Buc-ee's is coming to Arizona. Here are 10 facts about the travel center you may not know

The first-ever Buc-ee's in Arizona is coming soon.

The official opening for the travel center, which was recently shared with The Arizona Republic, falls in 2026 — a delay from the original late 2025 date.

Not only will the Buc-ee's coming to the Grand Canyon state bring its beaver mascot, Texas-style barbecue offerings and clean restrooms, but it will also bring more than 200 full-time jobs to Goodyear, a 74,000-square-foot convenience store and 120 fueling stations.

It will also be open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

If you're excited about Buc-ee's coming to Arizona, here are 10 facts about Buc-ee's to get you ready for the opening.

1. Cheap(er) gas prices at Buc-ee's gas station

Buc-ee's tends to keep its gas prices around the Costco/Sam's/BJ's level, without requiring a membership.

A survey in 2023 from Texas-based energy company Payless Power named Buc-ee's the second-favorite gas station (after Costco). The American Customer Satisfaction Index ranked Buc-ee's as the third-best gas station in the country, although it barely squeaked onto USA TODAY's 10Best list.

"Between cleanliness, price, food quality and customer service, only two stations, Costco and Buc-ee's, made the top five in all four categories," Payless' report said. "They also took first and second place, respectively, for the overall best-rated gas stations." 

2. Buc'ee's has food. Lots of it.

There's a Texas Roundup section in the middle as you walk in, preparing hot foods such as certified Angus beef brisket, pulled pork, sausages, turkey, roasted cinnamon nuts and more. Many items, even Buc-ee's brand potato chips, are cooked on-site.

There's a counter in the back offering store-made jerky by the pound in multiple flavors and kolache pastries (rolls stuffed with meat and cheese, or fruit) in the mornings.

3. Buc-ee's has its own brand of ... everything

At a Buc-ee's gas station, there are entire sections devoted to chips, candy, popcorn, hot sauces, and any picnic or motorist need you can imagine, and most of it is made for the chain and branded with their name and ubiquitous beaver logo. There are pickled quail eggs, candied jalapeños and quail poppers.

4. They make their own fudge at Buc-ee's gas station

Buc-ee's has a fudge counter. Because why not?

Buc-ee's makes its own fudge, with over 20 types including blueberry cobbler, maple pecan, red velvet, M&M, and watermelon, plus the usual varieties of chocolate and caramel. If you can't decide, there are stacks of sampler boxes ready for you in the aisles.

5. Don't skip the Beaver Nuggets at Buc-ee's gas station

And then there are "Beaver Nuggets."

Buc-ee's is famous for its "Beaver Nuggets," which are not technically medically addictive but they are definitely what the British called "moreish," meaning you want to keep eating them. The basic flavor of the round snacks is something like a caramel-flavored corn puff, but they're also available in sea-salted caramel, cinnamon, Bold 'n' Spicy, white cheddar, white cheddar habanero, chocolate-covered, and a Bugles-shaped white-fudge-covered version. There is even a Beaver-Nuggets-scented candle, for when you run out at home and still want the scent.

6. There is a Wall of Jerky at Buc-ee's gas station

At Buc-ee's gas station locations, about 20 different flavors are available of different cuts and textures including Cherry Maple, Peppered Turkey, Steakhouse, Ghost Pepper, Teriyaki, Korean Barbecue, Bohemian Garlic and more. Customers regularly take selfies in front of the wall, just marveling at it all.

The most popular jerky? Bohemian Garlic, according to Josh Smith, director of operations for the Southeast. "It’s been one of our most popular items since Arch Aplin III opened his first store in 1982."

7. Household goods and beaver gear at Buc-ee's gas station

A giant beaver greets you outside and images of him are everywhere.

Inside, half the store is what Smith called the "fun side" of the store: basically, a small department store dropped in the midst of the candy bars and styrofoam coolers.

You'll be able to find home decor, kitchen utensils, clothing, barbecue grills and wood, Florida souvenirs, and more from a mix of local and worldwide vendors. But mostly, you'll find Buc-ee's branded products like shirts, hoodies, sunscreen, soccer balls, hats, sports equipment, and possibly a literal truck full of Buc-ee's plush toys.

Regulars go to Buc-ee's for the brand items and the experience, sometimes with gas as an afterthought. The website eater.com described Buc-ee's as the "most beloved road-trip destination" in Texas and several other websites also list Buc-ee's as one of the top places to visit in the Lone Star State.

And the beaver? In a 2018 interview with The Daytona Beach News-Journal, Buc-ee's co-founder Arch "Beaver" Aplin explained that the cartoon beaver mascot was inspired by his own childhood nicknames, "Beaver" and "Bucky Beaver." It's also a shoutout to his childhood Labrador dog, Buck.

8. Road trips? Incredibly clean bathrooms at Buc-ee's gas station

If you need to pull over for a bathroom stop, you want a Buc-ee's. Like everything else in Buc-ee's, the bathrooms are enormous. They're also guaranteed to be clean and inviting, and you won't have to wait in line, probably ever.

Buc-ee's has been rated by GasBuddy.com as having the cleanest restrooms of any convenience store chain in the nation. Every location has full-time staff dedicated just to keeping the facilities clean and well-stocked, with seemingly more stalls than the average sports stadium.

In 2012, service industry supplier Cintas held a nationwide restroom contest and a Buc-ee's location in New Braunfels, Texas, as having the cleanest restrooms in the country.

9. Buc-ee's is big. Like world record big

This year, Buc-ee's broke its own world record for the largest gas station with a new 75,593-square-foot location in Luling, Texas.

And the Buc-ee's in Katy, Texas, boasts the world's longest car wash, 255 feet of sudsy goodness. The one recently added to the Daytona Beach Buc-ee's tops out at "only" 235 feet.

10. A decent job at Buc-ee's gas station, salary and wage

When Buc-ee's opened its Daytona Beach, Florida, location in 2020, starting pay was $14 to $15 an hour for entry-level positions, with full benefits, a 401(k) and three weeks of vacation for full-time employees. As of Feb. 5, 2025, ZipRecruiter reported the average pay for a Buc-ee's employee is $15.73 an hour. Employment site GlassDoor.com reported that a general manager can see from $175,000 to $225,000 a year.

That's well above Florida's minimum wage, which is currently $13 an hour for nontipped employees but will increase to $14 on Sept. 30.

In May, Roxie Abnernathy (@roxieab) went viral on TikTok when she pointed out that a Buc-ee's janitor made the same amount as she did as a case manager. In a follow-up video she detailed the different rates and how they compared to her own income.

"I'm still, like, in shock," she said.

Reach the reporter at dina.kaur@arizonarepublic.com. Follow @dina_kaur on X, formerly known as Twitter, and on Bluesky @dinakaur.bsky.social.

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