5 surprising facts behind the fuel powering your summer road trip

Whether you're chasing sunsets on Highway 1 or exploring classic roadside diners along I-10, there's one constant behind every summer road trip: fuel. But while we focus on the playlist, the snacks and the scenery, we may not think much about the gasoline that powers our adventures.

And that gasoline has been on an incredible journey of its own—one that started thousands of feet underground and then continued through a complex network of oil wells, refineries, and distribution systems before reaching a filling station.

So before you hit the road on your summer adventure, let's take a quick detour into the story of how your gas gets from the ground to the pump.

Gasoline begins as crude oil buried deep below the Earth’s surface. When geologists are looking for oil, one method they use is sending sound waves deep underground. The echoes help them find and map oil-rich rock formations.

Drilling for oil: Once the oil is found, companies drill into these reservoirs to extract the crude oil.

Crude oil is not usable when it’s first extracted. It has to be processed at refineries to remove impurities. Crude oil can travel hundreds or thousands of miles via barges, pipelines and trucks to reach these refineries.

Oil pipelines: Petroleum pipelines transport crude oil and gasoline across the country. The Colonial Pipeline is the longest pipeline system in the U.S. It encompasses approximately 5,500 miles of pipe.

Refining crude oil into fuel products is a complex process with many steps. It starts with distilling oil into fuels, like gasoline, and ends with blending additives into the finished products. Finished gasoline undergoes more refining to remove impurities and improve quality.

Gas additives: Additives like detergents are added to fuel to help clean your car’s engine and improve its performance.

Before gas or diesel fuel gets to your car, it makes a couple more stops. First, a network of pipelines delivers it to terminals, where it’s stored in above-ground tanks. Tanker trucks then take it from terminals to filling stations.

Where to fuel up: There are approximately 145,000 fueling stations in the U.S.

At one time or another, most people have seen tanker trucks parked at gas stations with fuel lines connected to points on the ground near pumps. Those lines are sending gasoline from the trucks to underground storage units at the station. And that's where it waits, ready for you to roll up and fill your tank!

So the next time you fuel up for a spontaneous weekend escape or a long-planned road trip, think about the journey your gas has already taken—long before you merge onto the highway.

From oil wells to fuel pumps, the journey relies on engineering, logistics and innovation—working together so you can roll down the windows and enjoy the ride.

Before you head out on your summer road trip, be sure to download the Chevron or Texaco app—find filling stations, get rewards and more. (We recently integrated Extra Mile Rewards with Chevron Texaco Rewards.)