I-80 & HWY 31 · GRETNA, NE · SARPY COUNTY
Nebraska’s First Buc-ee’s
Buc-ee’s is coming to the Omaha area — eventually
By Buc-ee’s Menu Travel Team | Fact-Checked & Updated: August 2026
Nebraska’s first Buc-ee’s isn’t in Omaha proper — it’s planned about 20 miles southwest, in Gretna, right off I-80. The project has cleared its zoning and incentive approvals, but it’s still in the early planning stage, with no groundbreaking date yet. Here’s everything confirmed so far.
01 Where Is It Actually Being Built?
Despite the “Omaha” searches, the planned site sits in Gretna, Nebraska — a fast-growing Omaha suburb about 20 miles southwest of downtown Omaha, roughly a 25-minute drive via I-80.
The site is on 43 annexed acres southeast of the I-80 and Highway 31 interchange, inside Gretna’s “Nebraska Crossing Good Life District” — the same area as the Nebraska Crossing outlet mall. It sits south of the outlet mall and east of the existing Flying J truck stop, right along one of the country’s busiest east-west interstates.
Pro Tip: If you’re searching for this thinking it’ll be inside Omaha city limits, adjust your expectations: it’s a Gretna address on I-80, not a stop you’ll find inside the metro’s core. Think “Nebraska Crossing outlet mall” as your mental landmark, not downtown Omaha.
02 Project Status: Site in Early Review
This is still an early-stage project. Approvals have been moving steadily since it was first announced, but as of now there’s no groundbreaking date and no confirmed opening date — only city estimates. Here’s the timeline so far:
SUMMER 2025 — EARLY TALKS BEGIN
The City of Gretna starts working with Buc-ee’s on a potential site in the Nebraska Crossing Good Life District.
JANUARY 2026 — ANNOUNCEMENT & ANNEXATION
Buc-ee’s and Gretna officials publicly confirm the project. The City Council gives initial approval to annex the 43-acre site.
FEBRUARY–MARCH 2026 — ANNEXATION FINALIZED
Two additional council readings finalize the annexation, officially bringing the site into city limits.
MAY 2026 — ZONING & PERMITS APPROVED
Gretna approves zoning changes and permits, clearing a major hurdle. City officials say Buc-ee’s hopes to break ground later in 2026.
JULY 2026 — INCENTIVE PACKAGE APPROVED
The City Council approves a deal worth up to $32 million in tax-based reimbursements for the project. This is where things stand as of early August 2026.
NEXT — GROUNDBREAKING (NO DATE YET)
Buc-ee’s has said it hopes to break ground in 2026, with city officials targeting a late 2028 completion — but neither is locked in.
Pro Tip: “Site in early review” is the honest way to describe this project right now: the paperwork and incentives are largely settled, but nothing has been built yet. Don’t plan a trip around this location for at least a couple of years.
03 Why Gretna The Incentive Deal Behind the Deal
This project exists largely because of Nebraska’s Good Life District program — a state incentive zone that cuts the state sales tax rate roughly in half (from 5.5% down to 2.75%) for qualifying developments. Gretna city administrator Paula Dennison has been direct about it: the incentive is what got Buc-ee’s to seriously consider Nebraska in the first place.
On top of that state-level incentive, the Gretna City Council approved a local agreement on July 29, 2026, that could provide Buc-ee’s up to $32 million in tax-based reimbursements. It’s a structured, performance-based deal tied to the project actually generating the promised tax revenue — not a check written up front.
Pro Tip: The size of this incentive package is a good sign for the project’s seriousness — cities don’t usually finalize $32 million agreements for developments they don’t expect to actually get built. It’s one reason this is further along than a typical “early rumor” location.
04 Planned Store Specs
These numbers come from city filings and reporting, and could still shift before construction begins.
05 Closest Buc-ee’s to Omaha Right Now
Until Gretna opens, Nebraska remains a Buc-ee’s-free state. If you want the real thing today, your closest options are:
| Location | Approx. distance from Omaha |
|---|---|
| Springfield, Missouri | ~330 miles |
| Berthoud, Colorado | ~490 miles |
Distances are approximate driving distances; both are well outside day-trip range from Omaha.
Pro Tip: If you’re road-tripping through Kansas City or Kansas in the meantime, note that a Buc-ee’s has also been approved for the KC metro — worth checking for a more convenient detour than Springfield or Berthoud until Gretna is open.
06 What’s Nearby (Once It’s Built)
Nebraska Crossing Outlet Mall — sits immediately adjacent to the planned site, already a regional shopping draw.
Omaha — about 20 miles northeast via I-80, roughly a 25-minute drive outside of rush hour.
Lincoln — about 40 miles southwest via I-80, Nebraska’s state capital and second-largest city.
Schramm Park State Recreation Area — a state park along the Platte River a short drive south of Gretna.
City officials expect the store to pull in a meaningful share of visitors from outside Nebraska, since I-80 is a major cross-country corridor connecting Iowa to points west including Colorado.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Bottom Line
Nebraska’s first Buc-ee’s is planned for Gretna, just southwest of Omaha on I-80 — and it’s a real project, backed by a $32 million incentive package and finalized zoning. But it’s still in the early review stage: no groundbreaking date, no opening date, and city estimates currently point to a late 2028 completion at the earliest.
Bookmark this page rather than planning a trip — we’ll update it as soon as Buc-ee’s or the City of Gretna announce a construction timeline.
This is an independent, fan-made travel guide and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Buc-ee’s Ltd. Project details, specs, and timelines are based on public reporting and City of Gretna announcements as of early August 2026 and are preliminary and subject to change.