# Buc-ee's - world's largest service plaza **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 29, 2023, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buc-ees-worlds-largest-service-plaza/986309 "2023-06-29T19:36:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2024, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buc-ees-worlds-largest-service-plaza/986309/121 "2024-04-17T16:07:24Z")
I think the one in New Braunfels is technically further west? And about the same distance from somebody 1000 miles away. But I do know the big billboards usually reference Luling. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2024, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buc-ees-worlds-largest-service-plaza/986309/122 "2024-04-18T03:19:34Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > I think the one in New Braunfels is technically further west? Looking on a map, you’re right. The New Braunfels Buc-ee’s (which I’ve also been to) is about thirty miles west of Luling. But I’m still surprised that either of them is the westernmost one in Texas. I had just assumed that Buc-ee’s ran along Route 10 all the way out to El Paso. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2024, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buc-ees-worlds-largest-service-plaza/986309/123 "2024-04-18T04:20:28Z")
Yeah, it’s odd. Nothing west of I-35 at all except a new one north of Denver of all places. Not even El Paso or Amarillo or anywhere like that. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2024, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buc-ees-worlds-largest-service-plaza/986309/124 "2024-04-18T05:37:22Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I had just assumed that Buc-ee’s ran along Route 10 all the way out to El Paso. I’ve been on I-10 as far east as San Antonio a couple of times and never _heard_ of Buc-ee’s until on a road trip to DC last year I saw billboards in Kentucky and Tennessee. Didn’t stop at any though. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buc-ees-worlds-largest-service-plaza/986309/125 "2024-04-21T10:47:11Z")
I have driven all over the US, and I have never seen one. ---
**Author:** ![Ponderoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponderoid/32/19221_2.png) [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buc-ees-worlds-largest-service-plaza/986309/126 "2024-04-21T16:23:29Z")
I mostly stopped driving long distances in the early oughts. Are they newer than that? I’d never heard of them either until I read about how [they sued another travel plaza chain for daring to have an animal mascot too… and won.](https://www.loweringthebar.net/category/legal-system/jury-system) [![](https://www.loweringthebar.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/alligator-beaver.jpg) ](https://www.loweringthebar.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/alligator-beaver.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buc-ees-worlds-largest-service-plaza/986309/127 "2024-04-21T19:24:20Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > > [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > > > kolaches > > Days like these I feel I’ve slipped into a parallel universe. I’ve never heard of these…things…before. And I’m of Czech heritage! I’m of (half) Hungarian ancestry, and I’ve known of kolaches since I was a little kid. But they’re different than the Czech kind. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buc-ees-worlds-largest-service-plaza/986309/128 "2024-04-21T20:47:12Z")
Never herd of ‘em. Iowa 80 truck stop I’ve been there. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buc-ees-worlds-largest-service-plaza/986309/129 "2024-04-21T21:37:36Z")
> [@chela](#): > > Iowa 80 truck stop I’ve been there. I love Iowa 80. They have every truck accessory known to man. And the truck museum is way cool. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2025, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buc-ees-worlds-largest-service-plaza/986309/130 "2025-06-09T20:36:41Z")
Bumped. Maybe one is coming your way…?: > **[The Buc-ee's empire expands: Where is the beloved convenience store opening...](https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/retail/2025/05/16/bucees-new-opening-locations/83657455007/)** > > Buc-ee's is set to open a slew of locations, from Arizona to Georgia. See where they are and when they'll open. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2025, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buc-ees-worlds-largest-service-plaza/986309/131 "2025-06-09T22:06:16Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I have no idea where this “nearest” Buc-ees is. Time answers these questions! Amarillo. I stopped there earlier this year. It’s about ~850 miles from Tucson, if you go I10-I17-I40. I love the pickup truck full of stuffed Buc-ees inside. Someone else must be, because I saw a 1/25 model made of it. I don’t know how, but the builder must have scratchbuilt them all! ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2025, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buc-ees-worlds-largest-service-plaza/986309/132 "2025-06-11T01:07:36Z")
I like QuikTrips for same reasons ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2025, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buc-ees-worlds-largest-service-plaza/986309/133 "2025-06-11T02:34:15Z")
I’ll be dead before the one in Arkansas opens. And its already making the local news regularly. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2025, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buc-ees-worlds-largest-service-plaza/986309/134 "2025-06-11T09:09:40Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Apr 2024: There are plans to build one in Ohio, 19 miles south of my house ([link](https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/buc-ees-continues-due-diligence-on-huber-heights-store-site-timeline-unclear/Y37ONOKO2VBFPARXMRXMOQ7VFE/)). And… [they’re still working on it](https://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/2025/05/08/ohios-first-ever-buc-ees-changes-targeted-opening-date/83510468007/). Estimated opening date is a year from now. I drive by the construction site twice a day. The enormity and scale of the effort is nothing short of incredible. Tons and tons of earth have been moved (creating a lake), and huge steel beams are currently being installed. There must be a hundred people working on it each day. How much brisket will they have to sell to pay for it all? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2025, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buc-ees-worlds-largest-service-plaza/986309/135 "2025-06-11T14:17:55Z")
if small ones were more profitable, they’d build small ones. Bigger is self-evidently cheaper. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2025, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buc-ees-worlds-largest-service-plaza/986309/136 "2025-06-11T14:23:32Z")
I was in Brazoria County, Texas (south of Houston) last year for work and decided to drive south to visit the Gulf Coast briefly. But when I saw a Buc-ee’s store just off the highway I backtracked just to visit it, though I didn’t visit the bathrooms, for which they’re famous. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2025, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buc-ees-worlds-largest-service-plaza/986309/137 "2025-06-11T14:35:19Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Amarillo. I stopped there earlier this year. It’s about ~850 miles from Tucson, if you go I10-I17-I40. You’ll be getting one a bit closer by next year: [Buc-ee’s Breaks Ground in Arizona](https://www.cspdailynews.com/company-news/buc-ees-breaks-ground-arizona) > [@](#): > > Buc-ee’s has broken ground on its first Arizona location. The travel center is expected to open in Goodyear in summer 2026, the city said. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2025, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buc-ees-worlds-largest-service-plaza/986309/138 "2025-06-11T14:37:05Z")
Yeah, I drove in to a new Buc-ee’s lot a week or two after it opened. The crowd was dense and the parking was sparse. I left without getting gas or going in. Went by a couple months later and the experience was much better. It was still busy, but many pumps were available and the parking was plentiful. Just had to let the new wear off. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2025, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buc-ees-worlds-largest-service-plaza/986309/139 "2025-06-11T14:43:29Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Bigger is self-evidently cheaper. Bigger also makes it a “destination” that people are willing to take a different route just to see the giant service plaza and what it’s all about (then buy some stuff to justify the trip). There’s probably diminishing returns on that though. The more giant service plazas there are, the less interesting they become. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2025, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buc-ees-worlds-largest-service-plaza/986309/140 "2025-06-11T14:48:30Z")
Agree with “destinations” and with diminishing returns. I can recall living in metro Phoenix when there was an explosion of hype that a Bass Pro Shop was going to open. So huge! So exciting! Tens of thousands thronged to see it in the first couple of days. The hype wave lasted a monthish with the lines to enter the parking lot overflowing into the streets nearby. So stupid IMO. But nowadays when a Bass Pro (or Cabelas) opens, there’s mostly yawning. 'Murricans just lurves them a giant retail spectacle. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buc-ees-worlds-largest-service-plaza/986309.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buc-ees-worlds-largest-service-plaza/986309.md?page=8)