Squirrels, beaver nuggets, and 18-wheelers… oh my! There’s a cult following behind Buc-ee’s
and if you’re wanting to fit right in you better come here the right way.
Buc-ee's locations are humongous with some locations having even hundreds of
gas pumps. With so many nooks and crannies to fill up gas at such a busy gas station,
proper gas station etiquette is appreciated.
Some errors might hurt your shopping experience while others will affect people around you,
possibly inconveniencing them in the process. In some cases,
your thoughtlessness can come back to haunt you. Fellow Buc-ee's patrons might get angry
and retaliate — or at least call you names. At this gas station… there’s rules to follow.
“Look, you can stay here in the big leagues and play by the rules or you can go back
to the farm club in Aurora. It’s your choice.”
For example – leaving your parked car in the fueling area after you're done filling
up? Yeah, that’s a Buc-ee’s no-no. As one Reddit user lamented in a post:
To their credit, these individuals probably think that moving their vehicle isn't necessary,
since Buc-ee's locations have so many pumps. But even with all of the fuel pumps available,
parked cars can get in the way of people actually trying to gas up.
To avoid angering your fellow Buc-ee's shoppers,
we recommend moving your car to the parking lot once you're done refueling.
Visiting a Buc-ee's without getting a glimpse of the bathrooms would be a serious thing to
miss out on. The gas station chain has actually won awards for its cleanliness.
In 2012, Cintas granted Buc-ee's with the prestigious honor. Specifically,
the award was given to the Buc-ee's location in
New Braunfels, Texas. Cintas backed up their royal throne claims with:
But it's not just the New Braunfels Buc-ee's that has exceptional restrooms. Those at
every Buc-ee's are known for being great. They each boast a large number of toilets,
private stalls, and a spacious design.
On top of those winning features, Buc-ee's bathrooms are always kept sparkling clean — which
is not usually the case with rest stops that host travelers continuously throughout the day.
Just listen to what Buc-ee's customers had to say
about it. A Yelper who visited the Royse City location, said:
Talk about royal thrones for everyone! No need to
use your eccentric looking car porta potty anymore.
“Introducing the undercover office potty. The only toilet that looks
like a lamp! So you can go whenever you want, and no one has to know.”
And hey, even if it looks like a lamp, we promise you,
the Buc-ee’s restrooms are far and wide more pristine than that.
No matter what time of day you stop at Buc-ee's there will be food available,
so we recommend you arrive hungry. Locations are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,
and you'll find hot freshly prepared items for sale during that entire time.
Breakfast is served between 4 a.m. and 11 a.m., with lunch and dinner options
starting thereafter. If it isn’t obvious yet,
Buc-ee's is not your typical gas station and its selection is far from limited.
Breakfast items include pastries, breakfast tacos, biscuit sandwiches, and more. For lunch,
try the beloved sausage and cheese kolache. If you end up at Buc-ee's around dinner time,
you could fill up on some classic Texas barbecue. You'll find brisket, pulled pork,
sausage, and chopped beef options to satisfy meat cravings. One pleased
customer wrote on TripAdvisor about their experience, saying:
Not to mention, there are countless sweet and salty snacks to curb your
hunger. If you're passing by Buc-ee's, don't even
think about making an additional stop for food elsewhere. No, really, please don’t.
“I got dinner from the gas station.”
“I’m tired of eating out of gas stations. I have terrible diarrhea!”
Especially for Buc-ee's first-timers, taking a picture with a statue of the
mascot is not to be missed. Forgetting to do so would be an absolute slip-up,
and you'll surely regret it when you see photos of people posing with it.
Thankfully, this is easy to remember, as many Buc-ee's locations have a statue of the
cartoon beaver. The statues were designed by artist Clint Howard, who first created
one of these artworks for the Bastrop, Texas, location of the chain, according to CBS Austin.
After the first mascot statue was a hit, Howard created several more metal beavers
for the company. Today, there are at least 29 in existence. With roughly 45
operating Buc-ee's as of late 2022, you're likely to come across one of these statues
in your travels. When you do, be sure to snap a picture with the adorable beaver.
Although not everyone is in danger of forgetting this,
those that do will end up extremely annoyed. If you show up to Buc-ee's in a semi-trailer truck,
you will not be allowed in. You will not be able to refuel and you'll have
no chance to use the restroom — that's because you won't have anywhere to park.
Per El Paso Car Transport, the chain displays a sign prohibiting 18-wheelers
from entering the parking lot. Per a Reddit post,
bobtails — semi-trailer trucks without trailers attached — are also not allowed on the premises.
The reasons for the ban include a concern for parking lot space and
cleanliness — both of which Buc-ee's claims would be reduced if truckers
were allowed into the establishments. Many truck drivers are not so happy about this
restriction. On Reddit, one trucker voiced their discontent about Buc-ee's ban, saying:
Other truckers were less interested in ending the ban, adding:
However, some self-proclaimed truck drivers admit that they do indeed have a reputation for being
messy and understood the reason for the ban, even if it meant not being able to visit Buc-ee's.
With its reputation as a road trip stop, it makes sense that Buc-ee's offers plenty of
snacks. One of the most popular treats in stock is the Beaver Nuggets. Forgetting to
purchase a bag of these would be a major oversight. They’re addicting,
and you’ll fall in love with them as much as this kid likes chicken nuggets…
“Chicken nuggets is like my family. I’m gonna go see if she’s got chicken nuggets.”
If the ingredient breakdown isn't intuitive from the name, these crunchy puffed balls are
made with corn and a brown sugar coating. As the Houston Chronicle explains, Beaver Nuggets
are great because they are crunchy, sweet, salty, and easy to grab from the cup holder.
They also come in a large variety of flavors. Per Texas Snax,
you can choose from options like sea salted caramel, milk chocolate,
and cinnamon. Beaver Nug-ees are simply a savory version of Beaver Nuggets and
come in various flavors including white cheddar habanero and bold 'n sorta spicy.
Due to the ease of snacking on Beaver Nuggets during long drives,
we recommend picking up a few bags when you stop at Buc-ees. But if you can't make it to the store,
Beaver Nuggets are also sold online. One Amazon customer wrote excitedly:
There's no need to waste your time or energy washing your car before stopping at Buc-ee's.
Along with all the other amenities, a few locations actually offer a car wash service.
Per the company's website, the locations with car wash centers
are all in Texas. So – if you happen to stop at a Buc-ee's in Cypress, Denton,
Katy, Lake Jackson, or Richmond, you'll be able to clean your car.
Now, if you end up at the Katy, Texas, location? Buckle up because you’re in for a long ride,
a record-breaking car wash ride. Per Buc-ee's, this location is home to the longest car wash
in the world. At 255 feet long, this isn't your typical car wash experience.
“Wow! Look at that. I’m the first human being to go through a carwash! Number one! Number one!”
As amazing of a carwash as it is, humans can’t be washed in it. However,
its still worth the drive. The Katy location may not hold the record-breaking title for
long. As ABC13 reported in September 2022, the Buc-ee's location in Baytown, Texas,
is in the process of having a car wash tunnel installed. Some sources think it will be longer
than the one in Katy, potentially earning the position as the new world record holder.
Buc-ee's beef jerky is one of the most beloved products sold at the convenience store chain. If
you eat meat, it would be a crime to pass it up. This is not your typical gas station jerky either.
Instead of grabbing a package of mass-produced jerky meat at the checkout, you'll find a full
counter that functions much like a deli counter. You can order the exact quantity of jerky you
wish, and the staff will carefully wrap it up so that it stays fresh during your drive.
Per The Daytona Beach News-Journal,
there are at least 20 different styles of beef jerky at a given Buc-ee's location,
including rarer flavors like ghost pepper, cherry maple, bohemian garlic, and peppered turkey.
In addition to the beef jerky counter, you'll find a wall of packaged Buc-ee's
beef jerky. While less fresh than the stuff at the counter, this beef jerky is
a proprietary product with a reputation for deliciousness. On Influenster, one Buc-ee's
customer wrote that the chain's bohemian garlic beef jerky is just the perfect balance, saying:
You're going to be in the mood for something sweet after filling up on Buc-ee's Nug-ees,
barbecue, and beef jerky. That's why you can't skip out on dessert.
Fudge is one of the most popular options, and you can pick up a large supply at the fudge counter.
At each store, you'll find many different flavors, including birthday cake, blueberry cheesecake,
M&M, and red velvet. People love getting the fudge sampler, which includes an assortment of flavors.
Fudge isn't the only noteworthy dessert at Buc-ee's. Sweet treats like banana pudding,
sweet kolaches, cinnamon rolls, gummy candies, fruit cups,
and taffy are all up for grabs. One Buc-ee’s customer raved about their pastries, saying:
If you can't pick just one, follow the lead of the duo behind the Social Couplepreneur
YouTube account and try a variety. The video shows them tasting sweet treats
like pecan and cream cheese kolaches, a red velvet cake ball, and a key lime pie cup.
Even if you don't want to eat dessert on-site, we recommend grabbing some to
satisfy sweet cravings while you're on the road. You never know when that sweet tooth will hit!
“Chocolate? Did you say… chocolate? Chocolate!! Chocolate!!!”
With Buc-ee's being such a beloved establishment in the U.S.,
it's not a bad idea to pick up some gifts when you visit the chain. While there are
some fun ideas for adults, there are even more options for children.
With such a cute and cuddly mascot, it's not a bad idea to purchase a Buc-ee's plushie or
beaver-embellished item. If there's no one else to shop for, you can buy something for yourself.
Per Texas Snax, there are multiple categories of gifts to choose from at Buc-ee's. For example,
you could buy clothing, which comes in the form of swimwear, athletic gear,
tie-dye, Texan-themed outfits, and more.
The gas station chain also sells home goods like mugs, coolers, tumblers, pillows, blankets,
and more. You can even pick up camping gear decorated with Buc-ee's famous logo. The
merchandise is just one more way for Buc-ee's fans to express their love for the company.
If you've only ever read something in print, you may not know how to pronounce it. This is
the issue that seems to have plagued one TikTok user who stopped at a Buc-ee's with their family.
In the video, the owner of the TikTok account @crazylifeofash repeatedly mispronounces the
name Buc-ee's while filming their first visit to the convenience store chain.
“All right, there it is. Buc-ee’s. With a… gopher?”
Not only did the video go viral — with over 5 million views and 400,000 likes on
TikTok — but it inspired others to purposely mispronounce the name in their own videos.
Since the clip was posted in November 2021,
many others just like it have cropped up on the social media platform.
Many viewers failed to notice that the person who started this trend
was joking all along. Shortly after posting the viral video,
the user posted another TikTok saying Buc-ee's correctly, admitting:
"Yes, Texas, I know it's called Buc-ee's, I was kidding."
Joking or not, do every Buc-ee’s fan a favor and pronounce Buc-ee's right while shopping.
Understanding the identity of Buc-ee's mascot is harder than it looks. The logo
usually depicts only the animal's face, leaving you to imagine the
rest. When you see stuffed versions, the coloring looks very similar to a squirrel.
Even when customers take pictures with the Buc-ee's statue,
it's hard to see the beaver's tail. But make no mistake — the Buc-ee's mascot is a beaver.
The mascot and name come from three different origins. According to Austonia,
founder Arch Aplin III was nicknamed "beaver" as a kid. He also had a pet dog named "Buck."
To top it all off, Aplin had an affinity for the Ipana toothpaste mascot, which was also a beaver
named "Bucky." All of those elements combined to create the Buc-ee's beaver mascot we know today.
The image of this animal has become so popular that towns are trying to
name streets after it. In early October 2022,
a petition was launched to name a street in Springfield, Missouri, "North Beaver Road."
Petitioners, according to the Springfield News-Leader,
think this street — which houses the local Buc-ee's — would be more noticeable if named
after Buc-ee's beloved mascot. It just goes to show how famous the Buc-ee's mascot has become.