There is almost nothing better than the great American road trip – miles of open road, passing through fascinating cities and towns in every region, and seeing sights you have only dreamed of. Driving across the vast United States isn’t as simple as getting in a car and going. Road trips require a bit more planning – what route to take, where to stay, and most importantly, where to eat.
One of the great aspects of hitting the road is discovering new eateries that you may not have seen and this country is populated with many excellent choices of which many can be found on your roadside journey. No need to drive too far off an exit, wasting precious road time, but you can opt for a roadside restaurant, a place that allows you to enjoy a delicious meal, and be back on your way in no time. (If you decide to take an international road trip, don’t miss the Tour de France, currently underway.)
Roadside restaurants feature heavily throughout the U.S. and have a central place in American culture. They feature in such iconic films as “American Graffiti” and “Thelma and Louise” and road movies are themselves a major film genre. After previous restrictions on travel and dining out, Americans have been ready to get back in the air, or back on the road for adventures, whether it’s finding that one specific restaurant, a basic truck stop café or a classic diner, or opting to wing it and go. ( Here is the best diner in every state )
24/7 Tempo has compiled a list of the greatest roadside restaurants in the U.S. Spanning from Maine to California to Hawaii, many of the places on our list are known for classic American fare, such as pizza and BBQ. Not surprisingly, burgers are a staple. Some are famous for local specialties, such as lobster and chowder fries.
Whatever your preference, roadside restaurants often offer generous portions for reasonable prices.
Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive-in
Juan-Delgadillo-in-july-1990 (
CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED ) by
Zeddammer - Location: Seligman, Arizona
- Dish to try: Jalapeño burger
Yaks on the 5
Source: Photo by Samuel Y. via Yelp
- Location: Dunsmuir, California
- Dish to try: Bacon Overload burger
Goody’s Family Restaurant
Source: Photo by Shannon Y. via Yelp
- Location: Victorville, California
- Dish to try: Waffle supreme combo
Peggy Sue’s 50’s Diner
Source: Courtesy of Chanell P. via Yelp
- Location: Yermo, California
- Dish to try: Peggy Sue’s special combination pizza
West Shore Seafood
Source: Photo by Michelle T. via Yelp
- Location: Morris, Connecticut
- Dish to try: Chowder fries
Wooster Hollow Café
Source: Photo by Wooster Hollow Cafe via Yelp
- Location: Ridgefield, Connecticut
- Dish to try: Chicken enchilada omelet
Helen’s Famous Sausage House
Source: Photo by Patty T. via Yelp
- Location: Smyrna, Delaware
- Dish to try: Fried bologna and egg sandwich
Chicken in a Barrel BBQ
Source: Photo by Rolly T. via Yelp
- Location: Kapaa, Hawaii
- Dish to try: Chicken in a Barrel plate
Blue Springs Café
Source: Photo by Jamie B. via Yelp
- Location: Highland, Indiana
- Dish to try: Fried walleye dinner
Palace Diner
Source: Courtesy of Alison I. via Yelp
- Location: Biddeford, Maine
- Dish to try: Buttermilk flapjacks
Red’s Eats
Source: nycshooter / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
- Location: Wiscasset, Maine
- Dish to try: Red’s “Lobster Roll of Fame”
B.T.’s Smokehouse
Source: Photo by Rebekah L. via Yelp
- Location: Sturbridge, Massachusetts
- Dish to try: Three-meat platter
Mason Jar Café
Source: Photo by Greg B. via Yelp
- Location: Benton Harbor, Michigan
- Dish to try: Mascarpone-stuffed cinnamon-challah French toast
Peg’s Countryside Café
Source: Photo by Michelle L. via Yelp
- Location: Hamel, Minnesota
- Dish to try: Country-style eggs Benedict
Wagner’s Drive-In
Source: Photo by Chrissy B. via Yelp
- Location: Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
- Dish to try: Fried chicken dinner
Crazy K’s Food & Fuel
Source: Photo by Crazy K’s via Yelp
- Location: Buckatunna, Mississippi
- Dish to try: Hand-cut ribeye sandwich
Open Range Grill
Source: Photo by Angela S. via Yelp
- Location: Ogallala, Nebraska
- Dish to try: Range burger
Lexie’s Joint
Source: Courtesy of Erika F. via Yelp
- Location: Portsmouth, New Hampshire
- Dish to try: Lexie’s Big Mouth burger
Steve’s Burgers
Source: Photo by Christopher K. via Yelp
- Location: Garfield, New Jersey
- Dish to try: “Y-D-K-J” burger
Buckeye Express Diner
Source: Courtesy of Ala O. via Yelp
- Location: Belleville, Ohio
- Dish to try: Locomotive Buckeye Pounder burger
Wellsboro Diner
Source: Courtesy of Leena S. via Yelp
- Location: Wellsboro, Pennsylvania
- Dish to try: Hot roast beef sandwich
Anthony’s Seafood
Source: Photo by Scotty H. via Yelp
- Location: Middletown, Rhode Island
- Dish to try: Portuguese fish chowder
Murdo Drive-In
Source: Photo by Hilary K. via Yelp
- Location: Murdo, South Dakota
- Dish to try: Local grass-fed burger
Coyote Bluff Café
Source: Courtesy of Raiza F. via Yelp
- Location: Amarillo, Texas
- Dish to try: Burger from Hell
Cruiser Café
Source: Photo by Erik P. via Yelp
- Location: Eatonville, Washington
- Dish to try: Big “E” burger
Hillbilly Hot Dogs
Source: Photo by Hillbilly Hot Dogs via Yelp
- Location: Lesage, West Virginia
- Dish to try: Chuck’s Junk Yard Dog
The post The Best Roadside Restaurants in the US appeared first on 24/7 Tempo .
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