Average duration of a Buc-ees stop?

[jbrostek]

Exactly, yet they advertise to RVs all the time.

 

[5kidsmommy]

If we are towing the only Buc-ees we stop at is the one in Brunswick, GA because it's large and has designated RV parking. If we are driving a regular car we will make a stop at whatever one we feel like stopping at. We usually spend about 30-45 minutes. We are quick browsers and typically know what food we want.

 

[jbrostek]

I made the mistake of thinking they where all like that and pulled into Daytona Beach.....DO NOT do that....what a mess. Florance isnt much better, but if you stick to the left side of the building you can escape most of the madness.

 

[rideswithchrist]

Don't do it! Just kidding- sorta. Texan here and we avoid the beaver when we can. My kids prefer QT because the bathrooms are clean, and I like that we spend less $. We actually try to find alternatives. If you are ever on I10 between Houston and San Antonio, check out Prasecks.

It is crazy to see Buc-ees growing so much, the original was just a normal gas station and they are taking over.
That said- they really did push the others to step up their game.

When we went to the East Coast we were introduced to Sheetz. We did not get food from there but the idea was fascinating!

 

[hardcorestitch]

Don't do it! Just kidding- sorta. Texan here and we avoid the beaver when we can. My kids prefer QT because the bathrooms are clean, and I like that we spend less $. We actually try to find alternatives. If you are ever on I10 between Houston and San Antonio, check out Prasecks.

It is crazy to see Buc-ees growing so much, the original was just a normal gas station and they are taking over.
That said- they really did push the others to step up their game.

When we went to the East Coast we were introduced to Sheetz. We did not get food from there but the idea was fascinating!

You guys made a big mistake skipping the Sheetz grub. They got delicious fries and a slush selection that’s as big as the beaver!

 

[bluezy]

Don't do it! Just kidding- sorta. Texan here and we avoid the beaver when we can. My kids prefer QT because the bathrooms are clean, and I like that we spend less $. We actually try to find alternatives. If you are ever on I10 between Houston and San Antonio, check out Prasecks.

It is crazy to see Buc-ees growing so much, the original was just a normal gas station and they are taking over.
That said- they really did push the others to step up their game.

When we went to the East Coast we were introduced to Sheetz. We did not get food from there but the idea was fascinating!

If you thought Sheetz was amazing, you should stop at a Wawa the next time you're on the east coast. They're even better (IMO -- but it's a big rivalry thing. )! Fun fact about Sheetz, though. My DD had a Sheetz near her college campus. During mid-terms week she and her roommate picked up some drinks and snacks at the Sheetz nearby and made a Tik Tok video saying they couldn't get through mid-terms without Sheetz. Sheetz saw the video and contacted my DD to say that *they* wanted to produce a Tik Tok video with the girls to feature on their social media sites. Of course the girls jumped at the opportunity. Sheetz sent out their social media crew to film the girls the next week. They didn't get paid for doing the video but they got a bunch of Sheetz swag and gift cards. The girls never mentioned that they preferred Wawa but the closest one was a few miles away while they could walk to Sheetz.

 

[bama_ed]

You guys made a big mistake skipping the Sheetz grub.

If you thought Sheetz was amazing, you should stop at a Wawa the next time you're on the east coast.

I've been up through Pennsylvania in the last few years and Sheetz is junk. Overpriced gas (state gas tax?), gas station food <not good across the board> is junk, and I know what I'm talking about because I've worked in Food Service and bought TONS of gas in my years of life.

Then I've encountered the WAWA crowd down in Florida around WDW (they don't poke their head into the deep South as far as I know). They complain about 'coffee' (OMG warm water on burned, dried beans). Me-No-Drink-Coffee (because it is only warm water on burned, dried beans). (Am I going too fast?)

I only care about who has cheap gas.

DW only cares about who has clean bathrooms.

She-and-I are like a Vulcan mind meld.

So the Beaver is an acceptable concession to each other on most highways.

But hey, you-do-you. I mean, after all, ......

.... it's only money.

Me

PS - I do favor hot tea (bags) during the cold winter months when all I need is some hot water (I bring my own bags and sweetener along on the road). English Breakfast Tea is in the shoulder bag and if I didn't bring any or run out,

I will suffer through a Lipton tea bag. again.

 

[MIChessGuy]

I checked out the grand opening of what I believe was the first Sheetz in Michigan, last year near Metro Airport (DTW). It was interesting, but didn't measure up to the size and offerings of Buc-ee's. It was probably better than any of the Wawas I've been to (which isn't many). I do like that Wawa just north of MCO because it has reasonably priced gas for rental car refueling purposes.

For any Buckeyes out there, we are less than three months away from the opening of the first Ohio Buc-ee's, in Huber Heights, NE of Dayton. This thread expects a prompt report from the grand opening.

 

[hardcorestitch]

I checked out the grand opening of what I believe was the first Sheetz in Michigan, last year near Metro Airport (DTW). It was interesting, but didn't measure up to the size and offerings of Buc-ee's. It was probably better than any of the Wawas I've been to (which isn't many). I do like that Wawa just north of MCO because it has reasonably priced gas for rental car refueling purposes.

For any Buckeyes out there, we are less than three months away from the opening of the first Ohio Buc-ee's, in Huber Heights, NE of Dayton. This thread expects a prompt report from the grand opening.

Ohio doesn’t need a Buc-ee’s… they should have kept their Lawson stations.

FYI: those Lawson Stations in Japan are based off of the ones in Ohio that don’t exist anymore. The closest we’ll get to one in America is in Hawaii…

 

[bluezy]

I've been up through Pennsylvania in the last few years and Sheetz is junk. Overpriced gas (state gas tax?), gas station food <not good across the board> is junk, and I know what I'm talking about because I've worked in Food Service and bought TONS of gas in my years of life.

Then I've encountered the WAWA crowd down in Florida around WDW (they don't poke their head into the deep South as far as I know). They complain about 'coffee' (OMG warm water on burned, dried beans). Me-No-Drink-Coffee (because it is only warm water on burned, dried beans). (Am I going too fast?)

I only care about who has cheap gas.

DW only cares about who has clean bathrooms.

She-and-I are like a Vulcan mind meld.

So the Beaver is an acceptable concession to each other on most highways.

But hey, you-do-you. I mean, after all, ......

.... it's only money.

Me

PS - I do favor hot tea (bags) during the cold winter months when all I need is some hot water (I bring my own bags and sweetener along on the road). English Breakfast Tea is in the shoulder bag and if I didn't bring any or run out,

I will suffer through a Lipton tea bag. again.

Yeah, the PA gas tax is about $.58/gallon....4th highest in the country. The *only* thing we go to Sheetz for is gas. Some of their stores carry the Unleaded 88 which is often at least 10 cents cheaper per gallon than regular unleaded. But over the last few months it seems as though Sheetz's gas prices are getting so high that many other stations have regular unleaded for less than Sheetz's unleaded 88.

I can't comment on the coffee at Wawa because I don't drink coffee at all. And I only drink tea on rare occasions. We go to Wawa for the sandwiches and soft pretzels.

 

[bama_ed]

FYI: those Lawson Stations in Japan are based off of the ones in Ohio that don’t exist anymore.

When I was growing up in rural northeast ohio as a 9-12yo in the 70s, we had a Lawson's in our little town - it was a convenience store like a Circle K nowadays. Our town elementary school was directly across the street from the Lawson's store. I remember it well.

I hadn't heard that brand referred to in DECADES, hence my reply. Those were good days.

Bama Ed

PS - remember the store and their distinctive sign (blue/white with milk can logo):

but I can't swear that my store was a "Station" store. We just called it "Lawson's" (named after the founder).

 

[North of Mouse]

Agree with you, bama_ed on the Sheetz and Wa-Wa stations - have them here in Raleigh, NC where we live now and not impressed. Haven't had Wa-Wa's long, but plenty of Sheetz around. Lots of hype here from people moving here from the NE but we can't get it yet.
Our go-to when traveling is definitely Buc-ees. We've never had any trouble getting in and out with our mh + tow. We can count on their gas being the cheapest - and our motorhome definitely likes to drink!! We've hit several of them on our many trips. One is in the process of being built on I-85 not far from us. Many rave reviews on the food and it looks/smells delicious. We just prefer to take our breaks at sit down restaurants. DH is not much on fast food.

 

[jbrostek]

We use the local Sheetz or WAWA for gas, I don't buy diesel there unless I have to. Rarely do we get food, though a wawa pretzel is a tradition when we go to visit family in PA.

RV on the road stops are usually Open Roads locations, though QT would be a non open roads stop because they don't mark their diesel up to crazy levels.

 

[T00dles]

Average duration of a Buc-ee’s stop?
Ah. You sweet, innocent road-trip cherub. You believe this is a stop. Buc-ee’s is not a stop. It is a side quest. A pilgrimage. A retail-themed escape room where the only exit is through a wall of jerky.

Here is a realistic timeline to plan accordingly:

---

The Buc-ee’s Time Dilation Timeline

0:00 – “Quick Fuel & Pee” Optimism Phase
You glide off the interstate confident, hydrated, and morally superior.
“I’ll be in and out in 15 minutes,” you whisper, like a Victorian child before boarding the Titanic.

---

0:07 – Parking Lot Purgatory
You discover the parking lot is roughly the size of Delaware.
You pass:
- 24 pickup trucks
- 3 RVs that look permanently retired
- A family tailgating for no clear reason
You park in a different ZIP code and begin the hike toward the entrance.

---

0:15 – The Pilgrimage Walk
You are still walking.
You see mirages.
A small child on a Razor scooter overtakes you.
You briefly consider setting up a base camp.

---

0:20 – Entrance Sensory Overload
The doors open.
Angels sing.
Brisket smoke fills the air.
You forget your own name but suddenly remember every childhood road trip snack you’ve ever loved.

---

0:28 – The Restroom Gauntlet
You join a line that resembles a theme-park ride.
Inside, the restroom is so clean you question your worthiness.
Someone exits a stall saying, “That was life-changing.”
You don’t ask.

---

0:40 – The BBQ Sandwich Moral Crisis
You were not hungry.
You are now holding a brisket sandwich the size of a throw pillow.
You tell yourself it’s “for later.”
It is not for later.

---

0:55 – Beaver Nugget Acquisition
You grab a small bag.
Then a bigger bag.
Then a commemorative tub.
The cashier nods knowingly.

---

1:10 – Sugar Ascension
You eat Beaver Nuggets in the car.
Time slows.
The beaver mascot on the sign winks at you.
You are pretty sure the dashboard is breathing.

---

1:25 – Merch Vortex
You re-enter “just to look.”
You leave with:
- A Buc-ee’s t-shirt
- Buc-ee’s pajama pants
- A Buc-ee’s cutting board
- Zero memory of choosing them

---

1:45 – Attempted Escape
You cannot find your car.
Every aisle looks like every other aisle.
A woman calmly buys 7 pounds of fudge like this is normal.

---

2:00 – Return to Interstate
You finally merge back onto the highway.
You are sticky, overfed, slightly euphoric.
Your car smells like brisket and caramelized sugar.
You are no longer the same person who exited 2 hours ago.

---

Realistic Average Stop Time
Plan for 60–90 minutes minimum
2 hours if you are snack-curious or weak-willed (most humans).

---

Final Advice
If you truly want a “quick stop,”
- Do not make eye contact with the bakery
- Do not sample the jerky
- Do not trust the Nugget

But honestly?
Lean in.
Let the beaver take the wheel.