7 Buc-ee’s Rules Tennesseans Learn on Their First Stop
Thinking of calling ahead to your nearest Buc-ee’s? Store phone numbers are unlisted.
The company directs comments to its website instead.
These are the Buc-ee’s rules that many Tennesseans learn on their first stop.
1. No 18-Wheelers
Buc-ee’s says its driveways and parking lots aren’t designed for 18-wheelers.
A company spokesperson told a Texas news station that the layout is optimized for passenger vehicles.
Buses and motor homes, though, are very welcome, and the contact page adds that it is just no tractors.
Murfreesboro’s parking plans include dedicated spaces for recreational vehicles and buses.
2. No Pets Inside
A pet can’t walk through the door with you.
The company’s contact page says live animals, dogs included, are prohibited where food could potentially be contaminated.
Service animals and animals that work with police officers are the exceptions.
Signs outside the New Braunfels, Texas, location prohibit emotional support animals and comfort animals.
If you’re traveling with a dog, make a plan for it before you pull in.
3. No Extended Parking
Leaving your car in the lot while you go off isn’t allowed.
The FAQ answers that question with a flat no, citing the safety and security of customers.
Ask whether you can park there and rest, and you get the same answer.
If you were planning a nap in the car, you’ll need a different spot.
You might assume a store that stays open around the clock has room to rest.
All Buc-ee’s are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, but the lot can’t accommodate vehicles for an extended amount of time.
4. Exchange Limits
Merchandise exchanges come with conditions.
According to the FAQ, general merchandise (except game cameras) can be exchanged if it’s in new condition with all original tags.
That exchange policy also requires a manager’s authorization for every exchange.
If you’re buying something you might swap later, keep the tags on until you’re sure.
The swap has to be for other general merchandise of equal or greater value, not a gift card.
Food Exchanges at Buc-ee’s
Buc-ee’s exchange rule covers food too. Slightly consumed food may be exchanged for the same item when the original item doesn’t meet the company’s standards.
5. One-Pound Meat Minimum
According to the contact page, a one-pound minimum per type of meat applies to in-store orders.
Orders run only from 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
If one pound is more than you want, the contact page says half-pound grab-and-go packs of sliced brisket are available, with no bun and no sauce.
6. Card Holds at the Pump
Paying at the pump with a card starts with an authorization.
The FAQ puts that amount at typically $75 to more than $200, depending on whether the card is debit, consumer credit or commercial credit.
The FAQ’s reasoning is simple. Authorize too little, and a sport utility vehicle or truck can’t fill its tank. Authorize too much, and some card holders wouldn’t have the funds to make the purchase.
The FAQ says how long a hold lasts is the card issuer’s decision.
Keep that range in mind if your balance is tight.
7. Gift Card Fuel Cutoff
The FAQ says Buc-ee’s gift cards can’t be used for fuel after April 1, 2027.
Asked whether the company has gift cards, the FAQ answers yes and attaches that fuel cutoff to the answer.
If you’re holding one, fill your tank with it before then.
The FAQ links to an online order page for gift cards.
The company lists its gift cards on its website under the name Beaver Bucks.
Tennessee’s Three Stores
Tennessee’s first Buc-ee’s, in Crossville, opened in June 2022 and covers more than 53,400 square feet.
Sevierville followed in June 2023 with a 74,000-square-foot floor plan, and its address is Exit 407 off I-40.
Murfreesboro will make three.
Sevierville’s grand opening was set for Monday, June 26, 2023, and Murfreesboro’s opening day also falls on a Monday.
That store is also 74,000 square feet, and it sits off I-24 at the Joe B. Jackson Parkway exit.
It is scheduled to open on November 16 at 6 a.m.
Murfreesboro.com says customers may begin lining up at midnight.
Psst! How much do you know about Tennessee’s interstates and scenic drives? Take our quiz and see if you can ace it.
Quiz
Tennessee Road Trip Quiz
Answer these questions on Tennessee’s interstates and scenic drives. We bet you can’t get them all right. Prove us wrong?
How many miles of Interstate 40 run through Tennessee?
No Advance Orders
Online ordering isn't an option.
The company has no online store.
Third-party resellers, including texassnax.com and amazon.com, aren't affiliated with Buc-ee's, according to the FAQ.
Checking stock ahead is no easier.
The company has no good way to determine whether an item is in stock at a particular site.
Store phone numbers are unlisted, and comments go through the website instead.
Large groups can't place an advance order either, though the stores are well prepared to handle them.
Special Fuel Options
Buc-ee's offers ethanol-free gas and diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) at select locations.
The company says ethanol-free fuel is popular with boat and small-engine owners.
Electric vehicle charging is available at select locations too, so check before you count on it.
If you want ethanol-free gas or DEF, the company lists which locations have them on its locations page.
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