Clean, friendly, and in stock. That’s the Buc-ee’s motto, and while we’ve found this to be mostly true on our road trips across Texas, let’s face it: Not all Buc-ee’s are created equal. Here is our definitive ranking of 10 locations in the Hill Country, West Texas, the Rio Grande Valley, and the Panhandle.
Buc-ee’s Port Lavaca
4/10
Just a normal, crappy gas station with the Buc-ee’s logo slapped on it. There are brisket sandwiches but almost no merch—at least the bathrooms, which have only a few stalls each, are clean.
Buc-ee’s Giddings
5/10
Aren’t Buc-ee’s supposed to be as big as Texas itself? OK, not literally, but this location is not only tiny, it’s lackluster. There’s really nothing you need here. Skip.
Buc-ee’s Cypress
7/10
This location makes up for its petite size with its offerings. The incredibly friendly staff gives it a leg up in the ratings, as does the great car wash that’ll leave your ride feeling brand-new.
Buc-ee’s Madisonville
7/10
Madisonville stands out because it may have more painted wine glasses per capita than anywhere else in the world. This makes it difficult to find a phone charger.
Buc-ee’s Bastrop
8/10
For a big, big Buc-ee’s, the parking layout is fantastic. From the abundance of storefront spots to an easy-to-navigate lot, driving into this stop isn’t as bad as you’d expect of such a huge footprint.
Buc-ee’s Katy
8/10
The bathrooms are spotless, and while the car wash add-on is great, it can get very crowded and still didn’t help the bug cemetery on my windshield.
Buc-ee’s Wharton
8/10
Just the right size to be well stocked with merch and food but not too crowded. The bathrooms are large and clean; bonus points for the brisket smells upon entering.
Buc-ee’s Ennis
9/10
The loudest “HOOOOTTT BRISKET ON THE BOARD!” call and response ever heard at a Buc-ee’s. That’s all one can ask for, aside from clean bathrooms.
Buc-ee’s Luling
9/10
This location lives up to the hype as the largest, with tons of fun items, including UT and Texas A&M gear, water bottles, and, of course, Beaver nuggets.
Buc-ee’s Waller
9/10
This is what a true Buc-ee’s is supposed to be. Lots of tasty Southern food, random kitschy findings, and clean bathrooms.
Published in the Hit the Road issue of Houstonia Mag.
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