Buc-ee’s, the beloved Texas-based gas station and convenience store chain, is rapidly expanding its massive travel centers across the U.S., pushing beyond its Southern roots into new territories.
The pace of new store openings and groundbreaking projects demonstrates the company’s strategic intent to become a more widespread roadside offering. This growth is changing the travel landscape along interstate highways, bringing the unique Buc-ee’s experience to more travelers than ever before. With construction crews actively underway in multiple states and new stores opening recently, the chain is on track to its ambitious national goals.
The enthusiasm for these new stores is palpable, with customers often flocking to the stores hours before they open. This high level of public interest underscores the strong brand loyalty and anticipation that Buc-ee’s has fostered. As the company moves forward with its expansion plans, it continues to solidify its position as a major player in the travel center industry, redefining where to stop on the road.
1. The popular chain is gearing up for over a dozen new, large-scale travel centers, potentially reaching a significant milestone of over 70 stores in 17 states by 2027, showcasing an ambitious national vision.
This projected 2027 expansion signals a period of intense development and substantial investment, with each new location demanding meticulous planning, site selection, and coordination of infrastructure needs.
2. Currently, Buc-ee’s operates 54 stores across nine states, providing a strong operational base that demonstrates their proven success in managing expansive travel centers beyond their home state of Texas, which will likely inform their strategies for entering new regions.
In addition to its operational footprint, Buc-ee’s has recently opened stores in Mississippi and Virginia, and opened a third store in Georgia. These new store openings signal the company’s continued expansion momentum, bringing the brand to new customer segments and increasing its visibility on major travel routes. These new stores are a key step in building a broader national network.
3. Mississippi recently welcomed its inaugural Buc-ee’s near Gulfport, quickly becoming a regional draw for travelers along the Gulf Coast eager to experience the unique Buc-ee’s phenomenon.
The first travel center in Mississippi is massive, covering 74,000 square feet. The store features a range of amenities designed to handle high traffic, including a large forecourt with 126 gas pumps and 24 electric vehicle charging stations to service a variety of vehicles. The store also features 165 restrooms, highlighting its emphasis on cleanliness.
4. Virginia also saw Buc-ee’s expand its footprint with a new store near Harrisonburg on June 30, marking a significant geographic achievement as the chain’s largest location to date in the North, further strengthening its presence along the East Coast corridor.
The Harrisonburg store offers travelers along a major interstate the full range of services and products for which Buc-ee’s is known. The strategic location is designed to attract interstate traffic, including travelers who may be driving from places like Wilmington to Baltimore or Washington, D.C., where they will see signs indicating how close they are to a Buc-ee’s store.
5. Georgia deepened its Buc-ee’s presence with the opening of its third store in Brunswick on July 1, just a day after the Virginia debut, solidifying its standing as the largest Buc-ee’s location in the Peach State.
The grand opening of the Brunswick store was met with immense public enthusiasm, drawing long lines of eager customers ready to explore popular features like the extensive jerky wall and to experience the convenience of a large Buc-ee’s near major travel routes, with many also enjoying free T-shirts.
6. In Arkansas, Buc-ee’s is actively laying the groundwork for new stores, with a groundbreaking in Benton highlighted by the state’s governor as the company’s “largest groundbreaking ever,” underscoring the project’s significant scale and governmental support.
The Benton Travel Center is expected to cover 75,000 square feet. The store is expected to be completed and open in 2026. Committing to building such a large store from the beginning shows the company’s high confidence in the development potential of the Arkansas market and its ability to support the operation of Buc-ee’s large stores.
7. **Expanding Presence in the Midwest: Ohio and Tennessee**: Buc-ee’s is also moving forward with its expansion plans into the Midwestern market. Ohio is one of the slated locations for its first store. The first store is currently under construction in Huber Heights. Although originally scheduled to open earlier, the opening has been pushed back to spring 2026 due to delays in the utility connections required for the site.
Further south, Tennessee is also a key focus for Buc-ee’s expansion, with plans for multiple stores, including a Murfreesboro Travel Center set to open in 2026, aiming to enhance the Buc-ee’s brand presence along major Tennessee routes for travelers.
