Buc-ee's in Kentucky: Richmond, Smiths Grove & What's Coming Next

Kentucky has two open Buc-ee's locations: Richmond (#55) on I-75 at Exit 83, opened April 2022, and Smiths Grove (#56) on I-65 at Exit 38, opened June 2024. Both stores span approximately 53,000 square feet with 120 fuel pumps each. A third location in Oak Grove is planned off I-24, though it has been delayed until 2029 according to Kentucky Today (May 2026).

What Are the Key Facts About Buc-ee's in Kentucky?

Kentucky has two operational Buc-ee's mega-stores. Both are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and offer identical core amenities including 120 fuel pumps, DEF, ethanol-free fuel options, and Tesla Supercharger stations.

Where Exactly Are the Two Kentucky Buc-ee's Located?

Richmond Buc-ee's sits on I-75 at Exit 83, roughly 30 miles south of Lexington in central Kentucky. Smiths Grove Buc-ee's is on I-65 at Exit 38, about 20 miles north of Bowling Green. Both are positioned on major north-south interstate corridors.

Richmond, KY (I-75, Exit 83) — The Bourbon Country Gateway

The Richmond store was Kentucky's first Buc-ee's, opening in April 2022 to long lines and considerable fanfare. It sits right off Exit 83 on I-75, making it a natural pit stop for anyone driving the classic Ohio-to-Tennessee route.

What makes Richmond stand out beyond its highway position is the regional context. Lexington, the self-styled horse capital of the world, is just 30 miles north. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail curls through the countryside nearby, with Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles roughly 40 miles away and Maker's Mark Distillery in Loretto around 65 miles to the west. Richmond is also within easy reach of Fort Boonesborough State Park and Eastern Kentucky University.

Nearby attractions from Richmond:

• Lexington city center: ~30 miles north via I-75
• Woodford Reserve Distillery (Versailles): ~40 miles northwest
• Kentucky Horse Park: ~45 miles northwest
• Fort Boonesborough State Park: ~15 miles north

One honest note for road trippers: this location draws serious crowds. TripAdvisor reviewers consistently flag the parking lot and store as extremely busy, particularly during summer weekends and University of Kentucky game days. Multiple visitors recommend arriving early morning to beat the rush. One reviewer noted arriving at 2:30 AM and finding the store refreshingly quiet, which tracks with Buc-ee's always-open model.

Smiths Grove, KY (I-65, Exit 38) — The Cave Country Connector

Construction on the Smiths Grove location began in June 2023, with the doors opening in June 2024. The store is positioned off Exit 38 on I-65, sitting roughly 20 miles north of Bowling Green and 60 miles south of Louisville.

The I-65 corridor it anchors is one of the most-traveled stretches of highway in the Mid-South. Nashville sits about 75 miles to the south; Louisville is about 60 miles north. That places Smiths Grove nearly halfway between two major cities with vibrant food, music, and entertainment scenes.

The headline attraction nearby is Mammoth Cave National Park, the world's longest known cave system, located just 30 miles to the northwest. The National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green is another 20 miles down the road. The Smiths Grove store is also listed by Bowling Green's official tourism website as a destination in its own right, which tells you something about its regional pull.

Nearby attractions from Smiths Grove:

• Mammoth Cave National Park: ~30 miles northwest
• National Corvette Museum (Bowling Green): ~20 miles south
• Louisville: ~60 miles north via I-65
• Nashville, TN: ~75 miles south via I-65

How Far Is Each Kentucky Buc-ee's From Major Cities?

Richmond Buc-ee's is closest to Lexington (30 miles) and Cincinnati (100 miles). Smiths Grove Buc-ee's is closest to Bowling Green (20 miles) and Nashville (75 miles). Choose your stop based on which corridor matches your route.

When Did Buc-ee's Open in Kentucky?

Buc-ee's opened its first Kentucky store in Richmond in April 2022. The second Kentucky location in Smiths Grove opened in June 2024, with construction having started in June 2023. Kentucky was part of Buc-ee's aggressive expansion beyond Texas that accelerated from 2020 onward.

Kentucky's expansion timeline is worth knowing for context:

• April 2022: Richmond (#55) opens on I-75 — Kentucky's first Buc-ee's
• June 2023: Construction begins in Smiths Grove
• June 2024: Smiths Grove (#56) opens on I-65

Both stores arrived during a period of rapid Buc-ee's growth across the Southeast and Midwest. The chain's willingness to build full-scale, 53,000-square-foot travel centers in Kentucky reflected the state's strong highway traffic volumes on both I-75 and I-65.

Is Richmond Buc-ee's a Good Base for the Kentucky Bourbon Trail?

Yes. Richmond Buc-ee's on I-75 is roughly 30 minutes south of Lexington, which puts it within practical reach of several Kentucky Bourbon Trail distilleries. Woodford Reserve in Versailles is about 40 miles from the store; Maker's Mark in Loretto is approximately 65 miles west.

The Richmond store's position on I-75 makes it the logical first or last stop for a Bourbon Trail road trip originating from the south. Travelers heading up from Tennessee or Georgia can fuel up, stock the cooler, and push toward Lexington's Bluegrass region before the distillery tours begin.

Bourbon Trail distilleries accessible from Richmond:

• Woodford Reserve Distillery, Versailles: ~40 miles northwest
• Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort: ~50 miles northwest
• Wild Turkey Distillery, Lawrenceburg: ~45 miles northwest
• Maker's Mark Distillery, Loretto: ~65 miles west

What Makes Smiths Grove Buc-ee's the Right Stop for Mammoth Cave Visitors?

Smiths Grove Buc-ee's on I-65 is approximately 30 miles from Mammoth Cave National Park's main entrance. It is the closest large-format travel center to the park, making it the obvious stop for restocking snacks, refueling, and grabbing a brisket sandwich before or after cave tours.

Mammoth Cave National Park draws around 600,000 visitors per year. Most arrive via I-65, which takes them directly past Smiths Grove's Exit 38. The store functions as the last major provisioning point before the national park's limited dining options take over.

The Corvette Museum connection adds another angle. Bowling Green hosts the National Corvette Museum, the only museum in the world dedicated to the iconic American sports car. At just 20 miles from Smiths Grove, it is a natural same-day pairing for road trippers.

One traveler review from early 2026 described a quarter-mile backup on I-65 North just to reach Smiths Grove's exit ramp on a busy weekend. The lesson: timing matters. Early morning visits on weekdays run smoothly.

What Is the Status of the Oak Grove Buc-ee's — and When Will It Actually Open?

The Oak Grove Buc-ee's in southwest Kentucky has been delayed multiple times. As of May 2026, Kentucky Today reported the opening has been pushed back to 2029, according to Buc-ee's official website. Infrastructure challenges including road expansions, a new bridge, and a new water tower are required before construction can begin in full.

This is the biggest content gap across competing Kentucky Buc-ee's guides. Many sites still list the Oak Grove opening as "2026" or "2027." The actual current timeline, per Buc-ee's official website as reported by Kentucky Today in May 2026, is 2029.

Here is the full story:

• March 2022: Discussions begin for a Buc-ee's in the Clarksville, TN area
• 2022-2024: Site shifts from Clarksville, TN to Oak Grove, KY
• September 2024: Oak Grove City Council approves incentive package
• Mid-2025: Buc-ee's finalizes property purchase at southeast corner of I-24 and Pembroke-Oak Grove Road, Exit 89
• 2025-2026: Infrastructure assessments reveal major needs: road re-routing, new bridge, new water tower
• May 2026: Opening delayed to 2029 (third timeline change)

Oak Grove location details:

Which Kentucky Road Trips Are Best Served by Each Buc-ee's?

Richmond Buc-ee's is the ideal stop on the Cincinnati-to-Knoxville run via I-75, and the natural launchpad for Bourbon Trail road trips from Lexington. Smiths Grove Buc-ee's slots perfectly into Nashville-to-Louisville runs on I-65 and serves Mammoth Cave visitors heading in from either direction.

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