World's Largest Buc-ee's Location Opens on Monday, But a New, Even Bigger Location is Coming in 2025

Buc-ee’s, the beloved Texas-based chain known for its sprawling convenience stores and clean restrooms, is set to open its largest location in more than 40 years this week, expanding its reach and extending the fandom of Buc-ee’s to countless travelers looking for a place to pull over and pee. Or grab a drink. Or try the jerky. Or get some Beaver Nuggets. Or . . .

A cheerful and enthusiastic cartoon beaver, wearing a red cap, stands within a yellow circular background that radiates bright, multicolored light beams. It's reminiscent of the mascot you'll find at the world's largest Buc-ee's. — Credit: Buc-ees/Inside the Magic

But over the years, Buc-ee’s has become far more than just a place to stop when you’re coasting on fumes, and this week, the chain will debut its largest location yet.

What the Heck is Buc-ee’s?

Buc-ee’s is a chain of giant convenience stores that proves that everything truly is bigger in Texas. Based in the Lone Star State, Buc-ee’s opened its first location in Lake Jackson, Texas, more than 40 years ago in 1982. At the time, the location was big, but by today’s Buc-ee’s standards, the store can only be described as modest in size, as it only encompasses some 3,000 square feet.

Credit: Flickr/Viviandnguyen

But Buc-ee’s isn’t your everyday, average roadside stop where travelers can fill their tanks and grab a soda. Yes, over the years, Buc-ee’s has become more of a roadside attraction than a roadside refueling stop, and stopping at a Buc-ee’s location has come to be counted amongst the list of destinations on millions of travelers’ road trips.

Why Are People Freaking Out Over a Convenience Store?

Why are people freaking out about Buc-ee’s?

That’s a good question, especially since most of us thought we’d live to see the day when a convenience store chain had amassed a massive fanbase of people who look forward to visiting, even when their tanks are full.

That’s a lot of gas pumps/Credit: Buc-ee’s

Though it sounds oversimplified, the reason is simple. Weary travelers relish the idea of being able to pull over, whether to take a break from driving, refuel, use the restroom, or browse a giant store that features everything from souvenirs to licensed merchandise to every kind of snack and candy and more–at a place that is clean.

And it doesn’t hurt that travelers can actually eat the food they purchase at Buc-ee’s, even though it’s a convenience store, without worrying that they’ll be stopping again in an hour when the first signs of food poisoning make their presence known.

A display case inspired by the world's largest Buc-ee's is filled with various desserts and sandwiches. The top shelves showcase cups of different flavored puddings, such as banana and key lime, and mini chocolate cream pies. The lower shelves are stacked with wrapped sandwiches and bread rolls. — Sandwiches and desserts at Buc-ee’s/Credit: Flickr/John Karwoski

When you can do all of this and more–and at a place with the cleanest restrooms you’ve ever seen at any gas station in your life–there’s bound to be freaking out–and plenty of it.

What is Buc-ee’s Best Known For?

Over the years, Buc-ee’s has come to be known for many things, not the least of which are the chain’s super-clean restrooms.

A clean restroom area at the new Buc-ee's location features five wooden stall doors, beige tiled walls, and floors. The stalls have green lights above indicating availability. A yellow cleaning bin is on the left with a paper towel dispenser above it, and an exit sign is above a door in the background. — World’s cleanest restrooms/Credit: Flickr/Sara Stierch

Travelers in Texas had known–and bragged–about Buc-ee’s uber-clean restrooms for years before Cintas Corporation, an American corporate supplier to businesses, made it official in Buc-ee’s 40th year in business.

During a nationwide contest held by Cintas in 2012, Buc-ee’s won the award for cleanest restrooms, and the chain has yet to lose that title.

“You can build it out of gold,” said Buc-ee’s founder Arch “Beaver” Aplin to a group of local dignitaries gathered for the award ceremony that year, “but if you don’t clean it, at the end of the day, you end up with dirty gold.”

Changing stations inside the world’s cleanest restrooms/Credit: Flickr/Sara Stierch

But Buc-ee’s doesn’t stop at sparkling clean restrooms. The chain is also known for its various offerings, including Texas-style barbeque items like brisket sandwiches, sausage, pulled pork, and turkey. Buc-ee’s is also synonymous with Beaver Nuggets, a sweet snack made with puffed corn tossed in a brown sugar coating made of butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and vanilla, as well as Buc-ee’s made-in-house fudge and beef jerky.

A bag of Beaver Nuggets from Buc-ee's against a blue radial background. The packaging features a cartoon beaver and nutritional information. The bag contains crunchy caramel-coated corn puffs. Available at the World's Largest Buc-ee's opening in 2025, visit the new location for a taste! — Buc-ee’s Beaver Nuggets/Credit: Buc-ee’s

Buc-ee’s Holds Two World Records

In addition to Buc-ee’s jerky, fudge, and Beaver Nuggets, the chain is also famous as a world record holder. Buc-ee’s holds the record for the world’s largest convenience store, currently located in Sevierville, Tennessee. The location boasts 74,707 square feet of shopping, snacks, food, and restrooms.

Buc-ee’s also holds the record for the world’s longest car wash. Located at the Buc-ee’s store in Katy, Texas, near Houston, Buc-ee’s famous car wash measures 255 feet in length.

Aerial view of a large Buc-ee's gas station complex with multiple fuel pumps and a car wash. Several cars are seen in line for the car wash and parked near the fuel pumps. Buildings and greenery surround the area under a partly cloudy blue sky, highlighting this new location as one of their largest yet. — World’s longest car wash at the Buc-ee’s location in Katy, Texas/Credit: Buc-ee’s

The Largest Buc-ee’s Location Ever . . . But Not For Long

Buc-ee’s largest location to date opened on June 26, 2023, in Sevierville, Tennessee, approximately 33 miles southeast of Knoxville. The location encompasses a whopping 74,707 square feet and features 120 gas pumps. More importantly, the Sevierville, Tennessee, location boasts 71 restrooms–35 for men and 36 for women.

But Sevierville’s claim to fame as the largest convenience store on earth was short-lived. This week, that honor will go to a brand-new location in Texas that will be more than 5,000 square feet larger than its predecessor.

On Monday, June 10, a brand-new Buc-ee’s will open in the city of Luling, Texas, approximately 240 miles south of Dallas and 60 miles northeast of San Antonio.

A map of Texas highlighting major cities like Dallas, Fort Worth, Waco, Austin, San Antonio, and Houston. A bright yellow star with surrounding purple rays marks the location of San Antonio, emphasizing its importance and proximity to the world's largest Buc-ee's. — Credit: Inside the Magic

This week, that record will remain with Buc-ee’s, but for a new store opening in Texas that will offer travelers 80,000 square feet of roadside wonder.

The (Newest) World’s Largest Buc-ee’s in History Opens This Week

On Monday, Luling, Texas, will welcome the world’s largest Buc-ee’s, a massive 80,000-square-foot convenience store that promises to redefine roadside stops for motorists traveling along Interstate Highway 35 in South Central Texas.

Buc-ee’s location in Luling, Texas/Credit: Buc-ee’s

But the good people of Luling, Texas, won’t hold on to those bragging rights for long, as a brand-new Buc-ee’s is under construction in another state, and it will be even bigger than this one. So, if you’re a Buc-ee’s fan, stay tuned!