Buc-ee's Opens First Arkansas Location in Benton

Buc-ee's finally planted its flag in Arkansas on Monday, marking the arrival of the Texas-based travel center chain in Benton. This new spot serves as the very first location for the brand within the Natural State as the company pushes forward with aggressive growth plans across the United States.

Doors swung open at 6 a.m. CT inside this sprawling facility that covers 74,000 square feet and features 120 fueling positions. The project is expected to create more than 200 jobs for locals in the region. With this debut, Buc-ee's now operates 58 locations nationwide, taking a roadside institution originally rooted in Texas into fresh markets across the country.

The store sits at 1400 Highway 229 and dishes out the chain's signature mix of Texas barbecue, homemade fudge, kolaches, Beaver Nuggets, jerky, and fresh pastries. Shoppers also get access to the famously clean restrooms that have helped transform Buc-ee's into a true roadside destination for travelers everywhere.

"We obviously picked Benton, the 'Heart of Arkansas,' to be the first Buc-ee's in the Natural State," Stan Beard of Buc-ee's stated ahead of the grand opening. "Folks on their way to or from Hot Springs or any number of beautiful destinations around Benton and Little Rock will stop in for our great Texas BBQ, the cleanest restrooms in the universe, and a pit stop beyond their wildest expectations," he added.

Founded back in 1982 and still headquartered in Texas, Buc-ee's currently runs 37 stores in its home state according to the company. Its footprint now stretches into Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

The Benton launch arrived just five days after a new location opened in San Marcos, Texas on August 12. This rapid schedule highlights how fast the company is expanding beyond its longtime base in Texas. Earlier this year the brand entered two other markets by opening its first Ohio spot in Huber Heights during April before making its Arizona debut with a travel center in Goodyear back in June.

More growth is already on the horizon. Buc-ee's plans to open another center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee on November 16 followed by several additional spots across the nation in coming years. Six locations are slated for 2027 including Ruston, Louisiana; Kansas City, Kansas; Gallaway, Tennessee; St. Lucie, Florida; Boerne, Texas; and Monroe County, Georgia. Another two sites are planned for 2028 in Mebane, North Carolina, and Lafayette, Louisiana.

Additional locations are scheduled for 2029 and beyond including West Memphis, Arkansas; Ocala, Florida; and Oak Grove, Kentucky in 2029 followed by Hardeeville, South Carolina in 2031. This ambitious rollout promises to bring the famous Texas roadside experience to many more corners of America over the next few years.