12 Gas Station Chains That Were Once Everywhere
Once giants of the American roadside, these 12 iconic gas station chains fueled not just cars but memories — now mostly vanished, they tell the story of a bygone era of travel and commerce.
- Alyana Aguja
- 4 min read
From glowing neon pumps to legendary logos, now-vanished gas station chains influenced the American road trip culture for generations. Such titans as Gulf, Texaco, and Sinclair were not merely places to refuel — they were landmarks along the way and icons of an ever-evolving country. Even though many have disappeared or consolidated into larger brands, their memory continues to evoke longings for the days when a fill-up was itself an adventure.
1. Gulf Oil
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Gulf Oil was a member of the original “Seven Sisters” of the international petroleum market and a trailblazer in gas station branding. Its orange disc logo was a common sight from sea to shining sea. In the 1980s, Gulf was gobbled up by Chevron in a giant merger, but its legacy can still be seen in a small number of independent stations.
2. Texaco
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Established in 1902, Texaco boasted a “Star-T” logo and the catchy “You can trust your car to the man who wears the star” slogan. It had a widespread presence throughout the U.S. for most of the 20th century. Following its merger with Chevron in 2001, numerous Texaco stations were renamed, although the name continues to be found in some areas.
3. Sinclair
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With its ubiquitous green dinosaur mascot “Dino,” Sinclair was a popular and familiar gas brand in earlier times. It peaked mid-century with thousands of locations across the country and even hosted the 1964 World’s Fair. Although it never went away completely, Sinclair significantly decreased in visibility and has recently made a small comeback effort.
4. Phillips 66
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Phillips 66 was once a ubiquitous roadside presence, particularly in the Southwest and Midwest, with its Route 66 association baked into its brand name. It separated from ConocoPhillips in 2012 and today operates more behind the scenes as a supplier and refiner. Once much more prominent, the Phillips 66 name now coexists on signs with others such as Conoco and 76.
5. Amoco
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American Oil Company — Amoco — was a gas giant, particularly in the Midwest and the South, notorious for its cleaner-burning white gas. In 1998, it was merged with BP, and a majority of the stations were rebadged BP. Yet owing to intense brand loyalty and nostalgia, BP resumed using the Amoco name beginning in 2017.
6. Union 76 (also simply “76”)
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With its vibrant orange ball logo, 76 was particularly prevalent on the West Coast and was famous for distributing antenna toppers in the ’70s and ’80s. It was originally brought out by Union Oil, later combined into Unocal, and then absorbed into ConocoPhillips. Although the brand still persists in certain locations, it’s a ghost of its one-time omnipotence.
7. Esso
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The Esso name originated from the phonetic rendition of “S” and “O” of Standard Oil, its early parent company. Although previously ubiquitous throughout the U.S., it was mostly discontinued in favor of Exxon following the breakup of Standard Oil and trademark issues. Esso persists globally and is still employed by ExxonMobil in non-U.S. countries.
8. Standard Oil (various)
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Standard Oil was the behemoth of American oil prior to its 1911 antitrust dissolution that spawned a network of regional gas giants. Several of its spinoffs, such as Standard Oil of Indiana (Amoco), Standard of New Jersey (Exxon), and Standard of California (Chevron), established themselves as brands on their own. The “Standard” name lingered in sporadic use for legal purposes for decades afterward.
9. Hess
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Hess was a popular East Coast chain with green-and-white stations and collectible holiday season toy trucks that were sold each year. It was started in 1933 and expanded quickly before being acquired by Marathon Petroleum in 2014. The vast majority of Hess stations were rebranded Speedway locations, and the brand exists today largely through the heritage of its toy trucks.
10. ARCO (Atlantic Richfield Company)
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ARCO was created by the consolidation of Atlantic and Richfield Oil and became a low-price gasoline chain leader in the West and Southwest. It was famous for its cash-only promotions decades before electronic payment technology. In the early 2000s, ARCO was acquired by BP, and the company started closing or rebranding most of its stations.
11. Zephyr
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Zephyr was a successful Midwestern gas station name that was owned by the Anderson-Prichard Oil Corporation. It gained popularity during the mid-20th century and could frequently be spotted in small towns along the Great Plains. The brand ultimately faded away through a series of acquisitions and market consolidations.
12. Pure Oil
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With its bold blue and white logo and frequently Tudor-style station buildings, Pure Oil was a stalwart independent operator during the early to mid-1900s. It was purchased by Union Oil of California (Unocal) in 1965, which eventually phased out the Pure name. Several nostalgic franchisees and independent operators still operate under the Pure brand today.