As an estimated 45 million people travel at least 50 miles from home over the Memorial Day holiday, many travelers might go out of their way to make a stop at Buc-ee’s.
However, some might not be aware of the recent changes to how you can get gas.
The company rolled out a new pay-at-the-pump policy earlier this year, which requires customers paying for gas with credit or debit cards to pay at the pump instead of inside the store. Many customers were not happy.
Anyone using cash can still prepay inside, but as of March 1, customers with credit or debit cards can no longer pay for gas at the register.
The Texas-based chain has expanded into Florida over the last decade, with two locations in Daytona Beach and St. Augustine. Even more are scheduled to open in the state over the next few years.
They’re known for cheap(er) gas at each location’s insane number of gas pumps; a wide variety of hot food, bakery items and fudge prepared on site; a wider variety of store-brand snacks, grocery staples, sauces and an entire wall of jerky; and a large section of home decor, kitchen utensils, clothing, barbecue grills, souvenirs and more.
Here’s what to know about Buc-ee’s latest changes ahead of your Memorial Day travels.
What are Buc-ee’s new pump rules?
Buc-ee’s new policy, implemented in March, says:
Why does Buc-ee’s place a hold on my credit card when I pay at the pump?
Here’s what you should know about holds on your credit or debit card when you pay at the pump, according to the company’s website:
“Because gas station operators do not know how much you will be spending, we have to authorize the pump for some amount — typically from $75 to more than $200 depending if the card is debit, consumer credit or commercial credit.
“If we authorize too little, then an SUV or truck can’t fill their tanks. If too much, then some card holders would not have the funds and therefore could not make the purchase.
“For example, if the pump is authorized for $100 and $40 of gas is pumped, then there will be a $40 charge anda $100 hold. Holds can last for up to 72 hours.”
What are the top travel destinations for Memorial Day weekend? Florida remains on top
Once again, Orlando ranked in first place on AAA’s list of the top 10 most popular Memorial Day weekend destinations in the U.S. for 2026.
The list is based on AAA booking data for trips between May 21 and May 25.
Here’s AAA’s list of the top 10 most popular Memorial Day weekend destinations in the U.S. this year:
What is the busiest travel day this Memorial Day weekend?
According to AAA’s Memorial Day weekend travel outlook for 2026, you should avoid driving on Friday and Saturday afternoons. And if you’re planning to travel on Sunday, you’re in luck — little traffic is predicted.
Here are the best and worst times to travel by car this Memorial Day weekend, according to AAA and INRIX:
How expensive is gas in Florida and nationwide?
Ahead of the holiday, gas is $4.51 in Florida, while the national average is $4.56.
AAA projects 39.1 million people will travel by car over Memorial Day weekend, a slight jump over last year.
“This holiday weekend, drivers are paying more at the pump compared to last year, when the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.17 on Memorial Day. Currently, pump prices are the highest they’ve been since the summer of 2022,” AAA reports.
Are more Buc-ees coming to Florida? See locations
Fort Pierce: A planned location at Interstate 95 northwest of Fort Pierce would be 76,245 square feet with 120 gas pumps, 18 EV charging stations and 778 parking spaces.
➤ Buc-ee’s St. Lucie County site is now ‘Loading…’ as plans advance
Ocala: Originally planned to open in 2028, the Ocala Buc-ee’s has been rescheduled for 2029. The new Buc-ee’s is planned for the southeast corner of I-75 and Northwest 49th Street. The Ocala Buc-ee’s will be 74,000 square feet and will have 120 fueling stations.
➤ New Ocala Buc-ee’s bumped to 2029 opening
Tallahassee: Not listed on Buc-ee’s website are plans to build in Leon County in Florida’s Panhandle. Buc-ee’s wants to build a 74,000 square-foot travel center with 120 fueling stations on a 30-acre site near Interstate 10. Plans call for 807 standard parking spaces, 24 electric-vehicle parking spaces, and about a dozen spaces for buses and RVs.
➤ Tallahassee Buc-ee’s site moves ahead with little opposition
Port Charlotte: Also not listed on Buc-ee’s website are plans for a travel center in a trio of villages near a new Harborview development in Southwest Florida. Depending on the zoning, it’s planned to be around 74,000 square feet, according to Stan Beard, Buc-ee’s national director of real estate and development.
Contributing: C. A. Bridges, USA Today Network-Florida
Samantha Neely is a trending reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida, covering pop culture, theme parks, breaking news and more. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: What Buc-ee’s pay at the pump changes mean for Memorial Day weekend trips
Reporting by Samantha Neely and Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
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