Buc-ee’s, the beloved Texas-based travel center chain, opened its newest location in San Marcos on August 12, 2026, creating more than 200 jobs and representing a $47 million investment in the I-35 corridor between Austin and San Antonio. The 74,000-square-foot facility is among the largest Buc-ee’s locations in the company’s growing nationwide network and marks a significant milestone in the chain’s expansion strategy.
The new travel center is located at 3245 I-35 at the southwest corner of the I-35 and Yarrington Road interchange, directly on the city borderlines of Kyle and San Marcos. The location was strategically chosen to capture traffic on one of the busiest highway corridors in Texas, connecting the major metropolitan areas of San Antonio, Austin, and the Dallas-Fort Worth region. San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson, Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra, and Governor Greg Abbott attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“The Buc-ee’s mantra is ‘exceed expectations,’ and this San Marcos location is a special step for us in that regard,” said Stan Beard of Buc-ee’s. “The San Marcos store will help us provide the ultimate Buc-ee’s experience to all I-35 travelers, north and southbound.” The company emphasized the location’s strategic importance for capturing both commuter and leisure travel traffic along the central Texas corridor.
The San Marcos location features 128 individual gas pumps and will employ more than 200 workers with starting pay ranging from $20 to $25 per hour. Employees receive full benefits, a 6% 401(k) match, and three weeks of paid vacation. The compensation package is notably competitive for the retail and service sector in the central Texas corridor, where labor competition has intensified with population growth and economic development.
The opening adds to Buc-ee’s growing footprint across the United States. The chain operates 57 stores across Texas, Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The San Marcos location is just slightly smaller than the 75,593-square-foot Buc-ee’s in Luling, which holds the Guinness World Record for the largest convenience store in the world.
Buc-ee’s was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Lake Jackson, Texas. The company has become a cultural phenomenon in Texas, known for its clean restrooms, massive selection of snacks and beef jerky, and its iconic beaver mascot. The chain’s expansion along major interstate highways has made it a strategic player in Texas travel and tourism infrastructure. For the Dallas-Fort Worth business community, Buc-ee’s continued expansion signals strong investment in Texas hospitality infrastructure along the I-35 corridor, a critical trade route connecting the DFW metroplex to markets south.
