ARIZONA — Arizona is preparing to welcome its first Buc-ee’s when the massive travel center opens in Goodyear on June 22. The 74,000-square-foot facility along Interstate 10 will feature 120 fueling positions and mark the company’s first location in the Grand Canyon State.
With Buc-ee’s continuing its nationwide expansion into new states and additional markets, attention is already turning to where a second Arizona location could eventually be built. While the company has announced no additional Arizona projects, several areas fit the travel center chain’s typical site-selection strategy.
Why Another Arizona Location Makes Sense
Buc-ee’s generally targets major highway corridors with heavy long-distance traffic, strong tourism activity and enough land to support its large-format stores. Arizona’s combination of interstate travel, tourism and population growth makes it a state that could potentially support more than one location.
The Goodyear store will primarily serve the Phoenix metropolitan area and travelers along Interstate 10. However, large portions of northern, eastern and southern Arizona remain well outside the reach of that location.
Most Likely Arizona Locations
Flagstaff Area (Interstate 40 and Interstate 17)
Flagstaff may be the strongest candidate for a future Arizona Buc-ee’s.
The city sits at the junction of Interstate 40 and Interstate 17, one of the most important highway intersections in the Southwest. The area attracts travelers heading to the Grand Canyon, northern Arizona, Las Vegas, New Mexico and California.
A Buc-ee’s near Flagstaff would serve both tourists and long-distance interstate traffic year-round.
Tucson Area (Interstate 10)
Tucson is another logical possibility.
As Arizona’s second-largest metropolitan area, Tucson sits along Interstate 10 between Phoenix and the Mexican border. A location on the outskirts of Tucson could serve travelers heading between Arizona, New Mexico and Texas while also drawing local customers.
Kingman Area (Interstate 40 and U.S. 93)
Kingman has become one of the Southwest’s most important travel crossroads.
Located along Interstate 40 and the route connecting Phoenix and Las Vegas, the city experiences substantial tourist and commercial traffic. A Buc-ee’s there would serve travelers heading to Nevada, California and northern Arizona.
Casa Grande Area (Interstate 10 and Interstate 8)
Casa Grande occupies a strategic location between Phoenix and Tucson.
The city continues to experience rapid growth and sits near the junction of Interstate 10 and Interstate 8. The corridor handles significant passenger and freight traffic, making it a strong contender for future commercial development.
Yuma Area (Interstate 8)
Yuma represents another possibility, particularly if Buc-ee’s seeks to expand farther west.
The city serves travelers moving between Arizona and Southern California and experiences heavy seasonal tourism. While traffic volumes are lower than those near Phoenix or Tucson, the location could still fit Buc-ee’s long-term expansion model.
Less Likely but Possible
The rapidly growing Prescott region could eventually attract interest, but the area’s highway network does not provide the same interstate access found in Flagstaff, Tucson or Casa Grande.
Similarly, another Phoenix-area location appears less likely in the near future given the size and regional reach of the new Goodyear store.
What Happens Next?
For now, Buc-ee’s remains focused on opening its first Arizona location in Goodyear and continuing expansion projects in states such as North Carolina, Louisiana, Kansas and Wisconsin.
However, Arizona’s growing population, tourism industry and major highway corridors make it a strong candidate for additional Buc-ee’s growth. If the company eventually decides to add a second Arizona location, Flagstaff, Tucson and Kingman appear to offer the strongest combination of traffic, visibility and strategic positioning.
While no second Arizona Buc-ee’s has been announced, the state’s transportation network and continued growth make future expansion a realistic possibility.
