A gas station is a place where vehicles stop to refuel. Cars, trucks, and motorcycles need gasoline or diesel fuel to run, and gas stations have large underground storage tanks that hold thousands of gallons of fuel. Drivers pull up to a pump, insert a nozzle into their vehicle's fuel tank, and pump in the amount they need.

Most gas stations also sell snacks, drinks, and basic supplies inside a small store. Some have air pumps for tires, car washes, or repair services. In rural areas, a gas station might be the only store for miles. In cities, you'll find them on busy corners where lots of traffic passes by.

People also call them service stations or filling stations. Before gas stations became common in the early 1900s, drivers had to buy fuel in cans from general stores or pharmacies. The first gas stations appeared around 1905, and they transformed how far people could travel. Today, some gas stations are adding electric vehicle charging stations as transportation evolves beyond gasoline engines.