Buc-ee’s New Locations 2026: Every Coming Store, Real Opening Dates
Quick answer: Multiple new Buc-ee’s stores are confirmed to open through 2026’2028 across several states. This guide lists every coming store with real opening dates.
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If you’re tracking Buc-ee’s expansion, this is the master list you’re looking for. The next Buc-ee’s grand opening is Benton, Arkansas on August 17, 2026, Arkansas’s first store ever, right off I-30 southwest of Little Rock. After that, the pipeline gets wild: at least 15 more confirmed stores across 8+ new states between now and 2028, plus one high-profile Virginia location that just got pushed all the way to December 2031 because of a highway project that isn’t even started yet.
I’ve been tracking every Buc-ee’s project through 2026 as they moved through zoning votes, groundbreakings, delays, and quiet reschedules. What follows is the honest picture, with the delays flagged, the too-optimistic dates called out, and the projects that are actually happening separated from the ones that are still in “we’re evaluating” mode. If you want a road-trip-worthy answer to “should I plan around a new Buc-ee’s near me?”, this page tells you when it’s realistic.
Quick reference, what you need to know right now:
- Currently open: 56 Buc-ee’s across 13 states as of July 2026
- Next opening on the calendar: Benton, Arkansas, August 17, 2026
- Also opening in 2026: Murfreesboro, TN (late 2026) and Boerne, TX (2026)
- New states joining the map in 2026-2027: Arkansas (Aug 2026), Wisconsin (April 2027), Louisiana (mid-2027), Kansas (2027), North Carolina (Q4 2027), Indiana (2028): six new states
- Biggest delay in company history: New Kent County, Virginia, pushed from 2027 to December 2031
- Total states Buc-ee’s will be in once every announced project is built: ~20
What’s the Next Buc-ee’s Opening?
Benton, Arkansas: Monday, August 17, 2026.
This is the next grand opening on the Buc-ee’s calendar as of publication. It’s Arkansas’s first-ever Buc-ee’s, located off Exit 114 on Interstate 30, about 30 miles southwest of Little Rock and directly on the Dallas-Little Rock corridor.
Specs:
- Size: ~74,000 sq ft standard travel-center format
- Fuel pumps: 120 fueling positions
- Jobs: More than 200 full-time positions
- Grand opening time: 6 AM (standard Buc-ee’s opening pattern)
Benton fills a real gap on I-30. Before this store opens, the closest Buc-ee’s to Little Rock has been the Terrell, Texas location, 275 miles west. Benton drops that to less than an hour.
After Benton, the next confirmed opening is Murfreesboro, Tennessee in late 2026, most likely November 16, 2026 per WGNS Radio, though Buc-ee’s has only officially confirmed “by end of 2026.”
Every Buc-ee’s Opening in 2026
Six new Buc-ee’s have already opened this year or are confirmed to open before December 31, 2026:
Already Opened in 2026
| Store | State | Opened | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huber Heights | Ohio | April 6, 2026 | First Buc-ee’s in Ohio: $1M+ opening day, company record |
| San Marcos | Texas | May 2026 | Texas’s 37th store, 26 Tesla stalls (largest EV site in network) |
| Goodyear | Arizona | June 22, 2026 | First Buc-ee’s in Arizona (and in the West): 13th state |
Highlight from Huber Heights: Buc-ee’s Ohio debut in April 2026 broke the company’s first-day sales record with over $1 million, reportedly the strongest grand opening in company history. Customers lined up starting at midnight; Governor Mike DeWine attended the ribbon cutting.
Still Coming in 2026
| Store | State | Expected | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benton | Arkansas | Aug 17, 2026 | First Arkansas store, off I-30 Exit 114 |
| Boerne | Texas | 2026 | Hill Country, 54,000 sq ft (smaller format after concessions) |
| Murfreesboro | Tennessee | Late 2026 (Nov 16 target) | Nashville area, ~$500M projected annual revenue |
Boerne is worth watching: Buc-ee’s made multiple concessions on the Boerne, Texas project in late 2025, including cutting back on building size and fueling stations. It’s still moving through city approvals.
Every Buc-ee’s Opening in 2027
This is where the pipeline explodes. At least 11 stores across five new states plus several existing-state expansions.
New-State Openings in 2027
| Store | State | Expected | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Creek | Wisconsin | April 2027 | Wisconsin’s first, at I-94 & Elm Road, 73,370 sq ft, 120 pumps |
| Ruston | Louisiana | Mid-2027 | Louisiana’s first, at I-20 & Tarbutton Road, 70,000+ sq ft, 100+ pumps |
| Kansas City | Kansas | 2027 | Kansas’s first, near I-70 & West Village Parkway near Kansas Speedway, 74,000 sq ft |
| Mebane | North Carolina | Q4 2027 | North Carolina’s first, delayed from a late-2026 target |
Additional-State Openings in 2027
| Store | State | Expected | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe County / Forsyth | Georgia | March 2027 | Georgia’s 4th, groundbreaking April 7, 2026, 74,000 sq ft |
| Gallaway (Fayette County) | Tennessee | May 2027 | Memphis area, delayed from summer 2026 target |
| Fort Pierce / St. Lucie | Florida | 2027 | Florida’s 3rd: was rumored world’s largest, scaled back to match Luling |
| Tallahassee | Florida | 2027 | Florida’s 4th, Panhandle location |
| Hardeeville | South Carolina | 2027-2028 | SC’s 2nd, ~25 min from Savannah, GA |
| Oak Grove | Kentucky | 2027 | Kentucky’s 3rd, delayed from earlier target |
Notable pattern: Wisconsin’s Oak Creek at 73,370 sq ft will be Buc-ee’s northernmost store ever, genuine geographic milestone. Louisiana’s Ruston will finally deliver a Buc-ee’s to the state where the company almost expanded first back in 2016 (Baton Rouge was announced then cancelled).
Every Buc-ee’s Opening in 2028
Fewer confirmed 2028 openings, but they include some of the most anticipated.
| Store | State | Expected | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenwood | Indiana | 2028 | Indiana’s first Buc-ee’s: approved by Greenwood Planning Commission 8-0 on July 13, 2026 |
| West Memphis | Arkansas | June 2028 | Arkansas’s 2nd, projected to be the 3rd-largest Buc-ee’s ever built, delayed 2 years from original target |
| Lafayette | Louisiana | 2028 | Louisiana’s 2nd, follows Ruston |
| Mansfield | Ohio | 2028 | Ohio’s 2nd, on I-71 |
| Stafford County | Virginia | TBD (2028?) | Virginia’s 3rd, I-95 corridor, still under review |
Highlights:
- Greenwood, Indiana just cleared its biggest hurdle on July 13, 2026 with an 8-0 planning commission vote. Next step is Greenwood Common Council approval.
- West Memphis, Arkansas is projected to be built at scale that would make it the third-largest Buc-ee’s ever, behind only Luling, TX and Sevierville, TN.
The Delayed Ones (2029 and Beyond)
Here’s the honest section every “coming soon” guide skips: the projects that are so delayed they’re barely coming at all.
Ocala, Florida: Now 2029 (Was 2025)
The story: Originally announced as a 2025 opening at 80,000 sq ft, planned to be the world’s largest Buc-ee’s. Then delayed to 2028 as Luling reclaimed the title. Then downgraded to 74,000 sq ft. On May 15, 2026, Buc-ee’s officially confirmed the opening date has slipped to 2029 .
Why the delay: A $100M diverging diamond interchange at I-75 and NW 49th Street needs to be built before Buc-ee’s can break ground. Governor DeSantis broke ground on that infrastructure project in February 2025 with a $4M state grant.
New Kent County, Virginia: December 2031 (Was 2027)
The biggest delay in Buc-ee’s company history.
- Originally announced: 2023, targeting 2027 opening
- December 15, 2025: New Kent County Planning Commission meeting reveals the delay tied to a Virginia Department of Transportation Exit 211 Interchange Improvement Project
- December 26, 2025: Buc-ee’s officially confirms December 2031 grand opening date to Virginia Business
Why the extreme delay: The VDOT project is:
- $84 million total cost (with $20M from Governor Glenn Youngkin’s Transportation Partnership Opportunity Fund)
- Currently in design phase
- Won’t start construction until spring 2027
- Not scheduled for completion until September 2029
Buc-ee’s is deliberately aligning its opening with the VDOT project completion. As New Kent County Administrator Rodney Hathaway put it: “Buc-ee’s is planning their opening day to align with VDOT’s completion date”.
The proposed New Kent store will be 74,000+ sq ft with 120 fueling positions and parking for 650+ vehicles. Whether it actually opens in December 2031 (six years from now) is a genuinely open question. One New Kent resident’s honest quote in the WWBT coverage captures the mood: “As long as it’s still on the books. At some point you start to question okay is it going to get cancelled all together not show up. You know, what’s the deal?”.
Port Charlotte, Florida: TBD
Announced but no firm opening date. Southwest Florida, near Fort Myers/Naples area.
Whitestown, Indiana: Post-2028
Still in evaluation. Second Indiana site alongside Greenwood.
The Complete Master Table (State by State)
Here’s every current, coming, or delayed Buc-ee’s project in one scannable view.
New states getting their FIRST Buc-ee’s
| State | Store | Expected Opening | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Goodyear | ✅ Open (June 22, 2026) | Open |
| Ohio | Huber Heights | ✅ Open (April 6, 2026) | Open |
| Arkansas | Benton | August 17, 2026 | Under construction |
| Wisconsin | Oak Creek | April 2027 | Under construction |
| Louisiana | Ruston | Mid-2027 | Under construction |
| Kansas | Kansas City | 2027 | Under construction |
| North Carolina | Mebane | Q4 2027 | Under construction |
| Indiana | Greenwood | 2028 | Approvals in progress |
Existing-state expansions
| State | Store | Expected Opening | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | San Marcos | ✅ Open (May 2026) | 37th Texas store |
| Texas | Boerne | 2026 | Smaller format |
| Tennessee | Murfreesboro | Late 2026 | ~Nov 16 target |
| Tennessee | Gallaway | May 2027 | Memphis area |
| Georgia | Monroe County/Forsyth | March 2027 | 4th Georgia store |
| Florida | Fort Pierce | 2027 | 3rd Florida store |
| Florida | Tallahassee | 2027 | 4th Florida store |
| Kentucky | Oak Grove | 2027 | 3rd Kentucky store |
| South Carolina | Hardeeville | 2027-2028 | Near Savannah, GA |
| Arkansas | West Memphis | June 2028 | Arkansas’s 2nd |
| Louisiana | Lafayette | 2028 | Louisiana’s 2nd |
| Ohio | Mansfield | 2028 | Ohio’s 2nd |
| Indiana | Whitestown | Post-2028 | Indiana’s 2nd |
| Virginia | Stafford County | TBD | Virginia’s 3rd |
| Virginia | New Kent County | December 2031 | Extreme delay |
| Florida | Ocala | 2029 | Delayed twice |
| Florida | Port Charlotte | TBD | Southwest FL |
The Delay Pattern (Why This Keeps Happening)
If you follow Buc-ee’s expansion closely, you notice a real pattern: the announced opening date almost always slips by at least six months. Sometimes it slips by years. Understanding why helps set realistic expectations.
The three-part timeline nobody talks about:
- Approvals phase (typically 12 to 24 months): Rezoning, planning commission votes, city council votes, environmental impact studies, traffic studies. This is where most delays actually happen.
- Infrastructure phase (typically 6 to 24 months): Local road realignment, interchange upgrades, water and sewer capacity, traffic signals, roundabouts. Many communities require these before Buc-ee’s can break ground.
- Construction phase (Buc-ee’s official quote: 18 to 24 months): The actual 74,000 sq ft store and 120 pumps.
Real examples of the pattern:
- Ocala, FL: Announced 2023 for 2025 opening. Delayed because a $100M VDOT interchange had to be built first. Now targeting 2029, six years past original target.
- New Kent, VA: Announced 2023 for 2027 opening. Delayed to December 2031 because a $84M VDOT interchange won’t finish until September 2029.
- West Memphis, AR: Announced 2024, originally targeting 2026 opening. Delayed to June 2028, 2 years past original.
- Boerne, TX: Announced 2023 with concessions in late 2025 including smaller building and fewer pumps.
The takeaway: When you see “targeting late 2026” or “expected 2027” in a news article, assume it will slip 6 to 12 months at minimum. When you see a very specific date confirmed by the company (like Benton, AR on August 17, 2026), that’s reliable. When you see 2029 or later, expect further slippage.
Which New Buc-ee’s Will Be the Biggest?
Currently held title: Luling, Texas at 75,593 sq ft (world’s largest since June 10, 2024).
Coming projects that were rumored to challenge but were scaled back:
- Fort Pierce, FL: Originally 76,245 sq ft per county documents, publicly walked back by Buc-ee’s Jan 20, 2026 statement confirming Luling stays the largest
- Ocala, FL: Originally 80,000 sq ft, downgraded to 74,000 sq ft
- Murfreesboro, TN: Originally 76,245 sq ft, downgraded to ~74,000 sq ft
Coming projects at 74,000+ sq ft (very close to world’s largest):
- West Memphis, AR: Projected to be the 3rd-largest Buc-ee’s ever built
- Kansas City, KS: 74,000 sq ft
- Murfreesboro, TN: 74,000+ sq ft
- Fort Pierce, FL: 74,000+ sq ft (walked back from world’s largest)
- Ocala, FL: 74,000 sq ft
- New Kent County, VA: 74,000+ sq ft (delayed to 2031)
- Mansfield, OH: Expected 74,000+ sq ft
Bottom line: No confirmed coming Buc-ee’s will exceed Luling. The company appears to have decided in early 2026 that 75,593 sq ft is the ceiling for the foreseeable future.
New States: The Visual Timeline
If you’re specifically interested in which new states are joining the Buc-ee’s map (and when), here’s the chronological order:
- March 2019: Alabama (Loxley), first state outside Texas
- November 2020: Georgia (Warner Robins)
- February 2021: Florida (St. Augustine)
- April 2022: Kentucky (Richmond)
- June 2022: Tennessee (Crossville) & South Carolina (Florence)
- December 2023: Missouri (Springfield)
- March 2024: Colorado (Johnstown)
- June 2025: Virginia (Mount Crawford) & Mississippi (Pass Christian)
- April 2026: Ohio (Huber Heights)
- June 22, 2026: Arizona (Goodyear), currently 13 states
- August 17, 2026: Arkansas (Benton), 14 states
- April 2027: Wisconsin (Oak Creek), 15 states
- Mid-2027: Louisiana (Ruston), 16 states
- 2027: Kansas (Kansas City), 17 states
- Q4 2027: North Carolina (Mebane), 18 states
- 2028: Indiana (Greenwood), 19 states
Projected total when everything currently announced is built: Around 20 states.
What’s NOT Coming to Buc-ee’s Anytime Soon
The states you won’t see on this list, and probably won’t see for years:
No announced or planned Buc-ee’s:
- California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington
- New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania
- All New England states (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine)
- Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho
- Utah, New Mexico
Rumored / evaluated but not confirmed:
- Nebraska
- Idaho
- Utah
The pattern: Buc-ee’s has publicly said the goal is roughly 20 states, focused on the South, Midwest, and eastern half of the country. Northeast expansion is unlikely for years because of ethanol-free fuel regulations, land costs, and permitting complexity. California and the Pacific Northwest are similarly unlikely in the near term.
If you live in any of these states and are waiting for a Buc-ee’s, the honest answer is: don’t wait. Plan a road trip to the closest existing state instead.
How Buc-ee’s Expansion Actually Works (Reader Note)
Every new Buc-ee’s follows the same pattern. If you’re tracking a project in your area, here’s the checklist that determines actual timing:
Phase 1: Site Selection (6 to 18 months before public announcement):
- Buc-ee’s quietly negotiates with local city officials
- 15 to 30 acre parcel identified near an interstate interchange
- Land purchase agreements drafted
Phase 2: Public Reporting (usually via local news):
- Local paper or IBJ/Business Journal reports the story
- Buc-ee’s confirms or declines to comment
Phase 3: Approvals (6 to 12 months):
- Rezoning proposal filed with local planning department
- Planning commission hearings (usually 1 to 3 meetings)
- City council vote
- Environmental impact studies
- Traffic studies
Phase 4: Infrastructure (6 to 24 months):
- Interchange upgrades if required
- Roadway realignments (roundabouts, new signals, widened lanes)
- Water and sewer capacity upgrades
- Buc-ee’s usually pays or shares cost with local government
Phase 5: Construction (18 to 24 months):
- Site clearing
- Foundation and framing
- Fuel pump installation, EV charging, interior fit-out
- Signage (often requires a variance because of Buc-ee’s oversized signs)
Phase 6: Grand Opening:
- Announced 3 to 6 months in advance
- Ribbon cutting at noon (governor/mayor typically attend)
- Doors open at 6 AM
Total realistic timeline from “announcement” to “opening”: 3 to 5 years for a typical Buc-ee’s. Longer if infrastructure is involved (see Ocala, New Kent).
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the next Buc-ee’s opening?
Benton, Arkansas on Monday, August 17, 2026. It’s Arkansas’s first Buc-ee’s, located off Exit 114 on Interstate 30 southwest of Little Rock. The store will have 120 fuel pumps, 74,000 sq ft, and more than 200 jobs.
How many new Buc-ee’s are opening in 2026?
Six new stores are opening in 2026: Huber Heights, OH (opened April), San Marcos, TX (opened May), Goodyear, AZ (opened June), Benton, AR (August 17), Boerne, TX (later 2026), and Murfreesboro, TN (late 2026). Three of these are their state’s first-ever Buc-ee’s.
How many new Buc-ee’s are opening in 2027?
At least 10-11 stores across five new states (Wisconsin, Louisiana, Kansas, North Carolina, plus expansions in Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, and South Carolina). Highlights: Wisconsin (Oak Creek, April 2027), Louisiana (Ruston, mid-2027), and North Carolina (Mebane, Q4 2027).
How many new Buc-ee’s are opening in 2028?
At least 4-5 confirmed for 2028, including Greenwood, IN (Indiana’s first), West Memphis, AR (projected 3rd-largest Buc-ee’s ever), Lafayette, LA (Louisiana’s 2nd), and Mansfield, OH (Ohio’s 2nd).
Which state is getting a Buc-ee’s next?
Arkansas: Benton opens August 17, 2026, giving Arkansas its first Buc-ee’s. After that: Wisconsin (April 2027), Louisiana (mid-2027), Kansas (2027), North Carolina (Q4 2027), and Indiana (2028).
What is the most delayed Buc-ee’s project?
New Kent County, Virginia, originally targeting 2027, now officially pushed to December 2031. The delay is tied to a $84 million VDOT interchange project that won’t finish until September 2029.
Is Buc-ee’s coming to California?
No. Buc-ee’s has not announced or evaluated any California locations. Land costs, ethanol-free fuel restrictions, and permitting complexity make California unlikely in the near term.
Is Buc-ee’s coming to New York or the Northeast?
No. No announced or planned Buc-ee’s in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or any New England state.
Which coming Buc-ee’s will be the biggest?
None will exceed Luling, Texas (75,593 sq ft). The company officially confirmed in January 2026 that Luling will remain the world’s largest. Rumors of Fort Pierce, FL (76,245 sq ft) and Ocala, FL (80,000 sq ft) as world’s largest have been walked back. West Memphis, AR is projected to be the third-largest Buc-ee’s ever built.
How long does it take to build a Buc-ee’s?
Buc-ee’s says 18 to 24 months from groundbreaking to opening. Realistically, add another 12 to 24 months for the approvals phase and any infrastructure upgrades. Total realistic timeline from announcement to opening: 3 to 5 years for typical stores.
Where is Buc-ee’s building next after Benton, Arkansas?
Murfreesboro, Tennessee is next after Benton, targeting late 2026, most likely November 16. After that: Boerne, TX (later 2026), then a wave of 10+ 2027 openings.
What’s Buc-ee’s total expansion goal?
Approximately 20 states once every currently announced project is built. This includes the 13 states currently on the map plus Arkansas, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Kansas, North Carolina, and Indiana joining by 2028.
Is Buc-ee’s building in Chicago or the Chicagoland area?
Not directly in Chicago, but Wisconsin’s Oak Creek Buc-ee’s (opening April 2027) is a 30-minute drive south of Milwaukee and about 90 minutes north of Chicago, the closest option for Chicago residents.
Are all Buc-ee’s the same size?
No. Most new Buc-ee’s are 74,000+ sq ft with 100-120 pumps. Boerne, Texas is a smaller 54,000 sq ft format after concessions to the local city. Wisconsin’s Oak Creek is 73,370 sq ft. Ohio’s Mansfield is expected to be 74,000+ sq ft.
Is Buc-ee’s coming to Michigan, Minnesota, or Iowa?
No confirmed plans. Rumored evaluation of Nebraska. Iowa, Michigan, and Minnesota have not been publicly named as target states.
The Bottom Line
The next 2 years are the busiest expansion period in Buc-ee’s history. Six new states get their first store between now and 2028: Arkansas next month, Wisconsin next April, Louisiana in mid-2027, Kansas in 2027, North Carolina in Q4 2027, and Indiana in 2028. If you live in one of those states, the map is genuinely about to change.
My honest suggestion for tracking these projects:
- Set a Google Alert for your state + Buc-ee’s: the local news coverage is faster than any tracker
- Believe the pattern, not the promises. When you see “targeting 2027,” assume 2028. When you see “2029,” assume 2030
- Watch infrastructure projects first. If a VDOT/state DOT project is required (like New Kent VA or Ocala FL), the Buc-ee’s opens when the road is done, not when the store is done
- Governor attendance = credibility. When Governor DeWine attended Huber Heights or Governor Youngkin attended Rockingham County, those openings happened on time. When governors haven’t attended a groundbreaking, treat the date with more skepticism
Two projects I’ll be watching closely for the rest of 2026:
- Benton, Arkansas: August 17, 2026. If it opens on time, we lock in the pattern for new-state debuts.
- Murfreesboro, Tennessee: late 2026 (Nov 16 target). If it slips past December, expect a cascade of 2027 delays too.
I update this page every time a major milestone shifts. If you spot news I’ve missed (especially from your local area), drop a note through the contact link. Local coverage is faster than any national aggregator.