Buc-ee's Arkansas: Benton Now Open (First in State) 🎉
Arkansas Buc-ee's Map
1 Open · 1 PlannedHow to Use the Arkansas Buc-ee's Map
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Arkansas got its first Buc-ee's on Monday, August 17, 2026 in Benton, at 1400 Highway 229 off Interstate 30 Exit 114 near Haskell. The 74,000 square foot travel center became the chain's 58th store and made Arkansas the 14th state on the Buc-ee's map. Doors opened at 6:00 AM CDT, ribbon-cutting was held at 10:00 AM CDT, and the location is projected to draw 5 million annual visitors.
🎊 Arkansas's First Buc-ee's
✅ NOW OPEN!
Doors opened Monday, August 17, 2026 at 6:00 AM CDT
1400 Highway 229, Benton, AR · I-30 Exit 114 · 24/7 · 365 days
Where Is Arkansas's First Buc-ee's Located?
Arkansas's first Buc-ee's is at 1400 Highway 229 in Benton, roughly 30 miles southwest of downtown Little Rock. The store sits at Exit 114 on Interstate 30 near the community of Haskell in Saline County. Its position on the primary I-30 corridor between Little Rock and Hot Springs puts it directly in the path of the state's busiest daily and weekend traffic flows.
When Did the Arkansas Buc-ee's Open?
Buc-ee's Benton opened Monday, August 17, 2026 at 6:00 AM Central Daylight Time, with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony held at 10:00 AM. The store now operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, including all holidays. Doors are open continuously with no closing time.
What Are the Full Details for Buc-ee's Benton?
Buc-ee's Benton is a 74,000 square foot travel center with 120 fueling positions, roughly 750 parking spaces, and staffing of 200 to 250 employees. It offers the full Buc-ee's lineup: fresh Texas barbecue, jerky wall, homemade fudge, kolaches, Beaver Nuggets, bakery items, and the chain's signature clean restrooms.
| Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Store Number | #58 chain-wide |
| Address | 1400 Highway 229, Benton, AR |
| Interstate Exit | I-30 Exit 114 (near Haskell) |
| Store Size | 74,000 sq ft |
| Fuel Pumps | 120 |
| Parking Spaces | ~750 |
| Employees at Opening | 200 to 250 |
| Grand Opening Date | Monday, August 17, 2026 |
| Opening Hour | 6:00 AM CDT |
| Ribbon Cutting | 10:00 AM CDT |
| Hours After Opening | 24/7, 365 days a year |
| Projected Annual Visitors | 5 million (per Gov. Sanders) |
| Truck Access | No 18-wheelers permitted |
How Far Is Buc-ee's Benton from Major Arkansas and Regional Cities?
Benton Buc-ee's sits at the center of Arkansas's most-traveled corridors. Little Rock is 30 miles northeast, Hot Springs is 35 miles southwest, and Memphis is roughly 165 miles east via I-40. The location is genuinely within an hour of most Central Arkansas residents and functions as a natural halfway stop for anyone driving between the Ouachitas and the state capital.
| City | Distance | Approx. Drive Time | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, AR | ~30 miles | ~35 min | I-30 E |
| Hot Springs, AR | ~35 miles | ~40 min | US-70 W |
| Conway, AR | ~55 miles | ~1 hr | I-30 E to I-40 W |
| Fayetteville, AR | ~200 miles | ~3 hr | I-30 E to I-40 W |
| Fort Smith, AR | ~155 miles | ~2 hr 20 min | I-30 E to I-40 W |
| Memphis, TN | ~165 miles | ~2 hr 30 min | I-30 E to I-40 E |
| Texarkana, TX/AR | ~120 miles | ~1 hr 45 min | I-30 W |
| Springfield, MO | ~215 miles | ~3 hr 30 min | US-65 N via Little Rock |
| Dallas, TX | ~305 miles | ~4 hr 30 min | I-30 W |
| Oklahoma City, OK | ~330 miles | ~4 hr 45 min | I-30 E to I-40 W |
What Happened on Grand Opening Day (August 17, 2026)?
Opening morning drew heavy traffic and long lines at Exit 114, matching predictions that Benton's crowds would rank among the largest in Buc-ee's history. Local officials had confirmed ARDOT construction near the exit ahead of opening. The store now welcomes travelers 24/7 and expects opening-week crowds to remain elevated for the first several days.
Tips for visiting Benton in the opening weeks:
- Arrive very early or very late. The Goodyear, Arizona opening on June 22, 2026 drew 41,000 customers on day one. Benton is expected to exceed that.
- Fuel up before arriving if you only want to see the store. Pump lines can wrap the property in the first 24 hours.
- Traffic delays at Exit 114 are likely. ARDOT construction was still active as of August 7, 2026 per KARK, and both directions of I-30 traffic will funnel through the exit.
- Skip 18-wheeler routes. Buc-ee's does not permit semi trucks on the property, keeping the parking lot passenger-vehicle only.
- Ribbon cutting is at 10:00 AM CDT. Benton Mayor Tom Farmer, Ward 2 City Council Members Ann Spencer-Cole and Evelyn Reed, Bill Eldridge, and A&P Commission board members will attend.
- Weekday follow-up visits will be far calmer. If you can wait one week, the Tuesday through Thursday crowds after opening week are dramatically smaller.
Why Did Buc-ee's Choose Benton for Its First Arkansas Location?
Buc-ee's picked Benton because Saline County sits at the geographic and traffic center of Arkansas. Director of Real Estate Stan Beard said the company chose Benton as "the Heart of Arkansas," positioning the store to catch travelers headed to or from Hot Springs, Little Rock, and destinations across the Natural State on Interstate 30.
Three specific factors made Benton the clear first choice:
- Interstate 30 traffic volume. I-30 is the primary corridor connecting Little Rock to the Dallas metro area, carrying steady commercial and tourist traffic year-round.
- Hot Springs tourism. Hot Springs National Park and the surrounding entertainment district attract roughly 2.5 million visitors annually per the National Park Service, most of whom pass through the Benton area on their way in or out.
- Central Arkansas population base. Little Rock, North Little Rock, Bryant, and Conway together give the store more than 700,000 potential local customers within a 45-minute drive.
What Is the Story Behind Arkansas's Historic Groundbreaking?
The April 16, 2025 groundbreaking in Benton set a company record. CEO Arch "Beaver" Aplin III called it "the biggest groundbreaking" in Buc-ee's 43-year history, with roughly 400 attendees, more than 20 ceremonial shovels, and Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders on hand. The event was bigger than any Texas groundbreaking, unusual for a chain rooted in its home state.
The full three-year Arkansas timeline:
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| July 2023 | City of Benton purchases 511-acre tract from Thomas family for $7.6 million, the largest land acquisition in Benton history |
| August 2024 | Reveal at Salt Bowl 2024 at War Memorial Stadium: Gov. Sanders confirms Buc-ee's is coming to Arkansas via pre-kickoff video |
| February 2025 | Original planned groundbreaking date (rescheduled due to rain) |
| April 16, 2025 | Actual groundbreaking with 400 attendees and Gov. Sanders, largest in Buc-ee's history |
| July 7 to 9, 2026 | Mass hiring event at Embassy Suites in Little Rock, 11301 Financial Centre Parkway |
| May 2026 | Official grand opening date confirmed: August 17, 2026 |
| August 17, 2026 | Doors open at 6:00 AM CDT, ribbon cutting at 10:00 AM CDT |
Governor Sanders said at the groundbreaking that the Benton location is expected to draw roughly 5 million visitors annually, with about half traveling from outside Arkansas. Saline County Judge Matt Brumley later gave a more conservative estimate of 3 million after touring the completed facility.
Will There Be More Buc-ee's Locations in Arkansas?
Yes. A second Arkansas location is planned for West Memphis in Crittenden County, targeted for 2027 or 2028. CEO Arch "Beaver" Aplin III also told Nexstar's KLRT that the company is actively looking for a third Arkansas site, calling the state "a great state" with "a lot of interstates going through it, a lot of travel, a lot of traffic."
Current Arkansas expansion roadmap:
- Store 1: Benton (Opened August 17, 2026). I-30 Exit 114, first in the state, now open.
- Store 2: West Memphis (Target 2027 to 2028). I-40 corridor, positioned near the Mississippi River crossing to Tennessee.
- Store 3: Unnamed (Under evaluation). CEO confirmed active site search. Corridor candidates include Northwest Arkansas (I-49) and the US-65 route to Missouri.
What Are the Best Arkansas Road Trips Through Benton Buc-ee's?
Benton's position on Interstate 30 makes it a natural anchor for three high-value Arkansas road trips. Whether you're heading to the Ouachita Mountains, chasing Hot Springs bathhouses, or connecting to neighboring state Buc-ee's stores, the I-30 Exit 114 stop shortens every route by turning it into a proper meal-and-fuel stop rather than an emergency pit stop.
Little Rock to Hot Springs Loop
The classic weekend drive from Little Rock to Hot Springs runs 55 miles one way. Benton Buc-ee's sits at the natural midpoint. Stop on the way for coffee and kolaches, stop again on the return for brisket and fudge. Budget 25 minutes each way.
Dallas to Little Rock via I-30
The 305 mile I-30 corridor from Dallas to Little Rock has limited large-format travel centers. Benton becomes the natural final Arkansas stop before entering Little Rock, or the first substantial Arkansas break after crossing from Texarkana. Positioned about 40 miles from downtown Little Rock, it works as a "close enough to arrive relaxed" break point.
Little Rock to Springfield, Missouri via US-65
Head northeast from Benton to Little Rock, then pick up US-65 north through the Ozarks to Springfield. It is roughly 215 miles from Benton to Buc-ee's Springfield in Missouri, which sits at I-44 Exit 84. Two Buc-ee's on one road trip across the Ozark region.
Benton to Memphis and Beyond via I-40
Head east on I-30 to Little Rock, then I-40 east crosses the state to Memphis (165 miles from Benton). Once the West Memphis Buc-ee's opens in 2027 or 2028, this corridor gains a second in-state stop right at the Tennessee border. From Memphis, drivers heading south on I-55 can continue to Mississippi Gulf Coast attractions and eventually Mississippi's Harrison County Buc-ee's on I-10.
What Does Buc-ee's Benton Mean for the Local Economy?
Buc-ee's Benton represents 200 to 250 full-time jobs with starting pay above minimum wage, full benefits, a 6 percent 401(k) match, and three weeks of paid vacation. Buc-ee's ranks among the top five U.S. retailers for entry-level compensation. Beyond direct hires, city officials expect the store to attract secondary commercial development, including restaurant chains, along the Highway 229 corridor.
The economic impact extends beyond store operations:
- The 511-acre Thomas family land purchase was the largest in Benton's history at $7.6 million
- Local sales tax revenue is projected to increase significantly given 5 million annual visitors, with half from outside Arkansas
- Additional retail and dining development along the Highway 229 corridor is expected to follow within 18 to 24 months of opening
- Saline County positions itself as a stopping point rather than a pass-through zone