RT2 – Day 8 – Crossing into Florida and a stop at Buc-ee's

A second day of driving south, after the previous day’s 900 km. The plan: leave Savannah, cross the Florida state line and carry on down to Vero Beach, on the Atlantic coast. We didn’t visit Savannah, even though the city is worth the detour: its squares shaded by great oaks draped in Spanish moss, Forsyth Park and its fountain, and the old houses of the historic district, with their wrought-iron balconies. It’s typical Southern architecture, which already gives you a glimpse of New Orleans. As for us, we got straight back on the road in the morning.

Welcome to Florida

After Savannah, it only takes about an hour in Georgia to reach Florida. You stay on I-95, which follows the coast past Jacksonville, St. Augustine and Daytona Beach. Allow about five hours’ driving to Vero Beach.

Buc-ee’s, the giant petrol station

We had heard about Buc-ee’s, and we absolutely wanted to stop there to soak up the atmosphere. We chose the one in Daytona Beach, right beside I-95. It’s not just a petrol station: it’s an institution from Texas, founded in the early 1980s, which has spread across the southern United States. Its symbol: a smiling beaver in a red cap, which you see everywhere.

The first shock is the size. Dozens and dozens of pumps lined up under an endless canopy, so you never have to wait to fill up. That day, a gallon of 87, regular unleaded, was $2.69, or about $0.71 a litre. We’d advise taking the cheapest: for a rental car, it’s all you need anyway.

And inside, it’s even crazier. The store is enormous, and it was very busy. In the centre is the “Texas Round Up” counter, where brisket (smoked beef) is chopped in front of you to make sandwiches. All around: a section of dried meat (the famous jerky) in dozens of flavours, sweets, fudge, and Beaver Nuggets, the little caramel-coated snacks the place is known for.

There’s also a whole section of souvenirs bearing the beaver: T-shirts, caps, soft toys, and even home decor. In the middle stands an old red car in the brand’s colours. And you can’t talk about Buc-ee’s without mentioning its toilets, reputed to be among the cleanest in the United States. The chain has even turned them into a selling point.

For our part, we stayed sensible: two or three souvenirs, not much more. We had mostly come to see the place, and for that alone the stop is worth it.

A night in Vero Beach

We then drove on to Vero Beach for the night, a quiet little town on the Atlantic coast.

On the hotel front, another cheap stopover: the Fairfield Inn & Suites Vero Beach, for $113 with breakfast. Much better than the night before: very good value for money, and a great breakfast.

The next day, we head for Miami, with a few stops on the way. The story continues on day 9 (coming out on November 12, 2026).