If you’ve traveled south through Kentucky, your road trip has likely led you to a massive travel center popularly identified by a cute mascot that often boasts about spotless, award-winning restrooms.
Since Cincinnati has yet to land its own Buc-ee’s (Ohio’s first location is under construction), you might want to experience the hype behind these immense convenience stores for yourself. If you’ve already been, perhaps you’re craving those caramel-coated Beaver Nuggets.
What’s the nearest Buc-ee’s to Cincinnati?
The closest Buc-ee’s to Cincinnati will be the location in Huber Heights, which is slated to open next year.
In the meantime, though, Buc-ee’s lovers can satisfy their Beaver Nugget cravings by visiting the closest Buc-ee’s in Richmond, Kentucky, located about 80 miles from the Queen City.
When will Ohio’s first Buc-ee’s open?
After several delays, Ohio’s first Buc-ee’s is slated to open ahead of its targeted summer 2026 date.
Crissy Gonzales, Buc-ee’s media coordinator, told The Enquirer in May that the company plans to open its Huber Heights location in April 2026. However, she added that the projected date may still change “due to unforeseen circumstances.”
Gonzales did not indicate what those circumstances could be, however, construction has already faced multiple setbacks, including unfavorable weather and county disputes.
What is Buc-ee’s all about?
The Bucc-ee’s chain was founded in 1982 by Arch “Beaver” Aplin in Clute, Texas, next to Lake Jackson (South of Houston). The company later established its first travel center in Luling, south of Austin, in 2003.
In addition to all the snacks, a large assortment of beef jerky, T-shirts, decor and more, Buc-ee’s is known to travelers for its sparkling restrooms, which has earned the store an award.
The size of the travel centers is also important to note. Previously, the location in Sevierville, Tennessee, reigned as the largest at 74,707 square feet, that’s about 23% larger than a football field. It takes 350 employees to keep that store running.
In 2024, Buc-ee’s opened a new Luling, Texas, location that’s more than 75,000 square feet of retail space, making it the world’s largest convenience center, according to its website. By comparison, the average size of a Walmart Supercenter is 179,000 square feet.
Buc-ee’s locations
There are 57 Buc-ee’s locations across the U.S., and soon, Ohio will join that list. To find the full list of locations, click here.
El Paso Times reporter Natassia Paloma contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Where is the closest Buc-ee’s to Cincinnati? How far you must drive to get some Beaver Nuggets
Reporting by Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
