Choosing the right location for a gas station and convenience store is one of the most critical decisions an investor, developer, or operator can make. A well-selected site can lead to strong fuel sales, profitable convenience store performance, and long-term stability. Conversely, a poor location can result in low traffic, high competition, and financial underperformance.
Here are the key factors to evaluate when selecting a gas station site:
Traffic Volume
Vehicular traffic flow is the lifeblood of any fuel station. Sites located along high-traffic corridors, such as major intersections, highway exits, or commuter routes, tend to perform best. Ideally, the site should have traffic counts of around 30,000 vehicles per day.
Visibility
Simply put, if drivers cannot see your gas station with sufficient time to decelerate and turn in, then even the best run gas station will experience reduced patronage. Hard-corner lots at road intersections with abundant frontage generally provide superior visibility relative to in-line spaces.
Accessibility
The easier it is to pull in and out of a site, the more likely drivers are to stop. To maximize accessibility, it is best to position the gas station at a signalized location with a curb cut at each frontage so that the site can be easily and safely accessed from all directions of traffic flow.
Zoning
Despite the necessity of gas stations, many jurisdictions restrict the placement of gas stations to a limited number of zones. In addition to providing gas, many stations may also include a c-store, car wash, and/or drive-thru with food service. Therefore, it is essential that a size's zoning designation allow for all intended uses.
Parcel Size
The physical dimensions of a parcel determine the number of fueling positions, parking spots, and convenience store square footage that can be accommodated. Typically, one to two acres are needed for a standard gas station, although parcels may need to be larger to accommodate trucks and diesel service. Some operators also prefer to leave some excess room for a future car wash, EV charging stations, or additional retail.
The success of a gas station and convenience store depends as much, if not more, on strategic site selection as on operational excellence. Before you spend months on your site search and thousands of dollars on your feasibility analysis, try SiteSearcher.ai for a tailored selection of optimal sites.