Battle Of The KC Area Travel Stops: Buc-ee’s vs. Wally’s

When I first saw the article that Buc-ee's was putting a new store in Missouri it didn't register. I thought I had written about this months ago. Turns out, I was wrong, I wrote about Wally's bringing their Great American Road Trip concept to Kansas City. Doc, the writer of the latest Buc-ee's story is writing about Buc-ees putting a store in near Kansas Speedway at Interstate 70 and 110th Street. This sets up a rivalry, a battle of  Kansas City Travel Stops—the beaver vs. the bear.

For the uninitiated, both Buc-ee's and Wally's are travel stops/tourist traps that cater to families. They are part convenience stores, part gas stations, part fast food restaurants, and both are a hoot if you need a break from driving. Both also feature cartoon mascots, Buc-ees, Buc-ee Beaver who adorn their billboards, and Wally's Wallybear, who along with his forest creature friends encourage you to visit Wally's.

Wally's is setting up shop off Interstate 70 and Noland Road, while Buc-ees is setting up shop off Interstate 70 near the Kansas Speedway. I don't know who the winner will be location-wise. Both seem like great locations if you ask me.

While neither store is open at the moment, it does set up the question, which store is better Buc-ee's or Wally's? I think preferences will be driven by previous experience with the stores, or which mascot you think is cuter.

I visited Wally's on Interstate 55 in Pontiac, Illinois at the end of 2022 and asked: Was a Stop At Wally's As Fun As Buc-ee's?

I wrote, "Wally's seems to be missing the killer instinct to put Wally Bear and their logo on everything and anything someone could want. I was hoping to do some kitschy Christmas shopping, but when it was all said and done I left with some Wally's branded candy and one other item to use as stocking stuffers. When we walked out of Buc-ee's, they had suckered us into buying a couple of thermal mugs, a t-shirt, a hat, beaver nuggets, and a bunch of snacks and candy."

You can get more in-depth with my visit from December of 2022 here if you want to.

At this point, I'd have to give the edge to Buc-ee's. Don't get me wrong both places are fun, but I've been seeing Buc-ee Beaver and his buck-teethed smile on billboards for years and I left the store feeling tickled when I visited. I enjoyed Wally's but I didn't come away with those same feelings.

One thing's for sure, they're both sure to sell a bunch of t-shirts and BBQ.