TENNESSEE — Tennessee already has a growing Buc-ee’s presence, with locations operating in Crossville, Sevierville and Smiths Grove just across the Kentucky border serving parts of northern Tennessee. In addition, a new Buc-ee’s is under development in Murfreesboro. Despite that expansion, there are still several areas of the state that could support another location if the Texas-based travel center chain continues its rapid growth.
Buc-ee’s has expanded aggressively throughout the Southeast and Midwest in recent years, targeting major interstate corridors with high traffic volumes, large amounts of available land and strong tourism activity. The company continues to announce projects in new states while also adding locations in states where it already operates.
Although no additional Tennessee locations have been announced beyond those already open or under development, several areas stand out as logical possibilities for future expansion.
Why Tennessee Remains Attractive
Tennessee is crossed by some of the nation’s busiest interstate highways, including Interstate 40, Interstate 24, Interstate 75, Interstate 81 and Interstate 26. The state serves as a major transportation corridor connecting the Midwest, Southeast and East Coast.
The combination of tourism, freight traffic and population growth makes Tennessee one of the strongest markets in the region for large-format travel centers.
Most Likely Future Tennessee Locations
Jackson Area (Interstate 40)
If Buc-ee’s looks to expand into western Tennessee, Jackson may be the strongest candidate.
Located roughly halfway between Memphis and Nashville along Interstate 40, Jackson serves as a major regional hub and attracts significant interstate traffic. A Buc-ee’s in the area would fill a geographic gap in the company’s Tennessee footprint while serving travelers moving across the state.
The availability of land near Interstate 40 interchanges also aligns with Buc-ee’s typical development requirements.
Tri-Cities Area (Interstate 81 and Interstate 26)
Northeast Tennessee remains one of the most underserved regions when it comes to Buc-ee’s locations.
A store near Johnson City, Kingsport or Bristol would capture traffic from Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina and travelers heading through the Appalachian region. Interstate 81 is one of the busiest trucking corridors in the eastern United States, making the area particularly attractive from a transportation standpoint.
Memphis Area (Interstate 40 and Interstate 55)
The Memphis region could eventually attract interest due to its strategic location as one of America’s largest freight and logistics centers.
While Buc-ee’s generally avoids dense urban environments, a location on the outskirts of the Memphis metropolitan area could serve interstate travelers moving between Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee.
Cleveland Area (Interstate 75)
Southeast Tennessee remains another possibility.
A location near Cleveland along Interstate 75 would serve travelers heading between Chattanooga and Knoxville while also capturing traffic moving between Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and the Midwest.
Cookeville Area (Interstate 40)
Cookeville sits along one of Tennessee’s busiest stretches of Interstate 40 and continues to experience population and commercial growth.
While Crossville already serves much of the Upper Cumberland region, Cookeville’s larger population and central location could make it a long-term candidate if Buc-ee’s ever pursued additional coverage along the corridor.
Less Likely Candidates
Nashville and Chattanooga have strong traffic counts, but the Murfreesboro project and existing nearby locations may reduce the need for additional stores in those regions. Similarly, eastern Tennessee is already served by the Sevierville location, which benefits from heavy tourism traffic associated with the Great Smoky Mountains.
What Happens Next?
For now, Buc-ee’s remains focused on completing its Murfreesboro project and expanding into additional states across the country. No plans have been announced for another Tennessee location beyond those already operating or under construction.
However, if the company decides to add another Tennessee store in the future, western Tennessee near Jackson, northeast Tennessee in the Tri-Cities region, or the outskirts of Memphis appear to be among the most logical choices. Each area offers the combination of interstate traffic, available land and regional reach that Buc-ee’s has consistently targeted throughout its nationwide expansion.
While any future Tennessee expansion remains speculative, the state’s importance as a transportation hub makes it a strong candidate for continued Buc-ee’s growth in the years ahead.
