Gas station pit stops are part of the road trip experience. Sometimes these short detours can turn into a sketchy and unpleasant experience if you pick the wrong random gas station. (Guilty, here).
So, why not make travel stops more pleasurable, safer, and memorable by planning ahead and filling up your tank at Buc-ees? If you’ve never stopped at a Buc-ees, you’re in for a treat!
By happy chance, in December 2023, the first Buc-ees in the Ozarks opened in Springfield, MO. Find out what’s so special about Buc-ees. Read our family’s experience below.
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The Beaver | Food | Shopping | Restrooms
Location | Know Before You Go | FAQ
What is Buc-ees?
Buc-ees is a huge gas station with over 100 gas pumps! Fuel here is usually discounted compared to the competition nearby. And that’s not even the main attraction. At Buc-ees you’ll find:
- Hot, Fresh BBQ Sandwiches
- Pre-packaged Snacks to go
- Homemade Fudge
- Jerky
- Gifts & Shopping
- Souveniers
- Buc-ee himself
- Gas & Diesel Fuel Pumps
- Charging Stations
- Clean Restrooms
- Carwash
Inside the travel center, you’ll find the regular gas-station items like treats, chips, and hot dogs—along with a LOT more aisles of affordable snacks like Beaver Nuggets, fresh fruit, deli sandwiches, a wide assortment of freshly made jerky, and many other road trip snacks.
If you’ve never had Beaver Nuggets, they are kind of like caramel corn and come in a variety of flavors like sea salt caramel, cinnamon, and white cheddar.
Buc-ees is a busy place! It’s certainly not just an oversized gas station. It offers a little bit of everything for everyone in your family.
Meet the Mascot
Buc-ees gets its name from its famous furry mascot, Buc-ee the Beaver.
If you’re lucky, you might get a chance to take a photo with Buc-ee himself. The life-sized mascot has been spotted more than once making sure everything runs smoothly.
In case he’s not there in the fur, you can also grab a photo with a bronze statue of Buc-ee outside the entrance to the store.
And if you forgot to grab a stuffed Buc-cee during your stop, grab a souvenir online here.
Bakery Items
Buc-ees is equipped with a full bakery which produces fresh baked items including fudge, donuts, cookies, sugared nuts, muffins, pastries, cinnamon rolls, and more. You can order directly from the bakery or grab-and-go with pre-packaged freshly baked items at the ready which are conveniently placed around the store.
Hot & Fresh BBQ
If you’re hungry, Buc-ees won’t disappoint. They have freshly sliced brisket, turkey, pulled-pork, burritos, tacos, and sausages made-to-order. You can also grab-and-go these snacks, although there’s no telling how hot and fresh they will be—so if you have the time, we recommend ordering hot items fresh.
Shopping & Souveniers
Buc-ees really is a one-stop-shopping experience. Inside this travel center, you’ll find a huge selection of shopping themes, from real cowskin purses to home decor and roadtrip games to keep the whole family entertained. Plus, you’ll find plenty of Buc-ee themed souvenirs sprinkled throughout the store to remember your experience. It’s a great place to find gifts, too.
Looking for more gift ideas? Read our post about The World’s Largest Gift Store in Missouri. |
Clean Restrooms
When I mentioned sketchy gas stations, I was mostly talking about the bathroom situation. If you’re given a key to go around the building and use the restroom—chances are it’s going to be just a step above a porta-porty. Buc-ees runs their restrooms like professionals.
There may be a line, but Buc-ees runs their restroom lines like a well-oiled machine. They’ve got staff trained on making that line move as quickly as possible, directing potty-break traffic so that you never have to make an awkward guess about which stalls are empty or occupied.
Where is Buc-ees?
There are nearly 50 Buc-ees in the US, mostly located in Texas, but with a few locations in Tennessee, one in South Carolina, one in Kentucky, and a couple in Georgia and Florida, with a handful in Alabama. Springfield, Missouri is lucky enough to be home of the first Buc-ees in the state! See the full list of locations.
Find the new Springfield, MO Buc-ees here: 👇
Know Before You Go to Buc-ees
Don’t expect the usual travel stop experience when going to Buc-ees. Here are the do’s and don’ts to know before you go to Buc-ees.
- Don’t be scared off by the volume of cars at the pumps. It may seem like all the pumps are taken, but it doesn’t take long for one to open up if you keep driving around.
- Do Stock Up on Snacks. Buc-ees not only has a huge selection of food choices, but they also have lots of affordable snack options for your roadtrip.
- Do Order Hot Food Fresh. Don’t grab the ready-to-eat hot sausages or sandwiches unless you have to. It’s worth the wait, unless you don’t mind luke-warm food.
- Don’t Expect Long Lines. Although it’s busy inside, somehow the lines to checkout are short & quick. This place is designed to handle the large volume of traffic.
- Do Prepare to Dedicate an Hour if Perusing. For the full Buc-ees experience, you may want to dedicate up to an hour for exploring Buc-ees.
- Do Keep your Kids Close. Buc-ees is a busy and sometimes hectic place. Keep your kids close by holding their hands and always keeping them within arm’s length.
- Don’t Bring Your RV. Parking at Buc-ees is designed more for cars and you may struggle to maneuver around the lot or find a spot big enough to accommodate.
- Do Park Before you go Inside. As a courtesy to other visitors, please move your car from the gas pump to a parking spot before you go into the store.
- Don’t Come Here to Rest. Buc-ees isn’t a rest area. People come for the experience. You won’t get much rest in the lot with all the traffic. Plus, long-term parking isn’t allowed.
- Do Bring Your Camera. You’ll want to capture those memories, especially if you spot Buc-ee during your visit!
Is Buc-ees Worth Stopping at?
In our family’s experience—Yes! Buc-ees is worth stopping at if you get the opportunity.
Just be prepared for crowds (unless you’re able to make a stop early in the morning or overnight).
My personal favorite reason to stop is for the delicious fudge!
If you’re interested in visiting, check out the FAQ below and Know Before you Go sections.
FAQ
What are Buc-ees store hours?
Buc-ees in open 24/7, even on holidays.
Can you park in Buc-ees lots overnight or long-term?
No, you may only park at Buc-ees while you are visiting the store. It’s not a great place to stop to take a nap, because there will be a lot of car doors slamming as families rush inside to check out Buc-ees.
How much time does it take to visit Buc-ees?
Your experience can vary from a few minutes to over an hour. It can be a quick pit stop that takes less than 10 minutes, or you could spend an hour or more if you’re shopping in the retail sections of the store.
Are semi-trucks allowed at Buc-ees?
No, 18-wheelers are not allowed in the Buc-ees lots. To accommodate families, this travel center is dedicated to carloads of families and roadtrippers.
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