By Chuck Woodbury
PUBLISHER AND FOUNDER
I spend a lot of time examining the visitor statistics of the RVtravel.com website, trying to glean what subjects readers care most about. And what I consistently discover is that articles we write about Buc-ee’s are almost always exceptionally popular. What is it, I wonder, about these highway travel centers that our readers find so fascinating?
The readership of a Buc-ee’s article compared to one about Love’s, Pilot Flying J, or any other travel center or “truck stop” is night and day. I have never been to a Buc-ee’s, but talking with others, you almost sense a cult-like passion.
So what’s the deal?
I did some research on Buc-ee’s, which included reading comments from highway travelers on articles and in forums. As a business person myself, I quickly determined that the company has really got its act together. I was especially impressed about its customers’ greatest praise—the super clean bathrooms!
Buc-ee’s, it seems, has turned the ordinary gas stop into a destination. Most highway travel stops are functional: Fill up with gas or diesel, grab coffee, move on. Buc-ee’s goes far beyond that. Its locations are huge, often with well over 100 fuel pumps, with stores the size of small supermarkets. For RVers accustomed to carefully planning fuel stops big enough for their rigs, there is no intimidation over finding a place to park an hour or perhaps even overnight.
Then there are the bathrooms. Buc-ee’s has built its reputation on exceptionally clean, spacious restrooms. RVers appreciate them because they can freely use them knowing that they are not sacrificing cleanliness over using their own toilet.
Food is another major draw. Buc-ee’s doesn’t only sell packaged snacks; it prepares fresh barbecue, sandwiches, baked goods, fudge, jerky, and regional treats in full view of customers. For many RVers, the stop becomes lunch, a snack restock, and entertainment all at once. Even those who aren’t fans often admit the food variety is impressive.
The beaver mascot, the bold signage, and the distinctive merchandise promote a sense of fun and belonging. Wearing a Buc-ee’s T-shirt or hat has almost become a badge of road-trip culture. No other travel center comes close to such emotional passion about what only a couple of decades ago was a truck stop with greasy restaurant fare.
The practical angle
Buc-ee’s locations tend to have wide access roads, large parking areas and efficient fueling layouts. While overnight parking policies vary and should always be checked locally, many RVers still choose Buc-ee’s as a safe place to spend a night.
Another reason our readers are so interested in our Buc-ee’s stories, I believe, is simple curiosity. Not everyone has visited one of the stores yet, especially RVers in the West or Northwest where locations are still expanding. Those without a Buc-ee’s nearby often stop just to see what all the fuss is about.
Finally, Buc-ee’s taps into nostalgia. From reading many comments from RVers, I sense that a visit recalls an earlier time when roadside stops had personality instead of identical corporate sameness. For RVtravel.com readers, who are mostly in their 60s and older, that feeling must resonate.
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RVT1250
Been travelling full time for five years throughout the Southwest, and I’ve never seen one of these “Buc-ees”. So no, definitely not popular with me. 🙂
Same here. Where are they? I tried to sign up for a Love’s card tonight after something you wrote last week. No luck, I kept pushing the “G” button and -0-!
First stopped at a Buc-ees on the way back from GA. Yes, clean bathrooms. But oh my the prices they charge for food. We left without the expensive food. Didn’t need fuel, so thanks for the bathroom.
At least with Cracker Barrels, one gladly pays for a meal since we Cracker-Docked for free the night before. Buc-ees doesn’t allow RVs parking overnight.
We hope the CB CEO has learned her lesson, and focuses on improving the CB business instead of going woke. CB is very valuable to RVers and not seeing that same love from Buc-ees.
Buc-ee’s is absolutely not RV friendly.
Example: We pulled in with our 45-foot coach for fuel and a quick tour of the store. It took 30 minutes to put fuel in the coach because the flow was so restricted and I could only purchase $100 before hanging up the hose, reinserting the card, add $100 of fuel, hang up the hose, reinsert the card….until I put in $665 of fuel.
Inside the store is just a zoo. Far too many people and too much noise. The food is pretty good, but very, very expensive. The employees are outstanding and truly want to help the customers.
There is no overnight or even afternoon parking. There is no dump station available.
I guess it depends on the rv. I have a Class C and have never had a problem getting fuel or parking. I love that I can also fill the DEF while fueling up.
If you’re a veteran you can now sign up to get a veterans discount at Cracker Barrel. They also now have a Cracker Barrel Rewards program you can sign up for.
No Quacker-barrels along with the “Beaver” up here in Washington. I’m thinking they are missing out on $$$$$$…Oh-well….
CB is one of the most red neck restaurant chains around. You really think updating their logo is going “woke”? Wow.
You are apparently not familiar with what the CEO has been doing these last few years…
We like Buc-ees and will stop occasionally. One big drawback for us is access. It seems that recently built/opened Buc-ees locations have added traffic circles approaching & departing the location. These circles are often pretty small and not easily navigated by a large 5er or Class A with/toad. But there’s always an empty fuel pump and the restrooms are always clean!
“…recently built/opened Buc-ees locations have added traffic circles approaching & departing the location.”
YES they have!!
This is at the Brunswick, GA location and it causes a traffic nightmare.
The St. Augustine and Daytona locations do not have these round abouts and are very easy to get in and out of.
Cleanest bathrooms on the road. No contest. Fuel is usually a bit cheaper than other stations nearby. Huge fueling areas make turns super easy. Food can be pricey but you go in knowing that. Be smart about your stop, have some fun, maybe grab a tee shirt if you like Buc’ee the beaver and motor on. I’m surprised about the haters on this gas station.
This is one rv’er that has tried it but will not use it anymore as it’s a nightmare to navigate with the large crowds of vehicles everywhere. To me it’s not rv friendly.
I am 100% with you Robert. We’ve stopped at two different Buc-ee’s and concluded that was enough. The first time we stopped was sheer curiosity. The second time was to verify the high prices and gimmicky products wasn’t just a fluke. The parking at both was terribly congested and I think the novelty drives the current popularity but novelty is perishable.
We have visited a couple of times, mostly for the fabulous brisket sandwiches and jerky and of course the clean restrooms! However, we follow a huge number of YouTube RV folks and not once has anyone ever mentioned overnighting at a Buc-ees. There is minimal RV parking and I can’t imagine trying to sleep at a 24 hour giant gas station.
“….and I can’t imagine trying to sleep at a 24-hour giant gas station.”
Oh, we have done it many, many times. It is actually a lot of fun, very safe, and the noise becomes “white noise”, and you will sleep well.
We travel 3000 miles a year. And to date i have never been to a buc-ee’s that actually had alot of rvers, let alone ANY rv parking. You either leave it at the pump or park over 3 spaces if u can find 3. They are horribly over crowded.
The best place to stop when traveling, peroid.
Our nearest Buc-ee’s has a huge dog walking area behind the store; a great place to stretch our legs and run the pup! Agree, that for most big RV’s, Buc-ee’s access and parking can be a nightmare; however, for our Class B, it is no big deal, except for the crowds.
I’ve been to a Buc-ee’s in Colorado, and Texas. They are fun and filled with food and shopping options.
but they are NOT RV friendly. There is rarely overnight parking or special RV parking.
they do not allow trucks so they’re not accommodating an RV. The parking lot is large but usually crowded and an RV is going to take up multiple spots.
I’m surprise the author never visited a Buc-ee’s it’s an experience to be seen firsthand. There’s large Buc-ee’s themed shopping area, a large food court. A bathroom are exceptional, and the snack section is as large as most convenience stores entire location.
My favorites there are the brisket and breakfast burritos.
We love exits with a Buc-ee’s! Why? Because the other truck stop-sized gas station at the same exit has far less traffic so that’s where we go.
YES!!!!!
That is EXACTLY what we do too!!
Bravo!
I’ll remember that.
thanks
When approaching a Buc-ee’s, use the 2nd entrance to enter the parking lot. Most people go to the first one, that’s why it’s almost always jammed up. 2nd entrance pumps are very seldom crowded.
Plenty of parking on the back side of the stores. You might have to walk an extra 100 yards. Free cardio!
Bucees is kind of cool…one time. But usually when I stop I just want to gas and go. Bucees takes 20 minutes just to get in and out of their driveway and negotiate through the crowds in their parking lot. I usually stop at easier to access gas stations.
We winter in Texas. This is our 9th winter and we visited family in Austin for a couple years before deciding to stay seasonally. We have been to several Buc-ee’s. But not even once towing. It’s doable, obviously. But depending on the time of day, Buc-ee’s pavement can be congested. Some people may have parked overnight, but it’s not something I’ve seen. The fuel prices are competitive but not necessarily the least and certainly not most expensive. Semi-tractors, even if pulling a travel trailer are prohibited. Period. I’ve read that employees aspire to be bathroom attendants. It is the highest paying non-management job in the building. So far all the staff works hard yet remains friendly.
I’ve read that employees aspire to be bathroom attendants. It is the highest paying non-management job in the building.
This is true.
The job pays about $48,000/yr. More if you work overnight.
Management is….OK (I am trying to be polite!), but the regular staff are outstanding.
I agree with almost all comments wrote. I don’t agree with Chuck Woodbury. Buc-ee’s is not RV friendly, try to get diesel fuel with a 40′ fifth wheel, buy food where can you set and enjoy, no overnite parking, I don’t need clean bathrooms, I have my own in my RV. They are simply there for travelers in cars that are in a hurry to grab a sandwich and go.
We’re living one exit from the Buc-ees in Crossville TN. We don’t appreciate how gas prices are not displayed on the highway sign. If you want pricing you either go to the pumps or use a gas app…and it’s not always the cheapest.
Btw…I’ve never been inside it.
No Buc-ee’s allows over ight parking for RVs or cars
Heard the hype, decided to stop at one off I-75 in Georgia. What a zoo! We carefully maneuvered our 32-foot Greyhawk and Escape toad through the crazy traffic (cars and rvs every-which-way) up to a pump–and after filling up, there was nowhere to park! I asked someone who said, just leave it while you go into the store. We reluctantly did, and then since we were behind another unit, had to wait for them to return to leave. Honestly, I don’t think we are Buc-ees people. Nerve-wracking getting in and out, fattening food…I’d rather stop at an interstate rest stop, use the clean restrooms, and fix a healthier and less expensive lunch in my RV. Guess I’m one-and-done with Buc-ees.
Well, there are 36 Buc-ees in Texas, 1 in Colorado, and 17 more all east of there. Until they make a presence in the western states where I love to travel, I’ll not have a personal visit to relate. From the reviews, it appears they’re not particularly RV-friendly, but as a boondocking nomad, I’m kinda used to that. I’ll definitely stop by, if one shows up in my region(s).
You can keep the place
Buc-ee’s in Brunswick, GA (exit 42 on I-95) opened about 9 months ago. The store is 75,000 sqft with 150 fuel pumps. The company destroyed acres of “protected wetlands”, laughed at the county ordinances (such as sizes for outdoor signs), put hundreds of thousands of gallons of fuel underground in a pristine wetland environment, caused a traffic nightmare for the area residents, none who wanted the store located where it is, and the company walked away with tens of millions of dollars of tax benefits.
The locations in St Augustine and Daytona (both also off I-95). The settings are perfect with easy on/off, no traffic, and no homes.
Fishing Dave is correct…they do NOT allow overnight parking
Unless it is a bathroom stop on a car trip, I don’t use Buc-ees. They don’t have Top Tier gas.
Buc-ees is definitely NOT a destination for us but we will usually gas up there for one, simple reason…EZ IN/EZ OUT. That is primary for us.
Never been to a Buc-ee’s, but from the looks of the picture, I don’t think I could get in and out of there with 65′ of motorhome and trailer. Having no rv parking after fueling up would be a negative too. Also, from all the reader comments, I’d say that the majority rv’ers don’t agree with the author about loving the place.
Once and done. We stopped at Buc-ees in Georgia off I75. I was pulling a 26′ travel trailer. What a nightmare maneuvering through the madness of people vying for a pump. At the end of the row we found an empty pump. The “store” was horrible. It was like a discount store on Black Friday. The restrooms were filthy. Never again will I subject myself to a Buc-ees.
Stopped at Buckee’s several times. Sometimes difficult to find a parking spot because of the crowds. The hot meat sandwiches expecially attract the customers. Stop in, watch the cooking and watch out for the crowd around the butcher block. Get-um while you can!! They go – FAST! Much nicer than Pilot or other truck stops. Seems like a hundred employees on duty checking everything – especially the bathrooms! Another year and there will be a Buckee’s in my home state of Wisconsin, just four miles from my stick-and-brick home.
Buc-ees is OK. Easy for fuel for sure. Food prices seemed high. And since they don’t allow overnight stops for RVs I don’t usually have them in my travel plans.
My wife and I stopped at a Buc-eyes along I75 between Florida and Michigan. After I got gas, I asked an attendant who was cleaning the pumps where I could park with my pickup and travel trailer. He said that they don’t have RV parking, and he pointed to an area furthest from the building and said that I can park there. I had to get my wife’s mobility scooter out for her to go in.
It’s amazing how much of a variety they carry. The prices are very high, so we just bought something for snacks.
Since they aren’t very RV friendly, I’ve since just drove past them.
I’ve read of other RV’ers who weren’t happy about no area for parking.
Add us to the once and done crowd. Terribly awkward to maneuver our 32 foot class A and toad. Almost impossible to find a place to park. Difficult to walk through the parking lot with traffic going every which way. Crowded inside.
Thank you for sharing your conclusions, Chuck. DW has a cousin who has lived in Texas for decades (~40 years) and she swears by Buc-ees. DW stopped at one once and was somewhat impressed. I fail to understand or share their enthusiasm. While traveling, my preference is a truck stop in order to easily refuel our 56-foot configuration. Otherwise, I want to refuel in places lacking congestion. Lastly, I abhor bandwagons. Thus, I will sample Buc-ees once it loses its popularity. Have a great day and safe travels!