America's gas stations go mega-size as Buc-ee's leads trend
America's gas station chains are entering a mega-sizing era as razor-thin fuel margins push operators to build destination travel centers instead of small roadside stops. Led by Buc-ee's and new rival Dolly Parton's Tennessean Travel Stop, the largest sites span tens of thousands of square feet, making every gas station near a major highway a food, retail, and entertainment destination. The shift is reshaping how Americans plan road trips and how chains fight for every dollar beyond the pump.
Key Takeaways
- Buc-ee's remains the pace-setter with stores exceeding 75,000 square feet and more than 50 locations in 13 states.
- Dolly Parton opened the 25,000-square-foot Dolly's Tennessean Travel Stop in Cornersville, Tennessee, with plans for more locations.
- Midwest rival Wally's operates three 50,000-square-foot travel centers and is expanding.
- Razor-thin gasoline margins are driving the shift toward high-volume food, merchandise, and amenity sales.
- In contrast, Russian gas stations face rationing and long lines after Ukrainian attacks on refineries.
Why Are America's Gas Stations Getting So Big?
For the past decade, gas stations have reinvented themselves with food offerings that rival established restaurant chains—and they keep growing in physical size. The trend accelerated when Buc-ee's supercharged the model, spawning imitators like Wally's and, most recently, Dolly Parton's brand.
In an era of razor-thin gas margins, chains are betting that bigger footprints can capture more spending per visit. Travelers increasingly treat a gas station near their route as a destination worth planning around, not a pit stop to endure.
How Large Are the New Mega Travel Centers?
Buc-ee's is the heavyweight, with its largest store topping 75,000 square feet—roughly half an average Walmart. The chain operates more than 50 locations in 13 states.
Wally's has three 50,000-square-foot locations in the Midwest, complete with a popcorn bar and jerky selection designed to rival Buc-ee's. Dolly's Tennessean Travel Stop spans 25,000 square feet on 18 acres in Cornersville, Tennessee, with just 16 gas pumps—making fuel almost an afterthought.
What Did Dolly Parton Add to the Mix?
Parton cut the ribbon at the grand opening of the first Dolly's location last week, joking at Buc-ee's expense as she welcomed visitors off Interstate 65. The Cornersville site features a dog park, theater, restaurant and bar, trucker showers, and lounge.
Partner Gregory H. Sachs said Parton and her team were involved in every aspect of the travel stop. "Initially, we are focusing on making the Cornersville flagship location the best it can be," Sachs told CNBC, adding that the plan is to open locations throughout the country in a deliberate, measured fashion.
Dolly's emphasizes a home-like feel. Sachs noted that bigger is not always better and that the chain has not yet determined the maximum size before that feeling is lost.
Why Are Russian Gas Stations Facing Long Lines?
The U.S. expansion stands in sharp contrast to Russia, where lines at gas stations are growing alongside frustration after months of Ukrainian attacks on oil infrastructure. An AP count shows more than 50 reported strikes on refineries, depots, and terminals in Russia and annexed Crimea since March.
President Vladimir Putin acknowledged that problems persist for motorists and businesses, with queues at petrol stations and difficulty finding the right grade of fuel. He described the shortages as not critical, even as rationing spread to more than half of Russia's regions by late June.
For American road trippers searching for a gas station near their next exit, the mega-sizing era promises barbecue, branded snacks, and entertainment. For Russian drivers, long lines at the pump have shattered any illusion of normalcy in wartime. Read more in our Future Tech & AI Wonders section, and see the full U.S. trend report from CNBC.