If you haven’t seen all of your friends (really, ALL of them) posting about their spring break road trip pit stop at the world-famous Buc-ee’s, then you’re the only one. I mean, is it really a southern road trip if you don’t stop at Bucee’s?
I don’t think so.
Buc-ee’s is a gas station and convenience store. If you’re like me, you’ve been getting pretty excited about the Indiana Buc-ee’s billboards, but those are just advertising locations in other states. Yes, we want an Indiana Buc-ee’s too.
But not like your normal gas station with a dinky store attached. It’s not even like those gas stations with the truck stop attached. Even if you added a full-service restaurant, it wouldn’t be anything like Buc-ee’s. Buc-ee’s truck stop? I think not.
Buc-ee’s is not a truck stop. At least not the kind of truck stops I’ve been to. What’s special about Buc-ee’s? There’s so much to tell you about.
Good news, if you’re the drive-all-night type, this travel center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
What is Buc-ee’s?
Buc-ee’s stores are larger than a traditional gas station or truck stop convenience store, with some locations spanning over 60,000 square feet. In addition to low-priced gas (relatively), they have a wide range of products, including fresh food, snacks, drinks, clothing, and home goods.
Buc-ee’s is famous for many things, including its clean restrooms, which are maintained by full-time bathroom attendants. In fact, it was named the “Best Rest Stop in America” by Food & Wine magazine. At some of their locations, they have TWO HUNDRED gas pumps.
Buc-ee’s actually holds two world records. Their New Braunfels, Texas location is the largest convenience store in the world at 63,335 square feet. They also have the world’s longest car wash in Katy, TX. The car wash has 255 feet of conveyor.
The company’s mascot is a cartoon beaver named Buc-ee, and the stores are filled to the brim with a lot of beaver-themed merchandise. It’s a very popular place for families to stop on their way to or from vacation if they’re driving through an area that has a Buc-ee’s. In fact, some of us have been known to go up to an hour off-route just to hit up a Buc-ee’s.
What Should I Get at Buc-ee’s?
I can’t think of much that you cannot find at Buc-ee’s. My cousins are superfans and have beaver-printed dishes in their homes, logo-wear bathing suits and baby onesies, sweatshirts, and t-shirts. I mean, there’s quite a trend of wearing this logo. You’ll find quite the gift shop, selling popular quick-service food items and gifts. The Buc-ee’s hot food menu is something to write home about.
Here are the top 10 things that Buc-ee’s fans buy when they visit;
Buc-ee’s Beaver Nuggets
These sweet and crunchy corn puffs are one of Buc-ee’s most popular items. They are small, crispy, sweet, and crunchy corn puffs that are coated with a caramel glaze, which gives them a unique and addictive flavor. I’d like to see your family try to not eat the whole bag! They’re sold in various sizes, from small bags to large containers, perfect for whatever size your road trip crew is.
They’re shaped like small, golden nuggets and are often compared to caramel corn or kettle corn, but with a slightly different texture. Buc-ee’s Beaver Nuggets come in several different flavors, including original, caramel, cinnamon, and jalapeño.
The Beaver Nuggets are one of Buc-ee’s most popular items, and many people who visit the store make sure to grab a bag or two to take home as souvenirs.
Buc-ee’s Jerky
Buc-ee’s carries a wide variety of jerky, including beef, turkey, and exotic meats like alligator and kangaroo. Their jerky is known for being high-quality and delicious. You’ll find a variety of packaged beef jerky but there’s also a wall with their house brand.
The house brand of jerky is made from premium cuts of beef and is hand-trimmed, marinated, and smoked to perfection. It’s made in small batches and sold when it’s fresh. The company has its own in-house smokehouses where they smoke the jerky using real wood, which gives it a delicious, authentic flavor. They also use high-quality ingredients.
Buc-ee’s beef jerky comes in several different sizes, from small snack packs to larger bags, and is available in a variety of flavors, including classic, teriyaki, hot & spicy, and many others.
Buc-ee’s Fudge
Buc-ee’s has a very large selection of fudge flavors, including classic chocolate, peanut butter, rocky road, and maple, as well as more unique flavors like blueberry cheesecake and birthday cake. They also offer sugar-free fudge options for customers who are watching their sugar intake and they offer samples so you can find your favorite flavors.
One of the unique things about Buc-ee’s fudge is that it is made fresh in-store daily, and customers can often watch the fudge being made right in front of them. The fudge is made from high-quality ingredients, including real butter, cream, and sugar, and is cooked in small batches.
Buc-ee’s fudge is sold in small, individually wrapped pieces, as well as in larger boxes that make great gifts or souvenirs. The fudge is known for being rich, creamy, and decadent, with a texture that is smooth and easy to chew.
Buc-ee’s T-shirts and Hats
Buc-ee’s offers a wide variety of branded apparel that is sold in-store and online. The clothing and accessories feature Buc-ee’s mascot, a beaver named Buc-ee. Some of the most popular Buc-ee’s branded apparel items include t-shirts, hoodies, hats, and socks. If you’re ever wearing one of these, people WILL stop you and share their mutual fandom.
Some t-shirts may have slogans like “I Brake for Buc-ee’s” or “Chicks Dig the Beaver.”
In addition to clothing, Buc-ee’s also sells other branded merchandise, including travel mugs (super popular), keychains, stickers, and more.
Buc-ee’s BBQ Sandwiches
Buc-ee’s has a barbecue counter where they serve up delicious sandwiches, brisket, sausage, and other smoked meats.
Buc-ee’s is known for its delicious BBQ sandwiches, which are a popular food item sold in the store’s deli section. You can’t miss this section because it usually has the longest line — everyone loves the brisket sandwiches.
The sandwiches are made with slow-smoked BBQ meat, which is cooked for several hours over real wood in the store’s smokehouse. The meat is then shredded and piled high on a soft bun. Choose from pulled pork, brisket, and sausage. The sandwiches are made to order, so you can customize them with your favorite toppings and sauces.
Buc-ee’s Salsa and Chips
Buc-ee’s has a large selection of salsa and chips, its own brand of queso, and homemade salsa. including mild, medium, and hot. Choose from more unique options like black bean and corn salsa or mango salsa. The tortilla chips and salsa are typically made fresh in-store.
Buc-ee’s Candy
Some of the most popular candy options are your typical road trip choices: chocolates, gummies, sour candies, and novelty candies. Buc-ee’s also carries regional candies which is why we love checking out this section. Often there are candies we’ve never even heard of or that aren’t carried at stores close to home.
If you’re looking for something different, don’t forget about sweet treats like fresh fudge and Beaver Nuggets.
Buc-ee’s Home Decor and Kitchenware
Buc-ee’s has a surprising selection of home decor and kitchenware items, including everything from coffee mugs and coasters to wall art and decorative signs. A lot of the items feature the popular beaver mascot or regional maps and sayings.
You’ll find everything from cutting boards, utensils, and aprons to picture frames and wall art. The store has a variety of styles to choose from, ranging from rustic and farmhouse-inspired to more modern and trendy.
You’ll also find a lot of outdoor and camping gear like grilling tools, coolers, and outdoor chairs.
Buc-ee’s Coffee and Tea
If you need a quick caffeine fix, there are coffee and tea options for customers, ranging from hot and iced drinks to packaged coffee and tea for home brewing. Buc-ee’s has its own line of coffee, which is made from high-quality Arabica beans and roasted in small batches.
The coffee is available in flavors such as breakfast blend and dark roast, as well as more unique and seasonal flavors like pumpkin spice and eggnog. The store also offers a range of flavored syrups and creamers to customize your coffee to your liking.
In addition to coffee, Buc-ee’s offers a variety of tea options, both hot and iced, in classic black tea and herbal and fruit-infused options.
Don’t forget to get those thermal travel mugs!
Snacks and Drinks for the Road at Buc-ee’s
This is the best place we’ve found to stock up on snacks and drinks for a road trip. In addition to all of the things I’ve already talked about, they have a huge selection of chips, candy, and bottled drinks.
You’ll find your typical Icee machines but there’s also a kolache counter, cotton candy containers, nutty bites (trust me, they’re amazing), banana pudding, and trail mix.
Buc-ee’s Near Me
Buc-ee’s locations are seemingly everywhere in Texas, which makes them a great stop for travelers and locals, but the ones near us are very much a novelty at this time and a destination in and of themselves.
The closest Buc-ee’s to Indianapolis is in Richmond, Kentucky, and rumor has it that someday soon we’ll have one in Indy. Later this year, the new Buc-ee’s location closest to Indiana will be in Huber Heights, Ohio, on the northeast corner of I-70 and State Route 235. Let’s take a road trip to Buc-ee’s, it’s just two hours from Indianapolis!
You can also visit Buc-ee’s locations in Calhoun, Georgia, and Warner Robins, Georgia. In Florida, Buc-ee’s is in St. Augustine and Daytona Beach. Alabama has four Buc-ee’s locations; Athens, Aubern, Leeds, and Loxley. Bucee’s is now in Sevierville, Tennessee, and Crossville, Tennessee. New in 2023, Buc-ee’s has a new store in Springfield, Missouri.
