Buc-ee’s, the Texas-based mega travel center chain founded in 1982 by Arch “Beaver” Aplin III, announced in early 2026 its largest geographic expansion in the company’s history. The 44-year-old chain — currently operating approximately 70 locations primarily across Texas and the Southeast — will open its first-ever stores in seven new U.S. states between summer 2026 and late 2027. The expansion takes Buc-ee’s into territory the brand has never before occupied: the Southwest (Arizona), the Mid-South (Arkansas, Louisiana), the Great Plains (Kansas), the Mid-Atlantic (North Carolina), the Midwest (Ohio, Wisconsin), and possibly Nebraska. Several existing-state locations are also opening across Texas, Tennessee, Florida, and Georgia during the same period. The new locations are typically 73,000 to 75,000 square feet with 100 to 120 fuel pumps each, the chain’s standard footprint for the past decade. Here is every confirmed Buc-ee’s expansion location with the verified opening date or window for each.
The Buc-ee’s expansion has been confirmed through a combination of Buc-ee’s corporate announcements, local government zoning approvals, and reporting from regional news outlets. The chain’s expansion strategy has historically been conservative — Buc-ee’s opens fewer than 10 new locations annually and operates exclusively on a corporate-owned model rather than franchising. The 2026-2027 expansion represents an acceleration relative to historical pace, driven by sustained customer demand and post-pandemic road-trip travel patterns. The seven new-state locations below are the headline news. Additional same-state expansions throughout Texas, Tennessee, Florida, and Georgia add roughly five more locations to the same 18-month window.
Arizona — Goodyear, Opening June 2026
Arizona’s first Buc-ee’s is scheduled to open in Goodyear, Arizona — a Phoenix-area suburb in Maricopa County — in June 2026. The location is near the intersection of Interstate 10 and Bullard Avenue and will span approximately 74,000 square feet with 120 fuel pumps. The store will be Buc-ee’s first presence in the Mountain Time Zone and in the Southwest. The opening is expected to draw substantial regional curiosity, with similar new-state Buc-ee’s openings in Tennessee, Alabama, and Virginia having drawn crowds exceeding 5,000 visitors on opening day. The Goodyear location is positioned to serve both the Phoenix metropolitan area and Interstate 10 long-distance travelers between Los Angeles and Texas.
Arkansas — Benton, Opening September 2026
Arkansas’s first Buc-ee’s will open in Benton, Arkansas — a Little Rock-area suburb in Saline County — in September 2026. The location is at the northwest corner of Interstate 30 and State Highway 299, spanning a similar 74,000 square feet with 120 fuel pumps. Arkansas is geographically adjacent to existing Buc-ee’s locations in Texas, Louisiana (planned), and Tennessee, making this expansion a logical filling-in of the regional footprint rather than a long-range jump. The Benton location is positioned to serve both Little Rock metropolitan traffic and Interstate 30 traffic between Dallas-Fort Worth and Memphis.
Ohio — Huber Heights, Opened April 6, 2026
Ohio’s first Buc-ee’s opened in Huber Heights, Ohio — a Dayton-area suburb in Montgomery County — on April 6, 2026. The location is along Interstate 70 and represents Buc-ee’s first presence in the Midwest. The store opening drew approximately 7,500 visitors on opening day, the largest opening-day crowd in Buc-ee’s history outside of Texas. The Huber Heights location serves both Dayton-area regional traffic and Interstate 70 long-distance traffic between Indianapolis and Columbus. The success of the Huber Heights opening has reportedly accelerated Buc-ee’s interest in additional Ohio locations, though no second Ohio site has been formally announced.
Louisiana — Ruston, Opening Mid-2027
Louisiana’s first Buc-ee’s is scheduled to open in Ruston, Louisiana — a small city in northern Louisiana — in mid-2027. The location is at the intersection of Interstate 20 and Tarbutton Road, spanning over 70,000 square feet with more than 100 fuel pumps. Ruston is approximately equidistant between Shreveport and Monroe, positioned to serve both metropolitan areas and Interstate 20 traffic between Dallas and Atlanta. The Louisiana opening will be Buc-ee’s first presence in the state despite Louisiana sharing a substantial border with Texas and having extensive regional ties to Texas commerce.
Wisconsin — Oak Creek, Opening Early 2027
Wisconsin’s first Buc-ee’s is scheduled to open in Oak Creek, Wisconsin — a Milwaukee-area suburb — in early 2027. The location is at the southwest corner of Interstate 94 and Elm Road, spanning approximately 73,370 square feet with 120 gas pumps. Wisconsin is the most northerly of the new Buc-ee’s locations and represents the chain’s first cold-weather climate location. The Oak Creek opening is positioned to serve both Milwaukee metropolitan traffic and Interstate 94 traffic between Chicago and Madison. Wisconsin restaurant industry analysts have anticipated the opening will significantly disrupt the regional convenience-store and travel-plaza market.
Kansas — Kansas City, Opening 2027
Kansas’s first Buc-ee’s is scheduled to open in Kansas City, Kansas — distinct from Kansas City, Missouri — sometime in 2027 (target window not yet narrowed). The location is near Interstate 70 and West Village Parkway, spanning approximately 74,000 square feet. Construction broke ground in October 2025. The Kansas City location is positioned to serve both the broader Kansas City metropolitan area (which spans both Kansas and Missouri) and Interstate 70 traffic between Denver and St. Louis. The opening will be Buc-ee’s first presence in the Great Plains region.
North Carolina — Mebane, Opening Late 2027 or Early 2028
North Carolina’s first Buc-ee’s is scheduled to open in Mebane, North Carolina — between Greensboro and Durham — in late 2027 or early 2028. The opening date has been moved from earlier 2026 projections. Mebane is along Interstate 40/85 and is positioned to serve both the Research Triangle (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) metropolitan traffic and Interstate 40 long-distance traffic across North Carolina. North Carolina’s Buc-ee’s opening will be the chain’s most-anticipated 2027-2028 opening based on online interest, with substantial pre-opening discussion on regional travel forums and social media.
Nebraska — Location Pending, No Confirmed Date
Buc-ee’s announced in January 2026 plans for its first Nebraska location near the intersection of Interstate 80 and Highway 31, in the western Omaha metropolitan area. The exact location and opening date have not been publicly confirmed. If completed, Nebraska would be the eighth new state in the current expansion wave, bringing the chain into the Great Plains and providing Interstate 80 coverage between Omaha and Denver. The Nebraska location remains in earlier planning stages than the other six confirmed expansions.
Additional Same-State Expansions
Beyond the seven (or eight) new-state expansions, several additional Buc-ee’s locations are opening or expanding in states where the chain already operates. San Marcos, Texas opens in May 2026 along Interstate 35 — Texas’s 37th Buc-ee’s location. Boerne, Texas opens in 2026 along Interstate 10. Murfreesboro, Tennessee opens in 2026. Ocala, Florida opens in 2026. Monroe County, Georgia opens in early 2026. Lafayette, Louisiana is planned. St. Lucie and Tallahassee, Florida are planned. Gallaway, Tennessee is planned. Fayette County, Arkansas is planned (separate from Benton). Oak Grove, Kentucky is planned but unconfirmed. The cumulative effect is that Buc-ee’s will add approximately 13 to 15 new locations across the 18-month window from summer 2026 through late 2027, growing the total store count from approximately 70 to approximately 85.
What Travelers Should Know
The practical implication for American road-trippers is substantial. Buc-ee’s locations have become destination stops in their own right — the chain’s clean restrooms, BBQ brisket sandwiches, fudge offerings, and walls of branded merchandise have produced a cultural following that extends well beyond simple convenience-store loyalty. The expansion brings Buc-ee’s into geographic regions that previously had no comparable mega-travel-center option. American travelers planning summer 2026 and 2027 road trips through the new Buc-ee’s territories should expect substantial crowds, particularly on opening weekends, but also expect the chain’s signature large-scale parking lots and fuel pump capacity to handle the volume. The Goodyear, Arizona opening in June 2026 will be the first new-state opening to test the chain’s Southwest market penetration. The Oak Creek, Wisconsin opening in early 2027 will be the chain’s first cold-weather location and may reveal whether the Buc-ee’s experience translates effectively to the upper Midwest. The expansion is the most significant single development in American travel-center infrastructure in 2026.
