Navigate to Buc-ee’s Mansfield
I-71 & State Route 39, Mansfield, OH 44903
Located right off Interstate 71 (Exit 169) in Richland County
Ohio · Location Watch
Buc-ee’s Mansfield, Ohio: Ohio’s Second Buc-ee’s, and the Fight Over It
By Buc-ee’s Menu Travel Team | Fact-Checked & Updated: August 2026
Is Buc-ee’s open in Ruston, Louisiana?
Buc-ee’s Ruston is currently under construction off I-20 at Tarbutton Road and is projected to open in mid-2027. Following its October 2025 groundbreaking, work is underway on the 74,000-square-foot facility, which will feature 120 gas pumps, 700 parking spots, and a full Texas BBQ center.
Here is where the Ruston project currently stands, why state permitting delayed it, and what to expect when it opens.
officials
Is Buc-ee’s Coming to Mansfield, Ohio?
Yes, at least as far as city approvals go. Mansfield City Council unanimously approved a development agreement bringing a 74,000-square-foot Buc-ee’s with 120 fueling stations to a 37.5-acre site near the Interstate 71 and State Route 39 interchange. Mayor Jodie Perry publicly celebrated the vote, pointing to an estimated $9 million in annual local payroll, while Richland County Commissioner Tony Vero called it a major investment that would put the area in front of millions of travelers each year.
Buc-ee’s is targeting a second-quarter 2028 opening — still nearly two years out, and notably later than Ohio’s first location took to get built.
See Also: Looking for Ohio’s open Buc-ee’s, or want the full picture of both locations in one place? Check our Buc-ee’s Ohio guide for Huber Heights hours, menu, and everything statewide.
Not Everyone in Mansfield Is On Board
Unlike Ohio’s first Buc-ee’s in Huber Heights, which moved forward with little public friction, the Mansfield project has run into real local opposition. More than 1,800 people have signed a petition against it, citing traffic, environmental, and safety concerns. Local farmer Nick Stadelman has been one of the more vocal opponents, arguing the development would negatively affect his farming operation near the site. The council’s approval passed anyway, but the petition signals this rollout won’t be as quiet as Ohio’s first.
Pro Tip: City council approval and a development agreement aren’t the same as a done deal. Annexation, final site engineering, and permitting still have to play out, and local opposition at this scale sometimes leads to added public hearings or design conditions before construction begins.
How the Project Has Moved So Far
March 9, 2026
Mayor Jodie Perry announces a petition for annexation has been filed with the city, Richland County, and Madison and Mifflin Townships.
March 17, 2026
Mansfield City Council votes to advance the project toward final approval.
April 2026
Planning Commission takes up the rezoning petition, filed on behalf of the estate that owns the land; Richland County commissioners approve annexing 112.5 acres into the city.
May 19, 2026
City Council votes on final annexation approval and a development plan mapped out with Buc-ee’s.
June 2026
Council unanimously approves the development agreement. Within weeks, a petition opposing the project surpasses 1,800 signatures.
Targeted: Q2 2028
Buc-ee’s stated target opening. No groundbreaking date has been announced yet.
How Mansfield Compares to Ohio’s First Buc-ee’s
Ohio’s first Buc-ee’s opened April 6, 2026, in Huber Heights, near Dayton, at the intersection of State Route 235 and Interstate 70. That project moved from construction start to grand opening in about 20 months, with comparatively little local pushback. Mansfield’s process has already taken longer to reach approval and still faces organized opposition — a real contrast that’s worth knowing if you’re trying to gauge how reliable that 2028 target actually is.
Fuel
120 fueling stations
Store Size
74,000 sq ft
Site
~35–37.5 acres of a 112.5-acre annexation
Payroll Estimate
~$9 million/year, per Mayor Perry
Interchange
I-71 & State Route 39
Opposition
1,800+ signature petition, ongoing
Where’s the Nearest Open Buc-ee’s Right Now?
Huber Heights, Ohio
Ohio’s first Buc-ee’s, open 24/7 at 8000 State Route 235, near Dayton, off I-70. Opened April 6, 2026, with 108 fuel pumps and EV charging — currently the only operating Buc-ee’s in the state, and the closest option for most Ohioans until Mansfield is built.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Bottom Line
Mansfield’s Buc-ee’s has cleared its first big hurdle — a unanimous council vote and a signed development agreement — but it’s doing so against real, organized local resistance that Ohio’s first location never had to face. With a target opening of Q2 2028 and no groundbreaking date yet, this is one worth watching for both how it’s built and whether the opposition changes anything along the way.