Buc-ee's Announces Major US Expansion with 19 New Locations
For many motorists, filling stations represent a functional necessity during journeys. However, for devoted followers of Buc-ee's, these establishments have evolved into celebrated destinations in their own right. The beaver-branded giant is now poised for its most significant growth phase yet, with plans to establish numerous new outposts across the United States.
Ambitious Growth Strategy Unveiled
By the conclusion of 2026, the company often dubbed the 'Disneyland of gas stations' will inaugurate four additional iconic locations. A further fifteen sites are scheduled to open in subsequent years, marking a substantial expansion beyond its traditional Texan heartland. This strategic growth will see new travel centres emerge in cities across Ohio, North Carolina, Kentucky, Arizona, and several other states.
Florida, Tennessee, and Arkansas are anticipated to witness the highest concentration of new Buc-ee's establishments as the chain extends its reach deeper into the Southwest and Midwest regions. Each new site promises to deliver the brand's signature supersized experience, featuring extensive forecourts with over a hundred fuel pumps, stores brimming with smoked brisket and the famous Beaver Nuggets, alongside nationally acclaimed restroom facilities.
Cult Following and Social Media Appeal
The brand has cultivated a dedicated following, particularly among Generation Z consumers, attributed to its social media-friendly snack offerings and monumental scale. Popular menu items include the Sausage on a Stick, Dr Pepper Icees, and an extensive selection of jerky varieties. The announcement regarding a proposed Buc-ee's in Fort Pierce, Florida, recently captured public attention when initial plans suggested a 76,000 square foot development.
However, company spokesperson Stan Beard has clarified this speculation. 'Contrary to recent reporting that the proposed project in St. Lucie, Florida will be our largest store, Luling, Texas is, and will remain, the largest Buc-ee's Travel Center in our fleet,' Beard confirmed. The Luling location currently holds the title with approximately 75,000 square feet of space and 120 fuel dispensing points.
Transforming the Pit Stop Experience
More than merely a refuelling point, Buc-ee's has revolutionised the roadside stop into a comprehensive destination. Its expansive travel centres, comparable in size to football fields, incorporate hundreds of fuel pumps, award-winning washroom facilities, and an extensive array of snacks, souvenirs, and Texas-themed merchandise.
Inside these vast emporiums, customers discover freshly prepared barbecue sandwiches, mountains of the signature caramelised corn puff snack known as Beaver Nuggets, house-brand jerky processed on-site, and aisles of apparel featuring the brand's cheerful beaver mascot. Staff members in distinctive red uniforms efficiently manage checkout counters, which frequently outnumber those found in conventional supermarkets, ensuring swift service even during peak holiday travel periods.
Confirmed Expansion Locations
The following cities and regions are scheduled to receive new Buc-ee's travel centres in the coming years:
- Fort Pierce, Florida – Expected to open by 2027
- West Memphis, Arkansas – Expected in 2028
- Lafayette, Louisiana – Projected to open in 2028
- Gallaway, Tennessee – Expected in 2027
- Oak Grove, Kentucky – Expected in 2027
- Monroe County, Georgia – Tentatively set for 2028
- Goodyear, Arizona – Expected June 2026
- Ruston, Louisiana – Expected in 2027
- Benton, Arkansas – Expected in 2027
- Huber Heights, Ohio – Expected April 2026
- Boerne, Texas – Expected 2027
- Oak Creek, Wisconsin – Expected early 2027
- San Marcos, Texas – Projected July 2026
- Kansas City, Kansas – Expected in 2027
- St. Lucie, Florida – Anticipated 2027
- Ocala, Florida – Expected in 2028
- Hardeeville, South Carolina – Targeted around 2031
- Murfreesboro, Tennessee – Expected Spring 2026
- Mebane, North Carolina – Expected 2028
Brand Heritage and Cultural Impact
Since inaugurating its first Texas location in 1982, Buc-ee's has grown to operate fifty-four establishments across eleven states, maintaining twenty-four-hour, year-round service. While the majority remain concentrated in Texas, the brand has successfully expanded into Colorado, Missouri, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and Alabama.
Each new opening typically generates considerable excitement, resulting in traffic congestion, significant social media engagement, and communities treating the event as a local celebration rather than a mere retail launch. The company remains privately owned and notably discreet regarding its financial performance, contributing to the distinctive mystique surrounding a brand that has elevated the humble service station into an iconic piece of American culture.
The Sevierville, Tennessee location, which previously held the title of world's largest convenience store, attracted crowds who camped overnight for its opening. That site employs four hundred full-time staff and features one hundred and twenty fuel pumps, a dedicated barbecue brisket counter, extensive jerky displays, and a two-hundred-and-fifty-foot car wash facility.
As Buc-ee's continues its national expansion, it reaffirms its commitment to transforming routine travel breaks into memorable destination experiences through scale, quality, and distinctive Texan hospitality.
