It's one of the busiest days of the year at Buc-ee's, which quickly became a must-visit for millions of American roadtrippers. CBS News senior transportation correspondent Kris Van Cleave visits Buc-ee's, and explains how the chain became a staple.

Buc-ee's, a gas station and convenience store chain primarily located in Texas and the southeastern United States, has established itself as a key stop for millions of road trippers. The chain is renowned for its fresh barbecue, clean bathrooms, and extensive retail offerings, creating a unique experience that blends convenience with destination appeal.

The company operates 54 locations across 11 states, maintaining high standards of cleanliness, customer service, and product availability. Buc-ee's has become synonymous with the American road trip, offering travelers not just fuel and food, but a memorable stop along their journey.

How Buc-ee's became the gateway to the great American road trip

All right, so most of us are enjoying the end of the last long weekend of summer. You're probably stretching out or sleeping in today, but it's gonna be one of the busiest days of the year at this place, Buc-ee's. That gas station convenience store chain, found mostly in Texas in the southeast, is truly a must see for millions of road trippers. Our senior road tripper, Chris Van Cleve, looks at how Buc-ee's gets ready for the rush. As sure as Labor Day marks the final long weekend of the summer, a holiday weekend means a surge of business at Buc-ee's across the country. Every time we go on a road trip, it's a staple. We have to stop at Buc-ee's. For pitmaster Randy Pauly, that means overseeing what amounts to about the biggest barbecue in all of Texas. Fresh brisket on the board. To feed their 54 locations in 11 states with hot, fresh barbecue, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It's not just creating the recipes, it's about making sure each and every day, no matter what store you show up to, it's exactly what we started with, exactly what you remember the last time you were here. Pauly is currently ranked number two in the world for his competitive barbecue brisket. What he didn't tell us was, it's better than a hairnet. We'd be put to work. We're gonna trim that fat, okay, because we want a little bit of fat, okay, but we don't want a lot. So now I want you to do it, do an X pattern, okay? What would you say the key to good barbecue is? Not rushing it. That's the first key, right? Right off the bat, not rushing it. And then there's the sauce. It acts a bit like glue for a sandwich they know you'll be eating on the go. We call it dashboard dining, right? Fresh food at a gas station that has people lining up. Buc-ee's has become a cathedral to the great American road trip. Cheap gas, meticulous bathrooms meets convenience megastore, restaurant, bakery, jerky bar, and Buc-ee's branded boutique, all with the air of a town square. We consider this a destination experience. What is the Buc-ee's experience? A sensory overload. Richard Sebastian is Buc-ee's head of operations. He says success here comes down to three things. Friendly, clean, and in stock. How busy is Labor Day weekend for Buc-ee's? It's right up there in the top five weekends of the calendar year. If you go buy a Buc-ee's, you're stopping? Oh yeah. For the Mandel family, it's a pit stop to make a memory on the side of the freeway. For CBS Mornings, I'm Chris Van Cleave in Katy, Texas. He is right about the sensory overload thing. It looks like. Took the wife and girls to the one in Daytona. Yeah. Earlier this year. It was sensory overload for them, but they did like the nuggets. You have to try the nuggets when you go to the Buc-ee's. There is so much going on there. I'd forget where I was going. I mean Buc-ee's has like something for everybody. I'm a sheets kind of guy myself here in the Northeast. Road trippers will know that location, but good to see Chris chopping it up. Now that they're on I-95 in Virginia, they're creeping north. Yeah, I love it. It's a Disneyland. It's a destination. Who doesn't like taking a little break, get out of the car and... The problem is getting back in the car because there's too much to do and buy. And eat. It's about the journey, Ed. It is.

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