The Pennsylvania Turnpike mainline runs 360 miles through Pennsylvania from I-95 at the New Jersey…read morestate line in Bucks county to the Ohio Turnpike at the Ohio state line in Lawrence county, with most of the route meandering through picturesque rural central Pennsylvania. If you get hungry or need to charge your electric vehicle somewhere about midway along the route, your options are limited.. with most folks opting to stop at one of the Service Plazas in Sideling Hill (Mile 172.3), Blue Mountain (Mile 202.5), or Cumberland Valley (219.1) for the usual fast food outlets. For those of you who prefer made-to-order, reasonably-priced food (particularly compared to the Service Plaza options) in a casual, family-friendly ambiance or a Tesla Supercharger for your non-ICE vehicles or both -- just pull off the turnpike for McKinney Station, located literally right off the ramp at Mile 201.
On a recent roadtrip along the length of the mainline with my dining companion and her father, we were about halfway across the state approaching the Blue Mountain Service Plaza when pangs of hunger struck my passengers. The two of them prefer locally-owned restaurants over the corporate fast food outlets located in the Service Plazas, so I suggested getting off the highway to check out local options. I wasn't sure what to expect when we took the exit for Chambersburg / Shippensburg, but McKinney Station was an oasis -- offering freshly-made, innovative sandwiches, served quickly by the friendly, accommodating staff to get us back on our way towards Pittsburgh.
The menu puts an emphasis on simple, casual, easy-to-share, and made-to-order -- such as hot dogs, beef/veggie/grilled chicken burgers, sandwiches, salads, and baskets with a variety of fried foods like chicken fingers, buffalo wings, or onion rings. The house specialty is a "Wedgie" -- a sandwich served pita-style on naan bread -- which was excellent. I had the "Best Wedgie" sandwich ($10), comprised of a fried chicken patty, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and thousand island dressing served on naan bread, which was FANTASTIC. My dining companion and her father opted for the "Rooster Wedgie" sandwich ($9), comprised of grilled chicken strips, lettuce, tomato, and BBQ sauce served on naan bread, which they both really enjoyed. The three of us shared two sides of sweet potato french fries, which were perfectly seasoned and cooked.
McKinney Station and its customers also support the local community, with many diners opting "pay it forward" by providing a free meal for others in the community who may be struggling. If you're interested in buying a meal for someone else, just let the staff know and they'll ring it up and add the receipt to a bulletin board next to the cash register. If you're going through a tough time, there's no stigma in grabbing one of the receipts off the bulletin board and presenting it to the cashier for a prepaid meal.
We will definitely be back next time we're in the area!
PRO TIP #1: Check out the Condiment Cow for your condiments!
PRO TIP #2: There's a pair of cornhole boards in the dining room to occupy you (or your kids) while you're waiting for your food.