Go Together Life

On our 2025 trip to West Virginia, we decided to swing by James Madison University (JMU) for a quick drive-through of campus because nothing says family bonding to us adults like collectively pretending we’re still in college. Spirits were high, nostalgia was flowing, and then—bam—there it was. Just off Route 81, shining like a red and yellow beacon: a brand-new Bucc-ee’s.

Cue screeching brakes (figuratively), wild pointing, and immediate itinerary reshuffling. Lunch plans? Scrapped. Gas station? Secured. This beauty had opened just weeks before, and it was absolutely packed with delighted shoppers, standing there with its 96 gas pumps, absurd square footage, and a giant grinning beaver beckoning us to enter.

We first learned of Bucc-ee’s thanks to our internet travel inspiration, Kara & Nate, and ever since, the dream of stepping foot inside one had taken root in our road trip bucket list. For the uninitiated, Bucc-ee’s isn’t just a gas station. It’s a lifestyle. Imagine if a Walmart and a Texas-sized Cracker Barrel had a child, and that child was obsessed with brisket and beavers. That’s Bucc-ee’s.

By the time our return trip rolled around, the anticipation was so high it could have been its own stop on the itinerary: “9:30 AM: Drive; 12:00 PM: Gas station Disneyland.” And let us tell you, it delivered. We exited with arms full and wallets lighter, weighed down by brisket sandwiches, ten varieties of jerky, rainbow-colored fudge, and roasted nuts we didn’t even know we needed.

Did we forget the Beaver Nuggets? Tragically, yes. Did we immediately get roasted by our more seasoned Bucc-ee’s-loving friends? Also yes. But hey, more reason to go back. Purely for research, obviously.

Gas Station: Bucc-ee’s, Mt. Crawford, Virginia
Vibe: Texas-size theme park disguised as a pit stop
Snacks: 9/10 Brisket dreams and 12/10 nut-based joy
Bathrooms: Massive, sparkling, and weirdly uplifting

This one cracks the number 3 spot on our all-time favorites list. And if you spot us in Bucc-ee’s-branded swimsuits on a future adventure… no you didn’t.