Buc-ee’s has long been a cult favorite for some road trippers and RVers. Buc-ee’s offers travelers enormous stores, miles of snacks, barbecue, and famously clean restrooms.
Lately, though, the glow has dimmed. Recently, the chain was given an “F” grade by the Better Business Bureau. That’s quite a fall from the company’s ranking just last year.
2025: The good ol’ days?
In 2025, Buc-ee’s ranked fifth among all convenience stores in the American Customer Satisfaction Index, surpassing major brands like Shell and ExxonMobil. That number 5 ranking was down from previous years, as well.
Buc-ee’s was also named the top quick service restaurant in the U.S. in the dunnhumby Retailer Preference Index. It outperformed competitors like Kwik Trip, In-N-Out, Raising Cane’s, and Chick-fil-A.
So, what happened? How can a company fall so far in such a short amount of time? Are more people visiting Buc-ee’s in 2026 and giving less-than-stellar reviews? Has the quality of staff or the cost of Buc-ee’s products driven ratings down?
With several new Buc-ee’s stores set to open, you can bet that corporate management is searching to find an answer—and fast!
An “F”
The BBB’s grade is meant to reflect how a company handles customer issues. In this case, the bureau pointed to a pattern of nearly 90 complaints over the past few years. Problems include issues with refunds, returns, billing, and difficulty reaching customer support.
The BBB flagged Buc-ee’s apparent refusal to engage with its customers’ complaints. The combined issues of number of complaints and non-response to consumers pushed the BBB’s rating to its lowest mark.
Buc-ee’s fans
Fans (including many full-time and part-time RVers) point out the favorite perks that draw them back to Buc-ee’s again and again. They love the huge parking lots, abundant pumps, and walk-in retail that’s more like a small store than a gas station.
Many fans have their particular Buc-ee’s favorites—like brisket sandwiches and Beaver Nuggets. Of course, Buc-ee’s restrooms are legendary, boasting the cleanest stops along the highway.
Not fans
Not everyone loves Buc-ee’s, however. Several RVtravel.com readers posted negative comments on a recent Buc-ee’s article. On busy days, Buc-ee’s can be jam-packed. RVers can face long lines at the pumps, crowded aisles, long check-out lines, and full parking bays that make maneuvering an RV tricky.
Other RVers say the Buc-ee’s lots aren’t laid out with oversized rigs in mind. Even the roads approaching large Buc-ee’s stores can be problematic for folks towing RVs. When the crowds are heavy, the positive features (clean bathrooms, lots of food choices) don’t erase the hassle of waiting for space or unfriendly staff.
Corporate scale vs. small-business service
A national chain that grows fast can accumulate customer issues across several locations. Complaints concentrated across dozens of stores can look like a pattern even if some individual outlets run smoothly.
At the same time, BBB-style ratings reward responsiveness (answering and resolving complaints), which doesn’t always scale smoothly for a company focused on retail operations and expansion.
Troubling optics
Expansion plans make this an awkward moment for the Buc-ee’s brand. It markets itself as a consistent, family-friendly roadside experience. Yet consumer watchdog attention raises questions about whether corporate support systems are keeping pace with Buc-ee’s growth.
Weighing pros and cons
If your priority is a single-stop solution where everyone in the rig can stretch, eat, buy supplies, and use clean restrooms, Buc-ee’s still delivers.
If your priority is flawless post-sale support or easy phone contact, the recent BBB findings are a red flag to plan alternatives. If you’re looking for fewer crowds, drive an oversized rig, or want bargain prices, our readers’ comments suggest you look elsewhere.
Your turn
Rate Buc-ee’s from 1 to 5 (5 = great experience, 1 = very poor). Vote with the number that matches your experience, then leave a comment, if you’d like, to explain your reason for voting the way you did. Thank you!
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RVT1252b
My biggest complaint with any place is the people who leave their vehicles at the pump and go inside.
That’s exactly why even the small stores have over 150 pumps. The business model is designed to get you inside the store before or after you pump the inexpensive gas.
The world we live in. Happens everywhere.
No Buc-ees is not a member of the BBB.
I seem to recall several years the BBB got caught selling their ratings. I’m not one to rely on a BBB rating for anything.
What you say is not true. The BBB does not require anything. If a negative rating is there it will always be there along with the response from the business.
No RV parking, 99% of the food inside is filled with additives and chemicals, they treat their employees like dirt. Fuel is usually cheaper but not sure worth the zoo. They’re bathrooms are very clean, but I prefer to use my own.
I’m surprised that Buc-cee’s has received national media attention for not addressing 90 “customer” complaints from the BBB over a multiple year period. Considering that the number of customers visiting all Buc-cee’s is estimated at close to 100 million annually, I’d say that Buc-cee’s is doing darned good job.
The one we visited had a lot of food options, but no place to sit and eat inside or outside.
I agree 90 complaints out of millions. Really?
It’s not a restaurant. Grab and go only. The business model is superb and it works. Perhaps future iterations will experiment with things like dining areas or tables outside, but for now, millions of customers visit these gas stations daily and it works.
I’ve never been to a Buc-ees. We pull a 17 foot molded fiberglass trailer. I find that Race trak and Race way have cheaper gas that’s easier to get to and a simply MAAHvelous amount and quality of food. The Race Trac and Way in s FL offer lots of truck and RV parking, more than the new Love’s in Moorhaven does.
It’s ok but not what it is hyped up to be. It is not my first pick of stops pulling my travel trailer just because it can be difficult to deal with the crowded parking and gas pumps.
We live close to a BIG Buc-ees in Texas City, TX. We have also traveled with our 30’ RV to Buc-ees in 5 other states. They deliver what they promise. Clean bathrooms, quick & good food service, a kind hello when you enter & lots of checkout counters at multiple entrances. I also get a discount at the store & pumps with my Buc-ees credit card. I love Buc-ees and stop in as often as I can. There service to those of us in SE TX after several hurricanes was amazing. Only place we could get fuel & food. They have generators so they can stay open to provide what we need. HEB does the same thing during natural disasters too!
Buc-ee’s is huge in my home area but it’s not for me.
We’ve been to two of them and the experience was the same. The heavy congestion in the parking lot makes getting to the pumps pulling a toad a bit difficult. Folks shopping while their car is sitting at the pumps makes guessing which pump to line up with equally frustrating.
The congestion inside was just as heavy. Long lines to check out and the pricing leaned to the high side. I thought my first impression might have been location and time of day which is why I tried a second time at a different location. No difference that I could detect so we just don’t go.
Who even checks a business for BBB accreditation?
Me
I have.
I know, right? I didn’t realize the BBB was still in B.
Me
We drove in once to fuel up our gas, Class A. Couldn’t wait to see what all the hype is about. Our opinion it is NOT RV FRIENDLY. The parking lot was very busy, there were lines for fuel. Cars darting here and there, in a hurry. No place to park a big rig. We decided it was an accident waiting to happen. So we just left.
We love Buc*EE’s but can’t refuel there with our class A towing. Not Buc*EE’s fault. It’s the people who leave their vehicles at the pump & go inside for an hour. Best Buc*EE’s fir RV’s is AL along I10, great pump set up. Worst is Katy TX. All Buc*EE’s have ample parking even for RV’s but people are lazy.
Not a fan of their food. Coffee is ok. At the pumps I’ve gotten stuck in my motorhome behind cars that have gone inside to shop instead of moving them to a regular parking spot, but that has happened at other gas stations with convenience stores. Can’t back up with a tow vehicle.
Larry, I know about getting stuck at the pumps.
Even at a Love’s station, Car in front, I pulled to pump, filled, had to wait after fueling 10 minutes for driver to return, he still had to fuel himself. 🤯
We’ve only been to a couple of Buc-ees and then only for fuel. We were a 38′ class A towing a Jeep SUV so total length was 55+’. Pulling into a gas pump was EZPZ and getting in and out of the premise was also EZ. We’re not one to ‘shop’ at a fuel stop and if we eat it’ll be in the MH.
The BBB is irrelevant. I mean, Buc-ee’s has millions of customers a year and less than 100 thought to complain to the BBB. That’s the very definition of “irrelevant”.
Us, we LOVE Buc-ees. Because the other gas stations at the same exit have far fewer cars and that makes it very easy to refuel when you have an RV.
Here’s why they got an “F”. It’s an “Alert” on the BBB site:
Alert 2The company has stated they will not answer complaints forwarded to them by the BBB.
Hahahahahaha
I would never drive a class a coach towing into one of these quagmires. Inconsiderate people just leave their cars anywhere they want blocking lanes. Employees could care less. Customer service is awful if you have a problem (like my credit card being charged $300 more than the $243 purchase price for fuel). Took me 4 months and a letter from my attorney to get this fixed. You can have all the Buc-ee’s you want.
As a store, we love going to Buc-cee’s, but common sense (or a simple drive by) would indicate it’s not a place to park, or get gas in an RV.
Apparently, Buc-ee’s has discovered the Ferengi 1st Rule of Acquisition: “Once you have their money, never give it back” (Star Trek, Deep Space 9).
Buc-ee’s has never been a bargain for us and we have one in our town. We can always do better elsewhere. They are not set up for the fueling of large vehicles such as RVs. We have a diesel MH and only use truck stops when possible. Anyone can obtain a fuel card like TSD Open Roads. With it, you’ll get the same approximate fuel cost and amenities as the smaller stations that have trouble accommodating your size and don’t care about you.
My biggest angst anywhere is the fact that people think that the gas pump area is a parking space. Pump your gas then move so the next guy can do the same…
Most of the complaints listed are common across all similar industries. Some are even petty based on extremely high personal expectations.
Ever thought that many of those supposed complaints were submitted by competitors? Jealousy breeds malfeasance.
After sitting in traffic for over 20 minutes just trying to get into one with our 25′ motorhome, we turned around and left – this was our 1st attempted visit, and it was in a shoulder season.
On top of that, we learned no overnight parking is strictly enforced, so for that occasional need for that type of stop, & this experience- we will patronize elsewhere.
Thank you for the news, Gail. I am focused on reaching my destination when I travel. Whether it is in the Jeep to retrieve a repaired chainsaw, or in the RV for four nights at a campground, I want to accomplish the task without distractions or impediments, quickly, and safely. If I need fuel en-route, then I use familar stations (Jeep), or truckstops (RV) near interstates. Buc-ees is neither. Have a great week and safe travels!
I’m an ex-small business owner. The better Business bureau is an extortion company. They just want businesses to sign up and pay their yearly subscription. And then when you have a consumer that has unrealistic expectations, they want you to negotiate with them. To Protect your rating. This is all part of the financial membership. Extortion.
As you can tell, I have no need or appreciation for the better Business bureau.
Buc-ee’s failing to respond to 88 customer complaints:
Addressed off of ronald reagan blvd says a lot: Think reaganomics, also referred as “trickle-down economics and/or Voodoo Economics!
Being in Johnstown: Johnstown advertises; being in the heart of Weld County, (Yes they are also in Larimer county). You know the county that actively sought to secede from the state of colorado as well as talking of annexing ‘onto’ Wyoming.
And when articles refers to Buc-ee’s as having a ‘cult like’ following along with its ‘traditionalist’ decor…Need one say more?
Great bathrooms and it’s a good spot for my Corvette club to meet up before going on a cruise.
But I don’t need all the merch. and it’s not Top Tier gas so no thanks.
I’ve seen the last of Buc-ee’s, at least for purchases. They are more expensive than other local, smaller sources for anything they sell. The crowds are hard to comprehend. Last one I visited during spring break was a zoo. One would think their gas prices would align with local sources or maybe even represent a bargain. Think again. The only pluses are the possibility of parking space for an RV and their bathrooms.
I made them a destination for my first trip there. I was overwhelmed stepping in. If you want it, they have it. It was fun n worth the trip. No problem in the parking lot, it was huge! I pull a 13′ camper. Got gas easily, parked away from the pumps, n spent a couple hours browsing the store. Took goodies out with me to snack on later. Now, I still stop whenever I pass one.