It is hard to emphasize to out-of-state residents how far Texans can drive and stay in their home state.
While Texans must spend much time driving, making a pit stop is a big part of any long road trip. Buc-ee’s has reimagined the simple convenience store into a Texas-size icon that is a must stop for any long drive.
Texas is beyond a far-flung place. The distance from El Paso to Los Angeles (802 miles) is closer than the distance Beaumont to El Paso (830 miles). Drive from South Padre Island to Dalhart in the panhandle, and you have gone 882 miles. You can pass through seven states from Marshall, Texas to Charlotte, North Carolina in a shorter distance at 880 miles.
The Buc-ee’s beginning
The first Buc-ee’s opened in 1982 in Lake Jackson, south of Houston. Over time, other regular-sized convenience stores were opened primarily in towns near the Houston area. The first travel center opened in the early 2000s. A big milestone was the opening of the “world’s largest convenience store” in 2012 in New Braunfels at 68,000 square feet with 120 gas pumps.
As Buc-ee’s became a favorite in South Texas, it began expanding in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. A travel center in Terrell, east of the DFW area, opened in 2015. A location north of the DFW area on Interstate 35W was opened near the Texas Motor Speedway in 2016, and a location on Interstate 35E opened in Denton in 2018. Other locations also opened since then. As of late 2019, there are about 40 locations throughout Texas. In addition, a travel center opened in Alabama in 2019, and construction is underway for a travel center near Daytona Beach, Florida.
Signature snacks
The first hint about Buc-ee’s is billboards that promote stores miles away with the company mascot, Buc-ee the Beaver, promoting clean restrooms and food items, such as Beaver Nuggets, which are a signature snack made of caramel coated corn pops.
The travel centers feature assortment of food items and beverages from Lone Star heaven.
Dozens of snacks line walls and shelves. It is impossible to list them all. Some of my favorites include the Texas Trail Mix, Chocolate-covered Pecans, Roasted Corn, Expresso Beans and Yogurt-covered Pretzels. Cups with fresh fruit, such as apple slices and pineapple chunks, are also available.
Texas Barbecue
Are you hungry for barbecue? Sandwiches with chopped barbecue or sliced brisket are available at any time along with sausage on a stick. You can also order many types of kolaches in the kitchen area. If you don’t find a pre-packaged item that you like, you can use a kiosk to order food made in the kitchen.
There are multiple fountains with soft drinks, a coffee bar area with multiple flavors and dozens of coolers along the walls with pre-packaged drinks.
If you like beef jerky, you can choose among dozens of flavors. Pre-packaged jerky is displayed on a wall, but you can also order jerky behind the counter.
“Cleanest bathrooms in America”
Clean and spacious bathrooms are an important feature of any Buc-ee’s. The Buc-ee’s location in San Antonio was literally proclaimed with the “cleanest bathrooms in America” in 2012 following a contest by the Cintas Corporation.
About one third of any Buc-ee’s travel center is clothing items, household decorations and other supplies. If you are seeking items with the beaver mascot, you are especially in luck. Some items are sold for a specific store. For example, shoppers can find floating supplies at the New Braunfels store to wade in the Guadalupe River. Those stopping at the Madisonville store on Interstate 45 can find hunting supplies. There are many other examples.
Keep in mind that Buc-ee’s is not a truck stop. Signs at the entrances specifically say that no 18-wheeler trucks are allowed. The dozens of gas pumps are specifically for autos, pickups and recreational vehicles. At some stores, there are more than 100 gas pumps. The gas price is competitively priced with other gas stations in an area. The Denton store features the “world’s longest car wash.” If you purchase a car wash, you can also get 50 cents off per gallon of gas.
Buc-ee’s is worth the stop
If you have never stopped at Buc-ee’s, it is worth the time just to people watch. We live near the Denton location, and it can be fun to watch far-flung travelers stop and stare in the distance. Just keep in mind that people pack into Buc-ee’s during busy travel times. It is easier to check out items at nights and on weekdays, but if you need to stop, have some fun.
Happy traveling! Tell us how much you love Buc-ee’s and post your Buc-ee’s photos in the comments! Here is a link to Buc-ee’s so you can map out your Buc-ee’s stops for your trip. Contact us if you have questions or want to share your favorite travel stop with us!
