Plans for what would become the closest Buc-ee’s location to Maryland residents are moving forward, as a proposed site in Stafford County, Virginia, cleared a key hurdle this week.
The Stafford County Planning Commission voted 4-3 on Wednesday to approve the plan, advancing it to the Board of Supervisors for final consideration later this year. A specific timeline for that vote has not yet been announced.
The approval came despite a recommendation from planning staff to deny the proposal, citing concerns about traffic in the area. The split vote reflects ongoing debate over the project, which has drawn both strong support and opposition from the community.
If ultimately approved, the massive travel center would be built just off I-95 at exit 140 in Stafford County. Plans, according to FOX 5’s Sydney Persing, call for approximately 120 gas pumps, a 74,000 square foot convenience store, and more than 700 parking spaces, all situated on roughly 36 acres.
At about 52 miles from Bethesda, the proposed location would likely become the most accessible Buc-ee’s for Montgomery County and the broader Maryland region. Many consider Stafford County to be on the outer edge of Northern Virginia, but still within a reasonable driving distance for day trips or highway stops.
Buc-ee’s has continued expanding its footprint across the Mid-Atlantic in recent years. Virginia’s first location opened on June 30 in Mount Crawford, located in the Shenandoah Valley. Another planned Virginia site in New Kent County has been pushed back, with some reports indicating a possible opening as late as 2031.
