A massive new Buc-ee’s is coming to one of the busiest stretches of highway in Texas.
The chain is building a new travel center in San Marcos, along Interstate 35 near Yarrington Road, between Austin and San Antonio. The location is expected to be 74,707 square feet, making it one of the largest Buc-ee’s stores in Texas. FOX 4 reported the project carries an estimated $47.2 million price tag, and local reporting says the store is now aiming for a July 2026 opening.
This will not be a normal gas station.
The San Marcos Buc-ee’s is expected to have 128 fueling positions, a huge store, and the full Buc-ee’s experience: brisket sandwiches, Beaver Nuggets, jerky, fudge, clean restrooms, road-trip snacks, and walls of Texas-themed merchandise.
For Central Texas drivers, the location is hard to beat. San Marcos sits directly between Austin and San Antonio, with constant traffic from commuters, Texas State students, outlet shoppers, tourists, and Hill Country travelers. That means this Buc-ee’s will not just serve San Marcos. It could become a regular stop for drivers across the whole I-35 corridor.
The store is also expected to be a major local employer. KUT reported that city officials said the project would hire at least 175 full-time employees with benefits to staff the 74,000-square-foot facility. The University Star reported that local officials have described the project as a roughly $50 million investment that could bring more than 200 jobs.
That is why San Marcos leaders have treated the project as more than a convenience store. KUT reported that the city expects to collect millions in property and sales tax revenue over 15 years under the incentive deal tied to the project.
Still, Buc-ee’s never arrives quietly.
The chain has a cult following, but stores this large often raise questions about traffic, crowding, and how much a highway exit can handle. With over 120 pumps and a destination-sized store, the San Marcos location is likely to become a magnet from day one.
For Buc-ee’s fans, that is part of the appeal.
A Buc-ee’s stop is not just about filling the tank. It is about the brisket counter, the bathrooms, the snacks, the T-shirts, the wall of jerky, and the feeling that a road trip has officially started.
And soon, one of Texas’s biggest Buc-ee’s locations will be sitting right between Austin and San Antonio — exactly where millions of drivers can see it.
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