When it comes to roadside stops, Buc-ee’s has turned size into a sport.
The Texas-born gas station empire has built a reputation for doing everything on a jaw-dropping scale, from football-field-sized parking lots to bathrooms that feel more like hotel lobbies.
So when Florida briefly thought it had snagged the title for the biggest Buc-ee’s in the country, the excitement was understandable—if short-lived.
Florida’s Big Moment That Didn’t Last
The buzz started with plans for a massive new Buc-ee’s in Fort Pierce, Florida.
Early reports claimed the location would become the largest in the chain’s history, instantly stealing bragging rights from Texas.
On paper, it looked unstoppable: 76,000 square feet of retail space, around 120 gas pumps, 18 EV charging stations, and more than 700 parking spaces.
For comparison, that’s roughly half the size of a Walmart Supercenter.
For a brief moment, it appeared Florida had finally out-sized Texas.
A Planning Mix-Up Brings Texas Back on Top
That celebration didn’t last long.
Buc-ee’s officials later clarified that the Fort Pierce numbers were misunderstood due to differences in how planning departments calculate building sizes.
In simple terms, the math didn’t quite add up the way people thought it did.
Stan Beard of Buc-ee’s set the record straight, confirming that the Luling, Texas location is still—and will remain—the largest Buc-ee’s Travel Center in the company’s lineup.
According to him, the confusion came down to varying reporting standards across different states.
The Luling, Texas Giant Still Reigns
The current heavyweight champion sits in Luling, Texas.
Opened in 2024, the location spans about 75,000 square feet and features 120 fuel pumps, keeping it firmly at the top of the Buc-ee’s size leaderboard.
That store had already claimed the crown from an earlier record-holder in Sevierville, Tennessee, which opened in 2023.
When the Tennessee location launched, the hype was so intense that shoppers reportedly camped out overnight just to be part of the opening day experience.
Inside a Buc-ee’s: Brisket, Jerky, and Controlled Chaos
Step inside one of these mega-stations and it’s easy to see why people make special trips just to visit.
There’s usually a barbecue brisket counter—often labeled a “Texas round-up station”—alongside rows and rows of beef jerky flavors.
Fan favorites include the Sausage on a Stick, Dr Pepper Icees, and the wildly popular Beaver Nuggets, a sweet caramel corn snack that has become a Buc-ee’s signature.
On the other side of the store, the merchandise section feels more like a souvenir shop than a gas station.
Shoppers can find t-shirts, mugs, socks, stickers, swimsuits, and just about anything else stamped with the smiling Buc-ee’s beaver logo.
More Than a Gas Stop, It’s a Social Media Star
Buc-ee’s has built a cult following, especially among Gen Z, thanks to its over-the-top scale and snack lineup that plays perfectly on social media.
Videos of packed aisles, endless jerky walls, and sparkling-clean bathrooms rack up millions of views, turning what used to be a boring pit stop into a destination.
The brand’s private ownership and refusal to share financial details only add to the mystique, reinforcing its image as a uniquely American success story.
Expansion Plans Are Full Speed Ahead
Despite the Florida size mix-up, Buc-ee’s growth plans are anything but slowing down.
By the end of 2026, four new locations are set to open, with another 15 planned in the years after that.
Florida, Tennessee, and Arkansas are expected to see the most activity as the chain pushes deeper into the Southwest and Midwest.
Each new outpost promises the same formula: massive forecourts, packed food counters, clean bathrooms, and enough gas pumps to handle an entire highway’s worth of traffic.
So, What’s Next for Buc-ee’s?
Whether or not Florida ever truly outdoes Texas on size, one thing is clear—Buc-ee’s isn’t done going big.
As the chain spreads across the country, the real question may no longer be which location is the largest, but just how much bigger the next one can possibly get.
Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn