Buc-ee’s New Kent VA: Why It’s Delayed to 2031 (2026 Update)
If you’re near Richmond and hoping for a Buc-ee’s, I’ve got mixed news. Yes, one is planned for New Kent County, right off I-64. But no, it’s not opening any time soon, it’s been pushed all the way to December 2031, one of the longest delays in Buc-ee’s history. I’ll give you the honest story: where it’s going, exactly why it’s stuck, and where to get your Beaver Nuggets fix in the meantime.
📍 New Kent Buc-ee’s: Where It Stands
Status tracker for the proposed I-64 Exit 211 store.
Key takeaways
- A Buc-ee’s is planned for New Kent County, Virginia, off I-64 at Exit 211, east of Richmond.
- It’s not open, and it’s been delayed all the way to a December 2031 target.
- The delay is tied to a major VDOT interchange project at Exit 211 that won’t finish until September 2029.
- Until then, Virginia’s only open Buc-ee’s is in Mount Crawford, off I-81 near Harrisonburg.
Is there a Buc-ee’s in New Kent, VA?
No, there is no open Buc-ee’s in New Kent County yet, and there won’t be for years. The store is planned and confirmed, but its timeline has slipped dramatically. So while New Kent is officially getting a Buc-ee’s, the honest answer for now is “yes, but not until the end of the decade.”
Where will the New Kent Buc-ee’s be located?
The New Kent Buc-ee’s is planned off Interstate 64 at Exit 211, in New Kent County, east of Richmond and on the busy route toward Williamsburg and the coast. That corridor carries heavy tourist and commuter traffic between Richmond and the Hampton Roads/beach areas, which is exactly the kind of flow Buc-ee’s targets.
When will the New Kent Buc-ee’s open?
Current reporting points to a December 2031 target, one of the biggest delays the chain has seen. The store was announced in 2023 and originally aimed for 2027, but the timeline has been pushed back significantly. So even in a best case, this is a late-decade opening, not a soon one.
Why is the New Kent Buc-ee’s delayed so long?
The delay comes down to roadwork, not the store itself. County officials have tied the holdup to the Virginia Department of Transportation’s roughly $84 million Exit 211 Interchange Improvement Project, which isn’t scheduled for completion until September 2029. Buc-ee’s confirmed it’s aligning its opening with that road project’s completion, since the interchange needs to handle the enormous traffic a Buc-ee’s generates. In other words, the store can’t safely open until the highway around it is rebuilt, and that’s a multi-year public project outside Buc-ee’s control.
That’s actually a responsible reason for a delay, even if it’s frustrating for fans. Opening a mega-store onto an interchange that can’t handle it would be a traffic disaster.
Where’s the closest Buc-ee’s to Richmond right now?
Until New Kent opens, Virginia has just one open Buc-ee’s: the Mount Crawford store (Rockingham County), off I-81 at Exit 240 near Harrisonburg, which opened June 30, 2025. From Richmond, that’s a notable drive west across the state. A second Virginia store in Stafford County, off I-95, has been approved and would eventually be closer for Northern Virginia, though it’s also years out, see our Buc-ee’s Stafford VA guide.
What to expect when it finally opens
Whenever it does arrive, expect the full Buc-ee’s experience: a 24/7 travel center around 74,000 square feet, with roughly 120 fuel pumps, fresh Texas brisket, kolaches, a jerky wall, a fudge counter, Beaver Nuggets everywhere, and the famously spotless restrooms. Given the years of anticipation, an eventual opening day would draw enormous crowds, treat it as an event, not an errand.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Buc-ee’s in New Kent, VA?
No. The New Kent County Buc-ee’s is planned but not open, and it’s currently targeted for a December 2031 opening.
Where will the New Kent Buc-ee’s be?
Off Interstate 64 at Exit 211 in New Kent County, east of Richmond on the route toward Williamsburg.
Why is the New Kent Buc-ee’s delayed?
It’s tied to VDOT’s roughly $84 million Exit 211 interchange project, which won’t finish until September 2029. Buc-ee’s is aligning its opening with that work.
When will the New Kent Buc-ee’s open?
The current target is December 2031, pushed back from an original 2027 estimate due to the interchange project.
Where is the closest Buc-ee’s to Richmond now?
Virginia’s only open Buc-ee’s is in Mount Crawford, off I-81 near Harrisonburg, a drive west from Richmond.
The bottom line
New Kent is genuinely getting a Buc-ee’s, but patience is required, the December 2031 target is tied to a big highway project that has to finish first. It’s a responsible delay, even if it stings. For now, Mount Crawford is Virginia’s only open store, with Stafford also on the way. See every current location on our Buc-ee’s locations map.