Auburn’s Buc-ee’s opened in April 2023 at 2500 Buc-ee’s Boulevard, just off Interstate 85 at Exit 50. At 53,470 square feet with 120 fueling stations, it was the third Buc-ee’s in Alabama and one of the largest retail additions in Lee County.
When it launched, local coverage highlighted the scale of the $45 million project and the 175 jobs it created. The April 10 opening drew crowds typical of Buc-ee’s debuts across the South, with traffic backing up along I-85 as travelers pulled in.
Customer Impressions
The Auburn store has earned a 4.8-star rating on Google with nearly 3,000 reviews. Visitors consistently praise the clean bathrooms, quick food service, and the variety of snacks and merchandise. Favorites like brisket sandwiches, fudge, and Beaver Nuggets dominate the mentions.
The main drawbacks noted are traffic congestion near the exit and the busy parking lot on weekends and holidays. Despite that, reviews remain overwhelmingly positive, cementing it as a top stop between Montgomery and Atlanta.
From Trailer Park to Travel Hub
Historic imagery shows how dramatically the site has changed.
- 1997: The parcel sat mostly wooded with scattered clearings.
- 2012: The land was home to a mobile home park just north of I-85.
- 2021: The property was cleared for construction, with grading underway by December.
- 2023: The full Buc-ee’s structure and massive parking lot appeared, opening to the public in April.
In just over a decade, the site transformed from residential trailers to one of the busiest highway stops in the state.
Local Impact
Buc-ee’s Auburn helped solidify the chain’s presence in Alabama, following earlier stores in Leeds and Athens. For Auburn specifically, the location at Exit 50 has spurred additional retail interest, with surrounding land marketed for hotels and restaurants. Local officials have pointed to the project as both a tax generator and a landmark along the interstate.
Two years in, Buc-ee’s Auburn looks much like other locations in the chain — busy, clean, and consistently drawing travelers off the highway. Its formula hasn’t changed, but its role in Auburn’s growth corridor is clearer than ever.