel. While we would have liked to provide a statistically solid case for which chain offers better fuel prices in Pennsylvania, the geographic and regional economies, along with local competition, play a significant role in determining those prices.
To illustrate this, here’s a look at the distribution of Sheetz and Wawa gas stations across Pennsylvania (orange S = Sheetz, maroon W = Wawa):
Source: Sheetz vs. Wawa Wikipedia page
Anyone who has traveled through Philadelphia and rural Pennsylvania knows that gas prices can vary significantly between these two areas. Our analysis confirmed this trend. We found that the closer gas stations were to New Jersey — and the higher the competition — the lower the fuel prices tended to be (a classic case of supply and demand). Given Wawa’s dominance in the Philadelphia area, it’s no surprise that the average fuel price for Wawa is 6.8% lower than Sheetz across Pennsylvania.
*In areas where both Sheetz and Wawa gas stations were present, such as Lancaster and Reading, we found no statistically significant difference in fuel prices between the two brands. In some cases, Sheetz had higher prices, while in others, Wawa’s prices were higher.
While this may not be a significant finding, we thought it was worth outlining these numbers, especially considering how often “price” came up in our research.
Standout individual locations
Several gas stations stood out for their fuel prices. Below is a breakdown of the top and worst locations between the two brands, based on Google fuel prices as of March 17, 2025.
- Sheetz with the lowest fuel price in PA: 1401 W Harrisburg Pike, Middletown, PA 17057
- Wawa with the lowest fuel price in PA: 1601 W Harrisburg Pike, Middletown, PA 17057
- Sheetz with the highest fuel price in PA: 2261 University Dr, Lemont Furnace, PA 15456
- Wawa with the highest fuel price in PA: 910 W Leesport Rd, Leesport, PA 19533
What do Sheetz and Wawa customers care about most?
We analyzed 84,785 customer reviews to identify the key themes that were most frequently discussed.
The following breakdown focuses on the most talked-about topics in reviews for both Sheetz and Wawa, excluding gas-related mentions.
Note: The number associated with each topic below is the number of times the subject was mentioned across the reviews we analyzed.
Sheetz: Top 3 topics customers frequently mention in reviews:
- Cleanliness (549)
- Prices (1,383) – 2.26x more times than Wawa
- Bathrooms (426) – 1.45x more times than Wawa
Sheetz: Top 5 menu items frequently mentioned in reviews:
- Sandwiches & Subs (573)
- Coffee (296)
- Mac & Cheese (168)
- Hotdogs (136)
- Milkshake (133)
Wawa: Top 3 topics customers frequently mention in reviews:
- Bathrooms (293)
- Prices (613)
- Management (304)
Wawa: Top 5 menu items frequently mentioned in reviews:
- Coffee (2,409) – 8.13x more times than Sheetz
- Hoagies (1,112)
- Quesadillas (74)
- Pretzels (64)
- Breakfast Sandwiches (57)
It would have been interesting to measure the sentiment behind these mentions (e.g., were the mentions of “bathrooms” in a primarily positive or negative light?). However, this was beyond the initial scope of our analysis.
Bonus findings from this study
While the following data wasn’t specifically sought out at the outset of our analysis, we found the results interesting enough to share as bonus findings.
Busiest gas stations
Using Google’s popular times data for each location, we sorted all gas stations by their average peak times throughout the day to identify the busiest stations as of March 17, 2025.
- Busiest Wawa: 2600 Penrose Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19145
- Busiest Sheetz: 3814 Liberty St, Erie, PA 16509
Chain density by PA region
- Most Sheetz locations: Altoona (12 locations)
- Second-most Sheetz locations: Lancaster (9 locations)
- Most Wawa locations: Philadelphia (35 locations)
- Second-most Wawa locations: Allentown (8 locations)
Methodology & the team behind this study
Below is a breakdown of our research methodology. If you have any questions about our approach, feel free to contact RJ Weaver at rj@lanclocal.com.
In total, we analyzed the Google business listings for 317 Sheetz locations and 249 Wawa locations. Using a web scraper, we gathered and analyzed online data from these locations. As of March 2025, all locations included in our analysis were listed as open for business on their respective Google business listings.
Additionally, we used data from Google Trends tool to measure and compare search volume.
In cases where the number of locations influenced study factors, we averaged the data per location to normalize the results between the two brands (e.g., number of reviews per location).
We tried to remain as neutral as possible. Everyone involved aimed to lay aside their personal preferences for this analysis. No representatives from Sheetz or Wawa were involved in this study.
The team behind this study
Lanc Local is a team that analyzes & ranks local businesses in Lancaster, PA and surrounding areas. This analysis is one of the few where we look at businesses outside the Lancaster County area. Lancaster is a battleground area in the Sheetz vs. Wawa debate, with both chains having multiple locations around Lancaster, which inspired this analysis.