Welcome to America's Potato Chip Hub

Pennsylvania has mastered the art of potato chips. This state not only hosts numerous well-known snack brands like Utz, Wise, and Herr’s, but it’s also home to cherished regional favorites such as Martin’s and Middleswarth.

However, Pennsylvania seems to struggle with decent food options at the Breezewood interchange. This rather bleak stretch of gas stations and fast food that links I-70 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike is familiar to anyone journeying through the southern part of the state. As someone from Cleveland with family in Pittsburgh, I’ve passed through Breezewood a dozen times annually since 2004 and have witnessed the decline in food choices. Once, there was a Wendy’s and a Taco Bell! Now, the highlight is Subplicity, which features Boar’s Head deli meats. For a proper meal, you might want to try the Jean Bonnet Tavern in Bedford, known for its cozy fireplace and delicious French dip, along with some ghost stories and two friendly goats nearby.

Despite its flaws, Breezewood is the most convenient stop for gas, restrooms, and snacks. Positioned perfectly in lower Pennsylvania, just two hours from Hanover, the chip capital, Breezewood offers an impressive selection of potato chips, particularly for barbecue chip lovers. Travelers can fill up at Sunoco, Mobil, Shell, Marathon, or Sheetz, but the best bet is to choose the station boasting the finest chip assortment.

I approached my research for this article believing that the Mobil gas station’s Travelers’ Oasis Snack Shack truly deserved its title. While that still holds mostly true, my recent visit revealed a slight reduction in inventory, likely due to the pandemic. The upside? The aisles are more spacious, and the overall cleanliness has improved, making it feel less congested. Although I didn’t see the usual Middleswarth or Snyder’s of Berlin, I did find Herr’s, Lay’s, Wise, Unique, Martin’s, Angie’s, Deep River, Bon Ton, and Wegmans pretzels.

For those truly committed to regional chips, Breezewood’s other gas stations offer even more choices. At the Fresh Mart next to the Sunoco station, conveniently located right beside the Mobil, you’ll discover at least nine brands and countless flavors, including local favorites like Utz and Gibbles, which I hadn’t tried before. Its barbecue flavor is vibrant, albeit with a somewhat artificial taste and a greasy texture from lard.

If I weren’t such a die-hard fan of Martin’s—thanks to its perfect texture and well-balanced flavor, which makes it my top pick among Breezewood’s barbecue chips—I might agree that this spot has as much to offer as the Travelers’ Oasis. Plus, since the Sunoco is now the sole Breezewood station carrying Snyder’s of Berlin (a childhood favorite that my parents often topped with melted American cheese for late-night snacking), maybe I’ve already made up my mind.

Across from Sunoco, I discovered that Shell’s SAC snack shop not only carried the sought-after Middleswarth, known for its crispness thanks to shortening, but also had two friendly cashiers who charmingly persuaded us to buy candy for a national sales contest their manager was eager to win. Meanwhile, Sheetz and Marathon didn’t add any new regional chip options, although I’m sure dedicated Sheetz fans will find a way to defend their choice with a hearty, 'How dare you!'

So, if you find yourself traveling through Pennsylvania and feeling hungry, while also raising an eyebrow at Breezewood’s limited dining choices, don’t worry; this is the perfect chance to justify having chips for lunch or dinner—it’s totally acceptable when you’re in the chip capital of the country.