11 Best Gas Station Drinks That You Need to Know

Staying energized and hydrated is tough while traveling, but you can always find energetic drinks at gas stations. You will find many delicious drinks that may contain harmful ingredients or are not 100% organic. 

Moreover, you should avoid drinks with high sugar and caffeine levels while lacking in nutrient content. You might get confused due to the maze of beverages available at gas station stores, such as juice, iced teas, sodas and many more. 

That is why I have mentioned the best gas station drinks that you can enjoy while reaching from one point to another. 

Best Gas Station Drinks List

Buying healthy beverages to boost energy and stay nourished on the go can be tricky.

Also, selecting from a thousand choices, there is a chance that you might end up regretting it, so I mention these eleven hydrating and energy-boosting drinks.

These beverages don’t contain high sugar or calories, which is a plus point if you are on a diet.  

Best Gas Station DrinksCalories
Gatorade140
V8 energy drink60
Dr. Pepper0
5 hour energy shot
Pomegranate juice160
Turkey hill lemon ice tea190
Dunkin donuts original blend2.4
Bottled Frappuccino155
Orange Juice110
Arizona Iced Tea90
Diet Coke0

Top Picks of Best Gas Station Drinks

I prefer to stick to the healthy side when choosing a beverage at a gas station. Here are my top picks that contain nutritional benefits and taste delicious without any additives to make it easy for you.  

  • Orange juice
  • Pom
  • Arizona iced tea
  • V8 Energy Drink
  • Dunkin donut original blend 

1. V8 Energy Drink

You can try a V8 energy drink at the gas station if you are tired or sluggish on the road. This refreshing drink is a superb option because it is made from a mixture of vegetables and fruit juices.

Also, it has green tea extract making it a good alternative to lunch to boost your energy with vitamins and minerals.

Here are some flavors that you can choose from:

  • Orange Pineapple
  • Peach Mango
  • Pomegranate Blueberry
  • Black Cherry
V8 Energy Drink

2. Orange Juice 

Unlike other brands, Tropicana Orange juice is way better because it tastes fresh and is made from 100% natural ingredients. You can enjoy this juice’s sweet and tangy flavor with meals and snacks.

This beverage is an excellent option for you to lose weight as it is enriched with vitamin C, which helps to boost metabolism. 

Orange Juice 

3. Diet Dr. Pepper

Dr. Pepper’s sweet and spicy flavor is popular, and you will find it at every gas station convenience store. You can enjoy this drink with any meal or snack, as it is delicious and crisp in every sip.

Diet Dr. Pepper has natural fruit sweet with corn syrup to taste-tempting without added sugar. It has zero calories and carbs so that you can maintain your diet without any second thoughts. 

Best Gas Station Drinks

4. 5-Hour Energy 

This drink is known as an energy shot as it contains a high amount of caffeine to boost your energy within seconds.

The 5-hour has a strong coffee taste with multiple health benefits, so being a fan of caffeine, this one is my go-to drink.

You will find other flavors of this beverage which are enriched in vitamin B and amino acids without the extra sugar.

  • Orange 
  • Strawberry Lemonade 
  • Grape 
  • Berry 
  • Pomegranate 

5. Gatorade 

Sports drinks are the best option to grab on the go if you are an athlete or heading to the gym. Gatorade offers carbohydrates, electrolytes and potassium which gets low after an intense workout or physical activity.

But, it is wise to avoid intake regularly as it might harm your health. I suggest some of my favorite flavors that you can try:

  • Orange
  • Lemon 
  • Tropical Mango
  • Fierce Grape
5-Hour Energy 

6. POM Wonderful 

My go-to drink is pomegranate juice while driving, as it keeps me hydrated and energized after a long day. Various pomegranate juices are available at gas stations, but you must choose POM Wonderful Juice because it has a hundred percent natural ingredients.

You will love the sweet taste, which is enriched with vitamins and minerals without artificial flavors. 

7. Turkey Hill Lemon Iced Tea

For summer, I prefer iced teas to fulfill my caffeine desire because it’s light, refreshing and boosts energy. This Turkish black tea’s sweet and fruity flavor will win your heart as it is made from lemon and orange juice.

However, delicious Turkey Hill lemon tea is one of the high-calorie drinks on the list due to its extra sugar and corn syrup.

Best Gas Station Drinks

8. Dunkin Donuts original blend

Dunkin Donuts’ original blend is made from 100 % Arabica roasted coffee beans that you can enjoy in freezing weather. And I like to customize my freshly brewed coffee with flavors, cream, and sugar, but it might add some calories.

You can avoid add-ins for minimum calories and enjoy the rich flavor and smooth bitter taste.  

Best Gas Station Drinks

9. Bottled Frappuccino

Starbucks is one of the popular brands with a wide range of coffee beverages. But frappuccino is one of my guilty pleasures as it is high in sugar with a fantastic blend of milk, ice and syrup flavors.

Moreover, the Premade frappuccino is always available at gas stations which will satisfy your caffeine cravings at any season. 

Here are some of the Starbucks frappuccinos that you must try:

  • Caramel Frappuccino 
  • Mocha Frappuccino
  • Cinnamon Dolce Frappuccino
Arizona Iced Tea

10. Arizona Iced Tea

I love the signature tall cans, which are easy to grab while driving. This refreshing drink quenches your thirst, containing natural ingredients such as organic fruit juice and natural green tea without additives.

On the other hand, you will never get bored, as Arizona iced tea has a variety of classic and exotic flavors.

  • Fruit punch
  • Lemon tea
  • Grapeade
  • Green tea
coke

11. Diet Coke

This gas station drink comes last on the list because it doesn’t contain vitamins or minerals, but it will keep you hydrated. You can enjoy a crisp and refreshing beverage on the go as it has zero calories.

Diet Coke is an excellent substitute if you are a fan of sodas and love fizzy beverages. This drink tastes similar to regular Coke due to aspartame and cyclamate sweeteners. 

Final Verdicts: Best Gas Station Drinks

So that’s it. However, many drinks at gas stations may contain harmful ingredients or lack organic certification. Additionally, some beverages may have high levels of sugar and caffeine while lacking essential nutrients.

When selecting your gas station drink, try to choose options that are low in sugar, free from harmful additives, and provide actual nutritional benefits.

Next time you find yourself at a gas station, keep my list handy and choose healthy gas station drinks to keep you going strong on the road ahead.

John Harvey
John Harvey

John Harvey M.D., M.P.H. is the Director of VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System and a Professor at T.H Chan School of Public Health . As an Internal Medicine physician at Boston Healthcare System, I aim to improve healthcare quality and costs through policy-focused research. I earned my M.D. and M.P.H. from Harvard, and completed fellowships at University of California, San Francisco.

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