Things You Should Know Before You Visit Buc-Ee's

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Buc-ee's path to being an American institution began in 1982 when founder Arch Aplin III opened the convenience store chain's first location in Texas (via Texas Monthly). This would become one of many Buc-ee's in the Lone Star State and throughout the rest of the country. As of 2022, there are more than 40 Buc-ee's locations in America, and roughly 10 new stores are slated to open before 2026 (via Houston Business Journal).

To fuel this expansion, Buc-ee's had to do something right. Its passionate fan base didn't simply appear out of thin air. Instead, the chain built a reputation for providing an exceptional rest-stop experience. At Buc-ee's, drivers expect clean restrooms, a place to refuel, a car wash, extensive food options, and additional shopping opportunities for last-minute items. It's everything you could ask for in a travel center and more, which explains its success.

As such, Buc-ee's isn't just a pit stop on the road, but an exciting destination for tourists. If you're planning your first trip to Buc-ee's and don't know what to expect, or perhaps you've been several times but haven't understood the hype, we've got you covered. Read on to learn about how to do it right by avoiding common mistakes people make at Buc-ee's.

Visiting a Buc-ee's without getting a glimpse of the bathrooms would be a serious mistake. The gas station chain has actually won awards for its cleanliness. In 2012, Cintas — a company that gives out an annual award for the best restrooms in America — granted Buc-ee's with the prestigious honor. Specifically, the award was given to the Buc-ee's location in New Braunfels, Texas. Cintas commented, "It's the 83 stalls in this Buc-ee's restroom that really impress! [...] this one-of-a-kind rest stop is fit for a King."

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, boasting 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: "They have almost as many bathroom stalls and sinks, as they do gas pumps," a Yelper wrote about the Royse City location. "Legit the cleanest restrooms ever," said another patron of the Temple location. "The bathroom sinks had warm water. Thoughtful details, you know?" noted another reviewer about the Melissa location. 

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, avoiding this mistake is easy enough, 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.

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. If the ingredient breakdown isn't intuitive from the name, these crunchy puffed balls are made with corn and a brown sugar coating (via Texas Snax). 

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. "Such a great product .... taste is fantastic .... wish I had a "Buc-ee's" close to me!" an Amazon consumer wrote upon receiving the fun snack.

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 "super moist and the perfect balance of spices." Another customer commented, "It has a great taste that's just the right amount of garlic and sweetness. It's just the right amount of jerky per bite."

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. People will appreciate being reminded of the splendor that is Buc-ee's. Not to mention, everyone appreciates receiving a present if you've been away. 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.

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 think this street — which houses the local Buc-ee's — would be more noticeable if named after Buc-ee's beloved mascot, per the Springfield News-Leader. It just goes to show how famous the Buc-ee's mascot has become.