Every Buc-ee’s is special.
From the amazing hot food…even given all the foods they’ve eliminated from the menu…
To the beaver nuggets…
Don’t forget the sweet treats (pecan pralines, fudge, pie, pastries, and so much more)…
And the merch!
But let’s face it – some Buc-ee’s represent an even higher level of awesome.
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To make this list, I worked hard to identify Buc-ee’s that in my experience are just a little extra awesome. My criteria looked like this:
– World record holders. (Obviously those are gonna be amazing…and usually huge in size!)
– New Buc-ee’s. (Nothing like a little extra shine and polish.)
– Buc-ee’s in amazing locations.
– Buc-ee’s that are convenient to people who otherwise can’t get to any of the Buc-ee’s above. (From my perspective – the best Buc-ee’s is the one you can get to!)
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I’ll probably be updating this list pretty frequently because Buc-ee’s is on a building spree, so I’m expecting plenty of new locations to come online in the next couple of years.
There are even rumors that one of them could become the new biggest Buc-ee’s on Earth.
So with that in mind…
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This is in no way meant to denigrate other Buc-ee’s.
I always like to say that “to know Buc-ee’s is to love Buc-ee’s” – and I genuinely do.
Their snacks and clothes are some of the best stuff I’ve ever bought, and I’m really excited that one’s being built local to me.
But that said – some are really extra special.
And speaking of, let’s head right to our first Buc-ee’s:
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Street address: 10070 West IH 10, Luling, Texas 78658
Why it’s worth the visit: Luling’s Buc-ee’s holds two crowns: It’s both the first Buc-ee’s travel center (opened in 2003), and after a recent remodel, it’s also the world’s largest, at 75,593 square feet. It’s also the largest convenience store in the world, for good measure.
Amenities: Luling has DEF and ethanol-free fuel, Tesla Supercharger
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Luling is a small town, and Buc-ee’s is the biggest game in town.
(I mean, I guess you could also visit the Luling Oil Museum.)
Fortunately, it’s only about an hour away from both San Antonio and Austin, which have lots more options:
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Obviously the biggest thing to do in San Antonio is to visit the Alamo. You can also check out:
– Six Flags Fiesta Texas
– SeaWorld San Antonio
– The San Antonio River Walk (you can also take a cruise down the river)
– San Antonio Museum of Art
Or if you go the Austin route instead…
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In Austin, you can visit…
– The Texas state capitol (pictured above);
– Bullock Texas State History Museum
– Circuit of the Americas raceway
– Hike up Mount Bonnell (good hike, great view)
Alternatively, you can go to the second Buc-ee’s on our list…
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Street address: 27700 Katy Fwy, Katy, Texas 77494
Why it’s worth the visit: The Buc-ee’s in Katy holds the world record for the longest car wash in the world, with 255 feet of conveyor. Seems worth the wait for a great car wash!
Amenities: In addition to the car wash, Katy’s Buc-ee’s has DEF and ethanol-free fuel and Tesla Superchargers.
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Katy’s another small town, but fortunately it’s a suburb of Houston, where there’s a ton of great stuff to do. Including:
– Houston Space Center (a must-see);
– Houston Zoo
– Minute Maid Park (a great baseball stadium)
– The Museum of Fine Arts
– The Museum of Natural Science
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Street address: 4001 Smiths Grove-Scottsville Road, Smiths Grove, KY 42171
Why it’s worth the visit: Smiths Grove is the newest Buc-ee’s, and let’s face it – newer (and bigger) is better!
Amenities: DEF and ethanol-free fuel, plus Tesla Superchargers
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Smiths Grove is another small town (are you seeing a trend yet?), but fortunately you’ve got options nearby:
– Mammoth Cave National Park is just north;
– Lincoln’s birthplace (a national historical park) is less than an hour away;
– Head another hour north and you’ll hit Louisville, and a couple hours south to Nashville.
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I picked Smith’s Grove because it was the newest Buc-ee’s, and that’ll hold true for a few more months, until June.
We have confirmation that Rockingham County, Virginia (on I-81 near Harrisonburg)’s Buc-ee’s will open on June 30th, so that’s the next one we have confirmed for sure.
However, there’s another Buc-ee’s on I-10 in Mississippi that should open sometime between Memorial Day and July 4th (a date hasn’t been set as of now).
So it could be either of these that usurps Smith’s Grove for the title of “newest.”
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Street address: 170 Buc-ee’s Blvd, Kodak, Tennessee 37764
Why it’s worth the visit: Sevierville used to hold the world record for the biggest Buc-ee’s – so if you live on the East Coast and aren’t prepared to drive all the way out to Luling, you’ll still get a similar experience!
The difference between them is about 1,500 square feet – so, ~74,000 vs 75,593 – which isn’t much at all to a Buc-ee’s. But that 1,500 square foot difference is also pretty close to the standard square footage for other convenience stores!
Amenities: Sevierville has a car wash, Tesla Superchargers, and DEF and ethanol-free fuel.
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Sevierville is Dolly Parton’s hometown, so it’s also home to Dollywood. That’s certainly THE must-see attraction there.
In addition, there’s also a NASCAR SpeedPark and the RainForest Adventures Zoo, plus a solid Titanic Museum…and of course, lots of great hiking in the area.
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Street address: 3390 North Williston Road, Florence, South Carolina 29506
Why it’s worth the visit: Florence’s Buc-ee’s is the furthest north on the Eastern Seaboard that Buc-ee’s has come..at least so far! (Soon enough Virginia will have three Buc-ee’s – and possibly a fourth – so there’s every reason to think that Florence will be dethroned in the next few years.) If you’re traveling down I-95, chances are good it’s going to be your first real opportunity to experience a Buc-ee’s on your from the Northeast.
Amenities: Buc-ee’s Florence has DEF and ethanol-free fuel, plus both Tesla Supercharges and Mercedes-Benz High-Power Universal chargers.
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Florence doesn’t have a whole lot going for it on its own, but it’s well-positioned about midway between Myrtle Beach and Columbia.
So choose your adventure – big city or beach?
And speaking of beaches…
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Street address: 2330 Gateway North Drive, Daytona Beach, Florida 32117
Why it’s worth the visit: Every Buc-ee’s is of course wonderful, but what really makes this one special is its location. Because once you’re here…you’re in Daytona Beach!
Amenities: Buc-ee’s Daytona Beach has a car wash, DEF and ethanol-free fuel options, and both Mercedes-Benz and Tesla electric vehicle chargers.
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After grabbing some beaver nuggets, you can always just go to the beach and hang out…
Or you can go to…
– The Daytona International Speedway
– Do some game fishing off the coast on a charter
– The Daytona Lagoon (a giant water park)
– Climb Florida’s tallest lighthouse
And, of course, so much more.
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So there you have it: The best Buc-ee’s to visit on earth:
#1: Luling, TX
#2: Katy, TX
#3: Smiths Grove, KY
#4: Sevierville, TN
#5: Florence, SC
#6: Daytona Beach, FL
Which of course brings me to an important question…
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What great Buc-ee’s locations have I missed? And what sets them apart?
And where should Buc-ee’s build NEXT?
Let us know in the comments!
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build a new store in west palm beach or Jupiter in Florida……..please