Buc-ee’s heads to North Carolina: massive first location underway

North Carolina is finally getting a taste of one of America’s most talked-about travel centers. Buc-ee’s — the Texas-born chain known for its oversized convenience stores and cult-like following — is building its first location in the state, and anticipation is already growing.

A first-of-its-kind stop in Mebane

The inaugural North Carolina Buc-ee’s is being constructed in Mebane, strategically located along Trollingwood-Hawfields Road near the busy Interstate 40/85 corridor. 

The site spans more than 30 acres and is designed to be a major roadside destination. Plans call for a massive convenience store paired with approximately 120 gas pumps and hundreds of parking spaces, making it one of the largest travel centers in the region (and 75,000 square feet bigger than the closest existing Buc-ee’s in South Carolina).

Opening timeline taking shape

While early estimates suggested a 2026 or early 2027 debut, the timeline has since been clarified. Buc-ee’s now expects the Mebane location to open in late 2027, likely in the fourth quarter.

Construction began in late 2025, with site preparation already completed and vertical building expected to ramp up through 2026.

Economic boost and regional impact

The project is expected to bring hundreds of jobs to the area and attract significant highway traffic from across the Triangle and beyond. 

State transportation officials are also coordinating road improvements around the site to handle increased traffic flow, signaling just how large an impact the development is expected to have. 

Part of a bigger expansion

The North Carolina store is part of Buc-ee’s aggressive nationwide growth, as the company expands beyond its Texas roots into new states across the Southeast and Midwest. 

For now, fans in North Carolina will have to wait — but when the doors finally open, the Mebane location is poised to become a must-stop destination for travelers statewide.

Links on this page may be affiliate links, for which the site earns a small commission, but the price for you is the same