In Portague County, Texas, Sheriff Buford T. Justice makes a long, rambling speech announcing his retirement. Millionaire “Big Enos” Burdette and his son, “Little Enos,” interrupt to remind the sheriff of his failure to apprehend Bo “the Bandit” Darville, a legendary truck driver known for defying the law. They offer him a wager, which he declines in favor of a quiet retirement in Miami, Florida. However, after several months of boredom, Buford contacts the Burdettes, expressing an interest in the bet. The father and son arrive in Miami, accompanied by a marching band. They challenge Buford to drive his police car to their Texas ranch by 5:30 the following afternoon, with a plastic shark, emblazoned with the logo of the Burdette’s seafood restaurant chain, attached to the roof. If Buford succeeds, he wins $250,000, but if he loses, he must surrender his badge. Buford accepts the challenge and sets off for Texas, accompanied by his slow-witted son, Junior. The Burdettes place numerous obstacles in Buford’s path, none of which halt his progress, so they hire truck driver Cletus “The Snowman” Snow to pose as the Bandit, and distract the sheriff from reaching his destination. Cletus embarks on his mission in the Bandit’s signature Pontiac Trans Am. Elsewhere, Buford comes to the aid of pair of African-American chicken farmers by forcing a truckload of Ku Klux Klan members to collide with a tar kettle, leaving the thugs covered in tar and feathers. Meanwhile, Cletus offers a ride to Dusty Trails as she escapes the employ of lecherous used car dealer “Skip” Town. Unencumbered by responsibility, Dusty eagerly joins Cletus on his road trip. When they encounter Buford on an interstate highway, Cletus climbs onto Buford’s car and removes the shark as Dusty steers. They pull ahead of the police car, prompting Buford to declare that he is in “hot pursuit.” A local sheriff joins the chase and radios Buford, ordering him to desist. Buford defies the sheriff and forces him off the road, then follows Cletus into a construction site. Assuming Cletus is the Bandit, the workers assist him by engulfing Buford’s car in sand. Cletus stops at a bar to buy a hamburger for Dusty, but is repeatedly ejected by local toughs. After violently subduing his attackers, Cletus emerges from the bar, hamburger in hand, to the applause of the other patrons. Continuing his pursuit, Buford attempts a short cut through an alley that is blocked by a moving van. As Buford and Junior guide the van out of the alley, a policewoman summons a tow truck to impound their car. Junior frees the car by removing its bumper, and the tow truck gives chase. Buford evades the tow truck, causing numerous collisions. That evening, he follows Cletus onto a racetrack, where they become inadvertent participants in a stock car race. Later, Cletus and Dusty stop for the night at a motel frequented by sexual fetishists. Buford and Junior recognize the Trans Am parked outside and enter the motel, intent on retrieving the plastic shark. They go from room to room, witnessing assorted acts of perversion, until they find the shark in the hallway. However, Buford is intent on arresting the Bandit, but accidentally handcuffs himself to a nymphomaniac named Tina, who joins them on their journey. As Buford nears the Burdette ranch, Little Enos shoots out two of the sheriff’s tires, allowing Cletus to steal the shark once again. Discouraged by this development, Buford admits defeat. Junior assures his father that he will continue to love him, despite the shame he has brought on the Justice family. Motivated by his son’s words, Buford disregards the flat tires and chases Cletus. The Burdettes detour the drivers to a lake, where a nudist society is holding a barbecue. After Junior repairs the damaged tires, they abandon Tina and drive toward the ranch. As the cars near their destination, Little Enos’s daughter, Baby Enos, detonates mines along the road, reducing the sheriff’s car to a motorized chassis. Cletus slows his pace, allowing Buford to catch him and retrieve the shark. Buford wins the prize money, but is compelled to arrest his adversary. He approaches the Trans Am and sees the face of Bo Darville, who explains that he and the sheriff are “kindred spirits” with a mutual need for each other. Buford realizes that imprisoning the Bandit would end his purpose in life, and he allows Cletus a five-minute head start before resuming the chase. Tina appears and pulls Junior Justice from the car, taking his place next to Buford.