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Posted on 05/14/2026 1:23:19 PM PDT by Red Badger
As good, pro-business, pro-prosperity conservatives, we should love a success story like Buc-ee's, and I'm pretty darn sure most of you readers do. I'm a recent convert to Buc-ee's myself, having first experienced this wonderful mega-convenience store/souvenir store/truck stop/fast food joint for myself just last February, on a feral hog hunting jaunt to Texas. It's a great place, a great business model, and they have great barbecue brisket sandwiches.
Now, in the next year or two, they will be expanding into at least six new states.
At least six states are slated to open their first Buc-ee's locations by the end of next year, including two states expected to debut sites in the coming months of 2026.
The Texas-based gas station chain — known for its oversized travel plazas with clean restrooms and beaver-themed merchandise — is expected to open locations in Arizona and Arkansas later this year.
Buc-ee’s inaugural locations for next year also include Wisconsin, Louisiana, Kansas and North Carolina.
While the company’s website currently lists 55 locations across 12 states, the planned expansion would extend Buc-ee's into 20 states.
Sadly, Alaska isn't on the list. And Texas, of course, remains the heart of Buc-ee's, and that's appropriate.
While six states are expected to receive their first beaver-branded mega travel centers under Buc-ee's expansion plans, several states already home to the chain are also set for additional locations.
Texas will open its 37th Buc-ee’s site in July in San Marcos, the Austin American-Statesman reported.
That's a lot of brisket.
If you've never been in a Buc-ee's, well, it's hard to know where to begin to describe these great places. It seems a lot like the famed Alice's Restaurant, in which you can get anything you want, ranging from Buc-ee's swag, including t-shirts, hoodies, caps, and even (of course) stuffed versions of the famous beaver mascot. Want a six-pack of beer or a bag of beef jerky? You can get that, too. Hard candy? Ditto. A carton of smokes? Again, yes. The only part of the great trio they don't offer is guns, making them one leg short of being a true ATF - alcohol, tobacco & firearms - outlet.
For now, it seems, the southern United States and parts of the Midwest are going to be the primary locations for these great stores.
Read More: Dear New Yorkers: Texas Will Break You
Everything's Bigger: 75,000 Square Foot Buc-ee's Opens in Texas
So, no, Alaska won't be on the list, and that's mildly saddening; to enjoy an authentic Buc-ee's barbecue brisket sandwich still requires a long plane ride and, in most places, a trip by car, to follow. But we do have Three Bears here in the Great Land, an equally great chain named so because Alaska is the only U.S. state to have three native bears: Black, brown (grizzly), and polar. Three Bears is, in their larger locations, also an honest alcohol, tobacco & firearms outlet, in that one can buy all three under one roof. No brisket sandwiches, though.
Life is full of these little tradeoffs.
As it happens, I captured my first Buc-ee's visit in an Alaska Man Monday video. Here, watch:
VIDEO AT LINK.................
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We always get a half dozen of them. Get home, heat them in a cast iron skillet with melted butter, heaven on earth.
Good for them. Going to one is an experience, for sure!
Buc-ee’s knows their target audience. I don’t think they’d open a store in, say, Minneapolis, Boston or Portland.
We have Culvers and Kwik Trip (MN). I may drive to WI to see this Buccky’s thing.
I’ll be going up that way in October if I get a deer tag for 18B or 18A, have to check it out.
the heads are clean enough to eat off the floor...
The staff seemed both happy to work there and willing to - wait for it - work.
The only time I went to BUC was in Warner Robins. I was visiting with my brother who lives there. I couldn’t understand why he wanted to show me a truckstop.
I had such a wonderful time and was only limited because my back is so bad and getting around is very difficult and painful. I love the household product section -and we’re not talking about cheap touristy stuff
good products
I even though I’m a vegetarian I enjoyed watching the brisket counter. They were so efficient and made beautiful sandwiches and the people said they were delicious. All sorts of food certainly andall sorts of touristy T-shirts, and other local products and touristy items but a lot of really nice items if you need a last minute quality gift for an anniversary birthday and don’t want something tacky.
I don’t believe my brother got gas. He usually got it on the base.
I thought the one in De Forest, near the Interstate was nixed?
I’m not sure I can handle this after visiting the largest Fleet Farm in the state just last year! (We had two gift cards to use up) ;)
And when we’re at Cabela’s (or whatever they’re called now) Beau can always find me gazing at the big fish tank...reliving my childhood on The Lake...and dreaming of Friday Fish Fry!
I used to drive 30 miles up the road to Buc-Cees for gas, a barbecue sandwich and use the cleanest restrooms anywhere.
I don’t think we have to worry about one coming to Alaska.
You’ve got real beavers................
Curious if California was on the list and then I remembered that nobody is opening new businesses in California.
Can’t wait for the one opening in Mebane, NC. We’ll be making periodic weekend day trips for a Buc-ee’s/McKay’s books twofer.
Agree with other poster- absolute cleanest bathrooms on the planet...with individual privacy and space(!), which is non-existent at about any other rest stop. Really helps when traveling with kids.
Their jerky is great/ The brisket and other hot items are delicious enough just to look at. We’ve always stopped at two headed down to Orlando, but I’ve thus far resisted the temptation to try one.
I live close enough to a Buc-ees that we can drop in pretty much when we want to. The place is never not packed, no matter when you go (though I haven’t been at 2 AM so I can’t vouch for the wee hours). The gas is cheap, there’s chargers for you weirdos that take your Tesla on a road trip, the barbeque is good but pricey, the car food (cold sandwiches, fruit cups, etc.) are generally high quality, the bathrooms are pristine, and they have snacks and decor items that you can’t get elsewhere. But I still don’t get the cult status that some people seem to give it.
It’s kind of hard to explain why one can get so excited to go to a gas station. LOL!
I’m always impressed with the cleanliness and the friendly, helpful employees.
The variety of sandwiches, snacks, salads.... is truly incredible and delicious.
My most memorable time was the day when I pumped gas and a truck pulled up right across from me, and out came Shaquille O’Neal .
I’m sure I looked like a stunt fool with my mouth wide open. LOL.
I’m very sorry about your painful back problems. BucBuc-ee’s is a huge place and getting around can be very difficult.
Is your brother still stationed in Warner Robins?
Three Bears isn’t what it was before the kids sold out to lower 48 financiers.
The more lower 48 box stores we get the harder it is to find things that are useful up here. That is if you are not a citiot. Try to find a peevee in a box store.
It is NOT a truck stop.
The few things I’ve heard about the management, they don’t sound too smart.
Worse part of Buc-ees are people who park their cars at the gas pumps and then go inside and shop for an hour.
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