If you've ventured across Texas, your road trip has likely led you to a massive travel center popularly identified by a cute mascot that often boasts about spotless, award-winning restrooms.
Since El Paso has yet to have its own Buc-ee's (there are currently 36 in Texas), you might want to experience the hype behind these immense convenience stores for yourself. If you've already been, perhaps you're craving those caramel-coated "Beaver Nuggets."
Either way, you'll have to drive a couple of hours to encounter the nearest Buc-ee's, but there's some good news: The company recently opened a new store that will make your commute from El Paso a little closer.
What's the nearest Buc-ee's to El Paso?
In early 2025, Amarillo welcomed a new Buc-ee's, located at 9900 East Interstate 40, making it the nearest to the Sun City.
Before, El Pasoans had to drive about 560 miles to New Braunfels, Texas — a seven-hour and 45-minute drive.
In comparison, the drive from El Paso to Amarillo is a little more than 400 miles, which translates to about six hours and 45 minutes, and you'll have to venture through New Mexico to get to the location.
The new Buc-ee's features a whopping 74,000 square feet of retail space and 116 fueling stations, according to a post by the City of Amarillo. It's also the only Buc-ee’s in Texas west of I-35.
Like all Buc-ee's locations, you can visit at any time — the store is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
What Buc-ee's all about?
The Bucc-ee's chain was founded in 1982 by Arch "Beaver" Aplin in Clute, Texas, next to Lake Jackson (South of Houston). The company later established its first travel center in Luling, south of Austin in 2003.
In addition to all the snacks, a large assortment of beef jerky, t-shirts, decor and more, Buc-ee's is known to travelers for its sparkling restrooms, which has earned the store an award.
In 2012, Cintas, a corporate supplier to the service industry, named the Buc-ee's New Braunfels location the winner of a nationwide restroom contest.
That location has 33 urinals and 50 full-door toilet stalls, according to the Washington Post.
The size of the travel centers is also important to note. Previously the location in Sevierville, Tennessee reigned as the largest at 74,707 square feet — that's about 23% larger than a football field. It takes 350 employees to keep that store running.
In 2024, Buc-ee's opened a new Luling location that's more than 75,000 square feet of retail space, making it the world's largest convenience center, according to its website. By comparison, the average size of a Walmart Supercenter is 179,000 square feet.
Where did the name Buc-ee's come from?
Aplin formed the name Buc-ee's by combining his childhood nickname: the name of his Labrador Retriever, Buck and Ipana toothpaste's animated mascot, Bucky the beaver.
Buc-ee's locations
There are 54 Buc-ee's locations across the U.S., including 36 in Texas. To find the full list of locations click here.
USA Today contributed to this story.
Natassia Paloma may be reached at [email protected], @NatassiaPaloma on Twitter, natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma Thompson on Facebook.
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