I finally made the trek out to Buc-ee’s in Goodyear. It’s Arizona’s first Buc-ee’s location and it was an experience. I had never been to a Buc-ee’s before, so I went with a friend on a Sunday to see what all the fuss was about.

We arrived around 11 a.m., and it was busy. Very busy. The parking lot was packed, the store was crowded, and there were people everywhere. But the lines did move.

The Brisket Sandwich is the Main Event

We headed toward the food counters and happened to catch a fresh batch of brisket sandwiches being made. Every so often, an announcement would be made that more sandwiches were ready, and people would immediately start grabbing them. The lady in front of me had no less than 8 in her cart and they were flying off the counter. I ended up waiting somewhere between five and 10 minutes for one, but it was worth the wait.

The only size available when I ordered was the XXL brisket sandwich, which came to about $15 with tax. Was it expensive? Yes, especially because that $15 gets you just the sandwich and no side and no drink. But the brisket was fresh, hot and tasty, so I wasn’t disappointed. It definitely wasn’t your average gas station sandwich.

My friend ordered a brisket tortilla burrito, which she said was delicious. And here’s something I wish I had known beforehand: it didn’t have egg in it. Had I known that, I probably would have ordered the burrito instead! She said the tortilla was very fresh and good. She also got an apple pie, which was basically what would happen if a McDonald’s apple pie got a deep-fried makeover. She said it was amazing.

Bring Your Own Table

One thing that surprised me was the lack of seating. There are no indoor tables, and we didn’t see any outdoor seating either, so we ended up eating our food in the car. And, your car is going to smell like brisket! I understand that Buc-ee’s isn’t really designed to be a traditional restaurant, but I would love to see a few picnic tables outside. It would make grabbing food and eating it there much more enjoyable, especially if you are on a long drive and need to stretch your legs and take a break.

Then There’s the Store

After eating, we wandered around the store which is basically an attraction in itself. There is so much stuff. Clothing, sports gear, home décor, souvenirs, pet toys, snacks, food, drinks and Buc-ee’s merchandise seemingly everywhere you look.

Naturally, we had to find the Buc-ee’s beaver. There was actually a line to meet the mascot, which made me laugh. People were waiting to get their photos with Buc-ee. And yes, there are Buc-ee’s beaver onesies for both adults and kids. Because apparently that’s something we all need.

There were also plenty of pet toys, although I was disappointed that I didn’t see one featuring the actual beaver.

Beaver Nuggets Are Everywhere

One of the things you will see absolutely everywhere at Buc-ee’s is Beaver Nuggets. If you’ve never had them, they’re essentially little pieces of puffed corn coated in a sweet caramel-like glaze. They’re crunchy, light and addictive, sort of like a caramel corn snack in a bite-sized form. I bought a bag of the dark chocolate Beaver Nuggets, and those were really good (and gone quickly!). I also bought cinnamon and regular versions, although I haven’t tried those yet.

Don’t Skip the Fudge

I probably should have known better, but I was convinced to buy fudge after trying one of the samples. The samples worked. I bought the chocolate pecan fudge, and it was SO good. The only problem was that I was visiting Buc-ee’s in the middle of an Arizona summer. The fudge barely made it home before it started melting. So if you’re buying fudge in Goodyear during the summer, maybe bring a cooler. Or, you know, eat it before you leave.

Jerky, Bakery and Coffee

Buc-ee’s is also known for its jerky, and there was plenty of it throughout the store. They had packaged jerky available, but I’ve heard that the fresh jerky from the counter is the way to go. There was a long line at the fresh jerky counter, so apparently a lot of people agree.

The bakery section was also busy and had plenty of things that looked tempting. It definitely wasn’t a quick stop for a cup of coffee and a snack. There are enough food choices that you could easily spend quite a while browsing. Speaking of coffee, the coffee bar was impressive. There were tons of syrups and creamers, and I ended up getting an iced coffee that was delicious.

And Yes, There Are a LOT of Gas Pumps

Of course, Buc-ee’s is a travel center, so we can’t forget the gas. There are more than 120 gas pumps at the Goodyear location. That’s a lot of gas pumps.

Is Buc-ee’s Worth the Drive?

For me, yes at least once. The Goodyear location is about a 50-minute drive for me, so it’s not somewhere I’m going to casually pop over to every weekend. Would I drive 50 minutes just to get a brisket sandwich? Probably not. But I’m glad I made the trek to see what Buc-ee’s was all about. It was fun and there was something entertaining about walking through a massive store filled with everything from brisket and fudge to beaver-themed clothing and an enormous selection of snacks. I also think I’d like to go back around the holidays. I’m curious to see the seasonal merchandise and decorations, and I suspect Buc-ee’s goes all out for Christmas.

If you’ve never been to a Buc-ee’s, I think it’s worth making the trip at least once. Don’t think of it as simply a gas station. Think of it as a very large, very busy, slightly funny roadside attraction where you can fill your tank, eat brisket, buy a beaver onesie, sample fudge and leave with several bags of snacks you didn’t intend to purchase.