There are gas stations you stop at because you have to. Then there’s Buc-ee’s, the kind of place you actually plan your road trip around. The Texas-born chain, famous for its buck-toothed beaver mascot, absurdly clean restrooms, and fresh-cut barbecue, is about to plant its flag in seven new states.
Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio, and Wisconsin are all getting their first Buc-ee’s locations, according to reports from Fox LiveNow. Ohio and Arizona are expected to open their doors later this year, with the remaining five states following in 2027.
For anyone who hasn’t experienced it, Buc-ee’s isn’t really a gas station. It’s a cultural event disguised as a highway pit stop. The stores are enormous, stocked floor to ceiling with snacks, jerky, fudge, novelty merchandise, and freshly smoked brisket that has no business being as good as it is at a place where you also fill up your tank.
The chain currently operates roughly 70 locations, mostly concentrated across the South. This expansion marks a serious push into the Midwest and Southwest, regions where interstate travelers have long relied on the usual suspects for fuel and stale coffee.
Two states where Buc-ee’s already has a foothold are getting reinforcements as well. Tennessee and Texas will each see one new location, both slated for 2027 openings. The company clearly isn’t content with its existing empire.
And empire is the right word. The Buc-ee’s in Luling, Texas, currently holds the title of world’s largest convenience store at a staggering 75,593 square feet. It dethroned the chain’s own Sevierville, Tennessee, location, which spans 74,000 square feet and features 120 gas pumps. Let that sink in for a moment. One hundred and twenty pumps.
Then there’s the car wash. Located in Katy, Texas, just outside Houston, Buc-ee’s claims to operate the world’s largest car wash with a 255-foot conveyor belt. Everything about this company is oversized by design.
Beyond the spectacle, Buc-ee’s is actually a surprisingly practical stop for drivers of all kinds. Several locations sell ethanol-free gasoline, which is a lifeline for owners of older vehicles, classic cars, and small engines that don’t play well with ethanol blends. Diesel exhaust fluid is also available at many sites.
The chain has also started installing EV charging stations at select locations, joining convenience store competitors like Wawa and Pilot in helping fill gaps in the nation’s charging network. It’s a smart play that keeps Buc-ee’s relevant as the automotive landscape shifts, especially in areas far removed from major EV markets where public chargers remain scarce.
Since its founding in 1982, Buc-ee’s has built a fiercely loyal following that borders on cult-like devotion. People wear the merchandise. They collect the stickers. They argue over which location has the best brisket.
It’s a phenomenon that has no real equivalent in American retail. The expansion into these seven new states isn’t about selling more beef jerky and beaver plushies. It’s about capturing the hearts and wallets of a whole new swath of American road-trippers who have only heard the legends.
For drivers in Kansas, Wisconsin, and the rest of the newly chosen states, fair warning: budget an extra hour. You will walk in for a bathroom break and walk out with a bag of candied pecans, a novelty T-shirt, and a deep emotional attachment to a cartoon beaver.
