What makes Buc-ee’s bathrooms so special? We tested them to find out
Buc-ee’s has stores in Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, Kentucky, and yes, Tennessee. The Texas-based convenience store chain/cult built its reputation on three prongs. These prongs include a wide variety of food and snacks, lots of gas pumps, and perhaps the most well-known, unusually spacious and famously clean restrooms.
IN THIS ARTICLE
Why are Buc-ee’s bathrooms famous?
So why are spacious, clean restrooms such a big deal? Well, in my worst road trip bathroom experiences, I’ve seen dead lizards, live snakes, broken toilets and locks, along with many other mishaps. When you’re on the road, it’s nice to have a chain that you can rely on to have an abundance of clean, safe stalls to do your business.
And how is it so clean? At most locations I’ve visited, they usually have dedicated cleaning staff member who practically follows guests around with a broom. Also, Buc-ee’s has a bathroom trophy case to back up their claims of famously clean toilets. You see, Buc-ee’s not only has clean bathrooms. They have award-winning clean bathrooms. They officially won the title of cleanest restrooms in America in 2012 with Cintas, who ran a nationwide restroom contest.
What are the bathrooms like at Buc-ee’s?
They’re usually very clean. And also, they’re spacious. They have lots of stalls, sinks and urinals. There are also a lot of tiles. There’s also plenty of privacy in each stall with real doors. There are rarely any lines on the men’s side. The women’s side? I confirm there are frequent lines, but they move quickly thanks to bathroom attendants who actively point out available stalls. The entrances to both bathrooms are filled with art for sale. Most of which is pretty cool-looking stuff. I wouldn’t be ashamed to hang it on my walls at home. However, if someone asked where I got it, I don’t know that I’d be comfortable telling them from the walls of a Buc-ee’s bathroom in Adairsville, Georgia.
My only bad Buc-ee’s bathroom experience
Most of my Buc-ee’s experiences have been positive, but I did have a negative encounter once. We were traveling up I-75 back to Tennessee following a brief trip when we stopped at the first – and slightly inferior – of the two Georgia Buc-ee’s on I-75, Ft. Valley. There was no line to the men’s room, but I saw only one stall with a green (open) signal. I pulled the door open and was (at least Buc-ee’s) aghast.
Honestly, had this been some rando Sunoco on some godforsaken exit in the middle of the open road to nowhere, I might have powered through. But in a Buc-ee’s? Never! There was a liquid pooled at the base of the toilet. A few pieces of toilet paper dangled precariously off the seat and into the bowl. This was the Buc-ee’s equivalent of a crime scene.
Sadly, at this location, I could not “Potty Like a Rock Star.” Finally, another stall opened right next to the offending stall. I took it. I listened as another patron opened the stall door only to close it again in confusion. Can you hear the confusion in the closing of a bathroom stall door? I could.
Have you used a Buc-ee’s restroom? Was it worth the hype? Let us know in the comments.
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I have never been in a bathroom with an exit. The weekend I was at Buc ee’s there had been tournaments in Nashville. We came from Nashville back to Huntsville. The bathroom had at least 50 women lined up and about that many leaving. When they said there was a bathroom available I headed for it at the far end. I didn’t see the bathroom until I was in front of it. The middle wall had it blocked from me. I just pushed the handle and went in….the next door put me outside. I didn’t have time to see what each door looked like and didn’t notice an exit sign (if there was one). My girls have had a few laughs over my crisis and now I have also. They were the cleaniest bathrooms I have been in as much as I saw.
I love, love, love Bucee’s bathrooms. So refreshing to find a clean, litter free potty. Yeah, I’m 75 years old and take my perks when I find them.
The first time I went into a Buc-ee’s restroom….i came out and went to my husband saying “my God that was the cleanest restroom I have ever been in”…..so now, we are sold on Bucee’s plus the food was great too
It was the cleanest restroom I have ever seen! It was big, clean ,had a place to hang my purse and had an attendant checking each stall as you left to be sure all was ok! They would also point out any vacant stall when you entered ! Wow! I always ask for Buc-ees when we need a stop on our trips!!