Plans for what would become the closest Buc-ee’s location to Maryland residents officially received final approval overnight following a lengthy and often heated public meeting in Stafford County, Virginia.
According to FOX 5, the Stafford County Board of Supervisors voted 5-2 shortly before 1am Wednesday to approve the massive travel center project along I-95. The meeting reportedly began at 5pm Tuesday and stretched late into the night before the final vote was taken.
The approved Buc-ee’s would be built near Exit 140 off Interstate 95 in Stafford County, about 52 miles from Bethesda, making it the most accessible location for many Montgomery County and Maryland residents.
Plans call for a roughly 74,000 SF convenience store featuring approximately 120 gas pumps and more than 700 parking spaces spread across about 36 acres. The vote comes about two months after the Stafford County Planning Commission narrowly approved the proposal in a 4-3 vote despite recommendations from county planning staff to deny the project over traffic concerns.
The proposal has generated strong reactions on both sides, with supporters pointing to potential economic benefits and Buc-ee’s popularity, while opponents raised concerns about congestion and the overall impact on the area surrounding the interstate corridor.
Buc-ee’s has continued expanding aggressively throughout the Mid-Atlantic region in recent years. Virginia’s first location opened in Mount Crawford in the Shenandoah Valley, while another planned Virginia site in New Kent County has reportedly been delayed, with some reports suggesting it may not open until as late as 2031.
For many Maryland residents, particularly those in Montgomery County and the DC region, the Stafford County location is expected to become a major draw once construction is completed. An opening timeframe is not yet available and it may take over a year for construction to even begin.
