Planning a cross-country road trip in the United States? Transform routine refueling stops into highlights of your journey at these extraordinary gas stations, blending stunning architecture, historical significance, and innovative design.
Architectural Gems for Design Enthusiasts
California leads with gas stations that double as visual spectacles—many still operational for your convenience.
Helios House: LA's Futuristic Fill-Up
In Los Angeles, the Helios House echoes the curves of Frank Gehry's Walt Disney Concert Hall. Dubbed the 'gas station of the future,' this eco-friendly station on Olympic and Robertson Boulevards features solar-paneled roofs and rainwater collection systems.
Orbit Gas Station in Orangevale
Near Sacramento in Orangevale, this Googie-style station—characterized by its sharp, protruding angles inspired by mid-century cars and space travel—stands out. Popular in Southern California from the 1940s to 1960s, few originals remain today.
Jack Colker Union 76 in Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills' Jack Colker Union 76 showcases another Googie masterpiece. Its iconic roof, originally designed by William Pereira for LAX Airport, found a perfect home here when the airport passed on it.
Historic Gas Stations Worth a Detour
Beyond California, these decommissioned stations across the U.S. offer timeless appeal and protected landmark status—ideal photo ops even without fueling up.
Teapot Dome Station, Washington
Built in 1922 by Jack Ainsworth as a nod to the infamous Teapot Dome Scandal under President Harding, this whimsical teapot-shaped station operated for 80 years. Relocated in 2007 nearer to the interstate, it's now on the National Register of Historic Places.
Airplane Service Station, Tennessee
In 1930, Tennessee brothers Elmer and Henry Nickle crafted this airplane-shaped station to draw crowds—it succeeded until 1960. Today, it's preserved on the National Register as a slice of roadside history.
Shell Service Station, North Carolina
Shell's 1930s branding campaign produced shell-shaped stations across Winston-Salem; this survivor, built by R.H. Burton and his son, is the last standing.
