When the miles of road ahead seem endless nothing beats stopping for a good meal. There are hundreds of roadside joints across America, but they weren’t all made equal. From a drive-thru serving beef pastrami burgers to an alien-themed truck stop, here are the ones worth a detour. Check restaurant websites for COVID-19 updates before visiting.
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Derailed Diner, Oasis Travel Center, Robertsdale, Alabama
Halfway between Mobile, Alabama and Pensacola, Florida, Derailed Diner can be found off exit 53 on I-10. It’s a quirky spot with truck-themed interiors and gas station memorabilia, so you’ll feel like you never left the interstate. Here customers refuel on hearty servings of country fried steak, meatloaf and burgers. Be sure to take some homemade fudge (pictured) for the road.
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Buckeye Express Diner, Bellville, Ohio
Hop aboard the Buckeye Express (no ticket required) for hearty hot dogs and burgers, just off the I-71 between Cleveland and Columbus. The diner is located in a vintage steam engine diner car, towed from Virginia in 2008, but you can sit outdoors or carry out if you’d prefer. Customers love the Ohio State Buckeyes football memorabilia, quick service, good prices and huge servings of fries.
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Al’s Breakfast, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Though this Minneapolis diner just off I-94 is tiny, the breakfasts are huge. While it’s too small to safely dine indoors, its favorite poached eggs on corned beef hash, walnut blueberry pancakes, bacon and hash browns can be ordered for curbside pick-up. That’s what guests are currently doing and the food is said to travel well.
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Broadway Diner, Baltimore, Maryland
A Greek-American diner just off I-95 between Washington DC and Philadelphia, Broadway Diner became famous after featuring on Diners, Drive-Ins and Divesback in 2009. The menu is endless and includes moussaka and souvlaki, but Guy Fieri’s favorites are the Hungarian Goulash, Shrimp Creole and Potato Crusted Salmon. We wouldn’t say no to a homemade dessert either.
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Westside Drive In, Boise, Idaho
If you’re passing through Boise, Westside Drive In is a must-visit. At what other pink and turquoise 1950s drive-in can you get prime rib, a full rack of pork ribs or its signature dish the Idaho ice cream potato (ice cream shaped like a potato)? It has two charming outposts, one on West State Street and one on Parkcenter Boulevard.
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Cornbread Cafe, Eugene, Oregon
On the route between Portland and San Francisco, Cornbread Cafe is the vegan comfort food place causing a buzz. Wonders include Eugenewich (a southern-fried tofu patty with vegan cheese, crispy onions, salad and smoky sauce in a bun) and Mac Uncheese (made with creamy cashew sauce). Place an order online, over the phone or in-house for pick-up. Face coverings are currently required.
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Boise Stage Stop Restaurant, Boise, Idaho
Stop by one of the best-loved truck stops in the US, Boise Stage Stop. It opened in 1891, making it one of the oldest businesses in Idaho. It’s known for its fantastic steakhouse which serves sirloin with crispy shrimp and hearty burgers. You can even get a T-bone at breakfast.
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Mugs-Up Root Beer, Independence, Missouri
Time your road trip from Kansas to Kentucky for lunchtime to fall as you’re driving into Kansas City. Stop at Mugs-Up Root Beer drive-in for a refreshing homemade root beer, wiz burger (a loose meat burger with mustard, pickles and American cheese) and chili cheese tots. The best part? Friendly car hops will serve you through your window, so there’s no need to leave your car.
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Nelson Bros. Restaurant & Bakery, Clearwater Travel Plaza, Clearwater, Minnesota
One of Minnesota’s best bakeries can be found at a truck stop in Clearwater. Highlights at Nelson Bros. include donuts the size of your head and fritter bread in flavors such as apple, raspberry, blueberry and cinnamon that gets made into French toast. The attached restaurant’s menu goes on for miles with burgers and breakfasts available for takeout or curbside pick-up.
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Iowa 80 Kitchen, Iowa 80, Walcott, Iowa
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Brody’s Diner, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
Brody’s Diner is an unpretentious dining spot offering humongous stacks of buttermilk pancakes and chunky ham, pepper and onion omelets. Customers always comment on the portion sizes. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld even reportedly wrote a Yelp review describing the coffee mugs as “big enough to wash your feet in”.
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Haywood 209 Cafe, Waynesville, North Carolina
For an upmarket truck stop experience, head to Haywood 209 Cafe in Waynesville, North Carolina which is known as a favorite on the interstate. Visitors rave about the tenderloin beef tips served with mushroom gravy, the meatloaf and country fried steak. Afterwards, check out the dessert case full of freshly-baked pies and cakes.
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Crazy K’s Food & Fuel, Buckatunna, Mississippi
Good food options are limited on the route down towards the beautiful beaches of Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, but Crazy K’s Food & Fuel is an exception. It serves classics such as brisket and fried chicken, and the staff are even known to bring food to passengers who have broken down on the surrounding roads – how’s that for Southern hospitality.
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Pops BBQ, The Tennessean Truck Stop, Cornersville, Tennessee
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Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive-In, Seligman, Arizona
This historic roadside stop on the former Route 66 in Seligman is a must-visit. It dates back to the 1950s, is constructed from scrap wood and out the front is a 1936 Chevrolet hardtop decorated with a Christmas tree. Food-wise, the green chili burger, fries and a shake is what to order.
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Mammoth Orange Cafe, Redfield, Arkansas
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Russell’s Restaurant, Salina, Kansas
It’s not just truckers who love Russell’s Restaurant – locals from all over Salina dine here for well-priced food and huge portions. Stop in to enjoy its rustic ambience and all-you-can-eat fried chicken, chicken livers and gizzards. Also on the menu are other Midwest comforts like crispy fish, fries and coleslaw for dine-in or carryout.
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Helen’s Sausage House, Smyrna, Delaware
Located on Dupont Highway heading towards Smyrna, Helen’s Sausage House may not look like much from the outside. However, the modest diner is an Elvis Presley shrine on the inside and attracts hordes from near and far, hoping to try its signature sausage sandwich. It features two juicy, well-seasoned sausages and scrambled eggs in a soft roll and customers absolutely rave about it.
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The Rusty Lantern Diner, Ucon, Idaho
If you’re passing through Ucon on your way to Yellowstone, The Rusty Lantern is a cozy spot to stop. Made of wood and surrounded by pots and flowers, it doesn’t look like a traditional diner. But it serves great breakfast skillets featuring hash browns, bacon, cheese, cooked onions and scrambled eggs, prime rib on Friday and Saturday, and ginormous, sticky cinnamon rolls.
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DeCamp Station, Staunton, Illinois
If road tripping along the old Route 66 has got you in the mood for some retro respite, stop by the historic DeCamp Station for cold beer and great pizza. There’s plenty of topping choice from barbecue chicken and chicken alfredo to Hawaiian and veggie, and you can dine-in or takeout. If you have time, stretch your legs with a game or two on the ball field or volleyball court.
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Palace Diner, Biddeford, Maine
If you’re driving through the Biddeford area, stop by Palace Diner, one of only two surviving Pollard diners from the 1920s in the country. Due to the pandemic, you have to call ahead or order online for pick-up. The Deluxe Sandwich (with bacon, egg, jalapeños, mayo and Cheddar) and the Fried Chicken Sandwich (with cabbage slaw, jalapeños and iceberg lettuce) are said to be incredible.
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Taste of India, Jay Bros. Truck Stop, Overton, Nebraska
While most roadside diners serve classic American dishes, this spot is all about authentic Indian cuisine. At Taste of India, dive into satisfying plates of butter chicken, biryanis, chana masala (chickpea curry) and garlic naan in a convenience store setting. It’s a truly original experience that has people driving across the Cornhusker State to try it.
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Little Top Drive Thru, Greeneville, Tennessee
Hungry on the drive to Virginia from Tennessee? Stop in at Little Top Drive Thru. Everything at this historic fast food place is good, but if you only order one thing make it the chip burger. It’s chipped ham, salad and sauce in a bun and customers rave about it. The milkshakes are also said to be the best in town.
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76th Street Truck Stop Diner, Byron Center, Michigan
Located 10 miles (16km) south of Grand Rapids, 76th Street Truck Stop Diner is a haven for hungry drivers. All the diner’s burgers, sandwiches and wraps come with fries or homemade chips. The favorite, Big Mother Trucker, is two half-lb patties, three slices of sourdough, Cheddar, Monterey Jack, crispy onions, sauce and salad. Place your order online, it’s open for takeout 24 hours a day.
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Frontier Restaurant, Albuquerque, New Mexico
A short drive from the interstate, Frontier Restaurant in Albuquerque is worth a detour. It’s a super casual cantina serving burritos, enchiladas, huevos rancheros, hamburgers and more, at great prices. Fill up on savory then take one of its ginormous cinnamon rolls for the road. It has indoor and outdoor seating.
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Monty’s Blue Plate Diner, Madison, Wisconsin
For hearty vegan food a short drive from I-90 in Madison, pull in at Monty’s Blue Plate, a retro gas station turned diner. It serves plant-based dishes like banana walnut pancakes and tofu scramble with mushrooms, onion, spinach and celery. Plus traditional options like corned beef hash and a bacon, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich. You can dine-in, carry out and or choose delivery.
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Tops Diner, Harrison, New Jersey
There’s no shortage of diners in the New Jersey area, but Tops Diner on Passaic Avenue in Harrison is consistently named one of the country’s best. There are so many great options to choose from, the best sellers are the lobster mac ‘n’ cheese, fluffy French toast and fried chicken. The best part? The portions are huge and it offers takeout and home delivery as well as dine-in.
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Cookin’ from Scratch, Doolittle, Missouri
If you’re driving down Route 66 from St. Louis to Springfield, take a left at the giant chicken to pull up at Cookin’ from Scratch for some great truck stop eats. Naturally there’s fried chicken, but you’ll also find a slow roast prime rib special on a Thursday and an all-you-can-eat fish fry Friday and Saturday. Face coverings are essential.
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Area 51 Alien Center, Amargosa Valley, Nevada
Between Death Valley National Park and Las Vegas, Area 51 Alien Center is an out-of-this-world pit stop in the desert. A cracking photo opportunity, it’s a lime green alien-themed gift shop with a small but unexpectedly good diner attached. Stop in for an Alien Burger (with cheese and sautéed mushrooms) and skeleton-shaped vodka bottles.
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Russell’s Route 66 Diner, Russell’s Travel Center, Glenrio, New Mexico
On the cusp of New Mexico and Texas, Russell’s Travel Center offers truckers a historic Route 66 experience with its classic diner and vintage car museum. While there are plenty of standard burgers on offer, why not opt for a Tex-Mex dish. The burrito plate with beans, rice and green or red chili will keep you full until your next stop.
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Chelsea Royal Diner, West Brattleboro, Vermont
Stretch your legs at Chelsea Royal Diner in West Brattleboro, just off I-91. It offers comforting brunch and lunch dishes such as blackberry pancakes with maple sausage, Belgian waffles, and steak and eggs in the homeliest New England setting. There’s also a garden, farm and art studio to check out before you get back in your car. Bring cash as it doesn’t accept card.
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Hillbilly Hot Dogs, Lesage, West Virginia
Hankering for a hot dog in West Virginia? Turn off I-64 and drive 10 miles (16km) north of Huntington to Hillbilly Hot Dogs. It has the craziest decor and the best loaded hot dogs and fries around. Ala Cheesy Beefy Weenie (American cheese, nacho cheese, bacon, chili sauce, a mac ‘n’ cheese wedge and shredded cheese on a deep-fried dog) is always a hit.
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Johnson’s Corner, Johnstown, Colorado
While traversing the Centennial State, satisfy your sweet treat craving at Johnson’s Corner in Johnstown. It claims the cinnamon rolls are world famous and it’s no wonder people come screeching off the interstate to snack on them. Fluffy and dripping with sugary icing, they’re the ideal pick-me-up for a long-haul journey.
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Gas Grill Family Restaurant, Speedway, Knightstown, Indiana
Described by patrons as a hidden jewel, Gas Grill Family Restaurant can be found just off I-70 between Indianapolis and Columbus. You’ll feel like you’re back in grandma’s kitchen with the friendly service and well-priced, perfectly-cooked steaks, porterhouse pork chops, cheese omelets and Greek options such as moussaka, spinach pie and souvlaki it has to offer.
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Schatz Crossroads, Minot, North Dakota
A real savior if you’re heading north on the road to Canada, at Schatz Crossroads in Minot, you can get honey-whiskey-marinated steak with fried eggs and hash browns any hour. It’s open all night for takeout and has limited capacity dine-in during the day. If you’re looking for a snack, the caramel rolls are also said to be the best around.
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BeanThru, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Crown Burgers, Salt Lake City, Utah
Traveling through Salt Lake City and in the mood for a burger like no other? Crown Burgers with seven locations just off I-80 and I-15 is the place to hold out for. The drive-thru is famous for topping its signature beef burger with cheese and pastrami. Some say it’s the best in the West.
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Patrick’s Roadhouse, Santa Monica, California
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The Big Texan, Amarillo, Texas
There’s no way you can miss this loud ‘n’ proud diner on I-40 in Amarillo. It’s painted bright yellow and there are massive billboards and statues alerting passers-by to its location. It’s famous for its 72oz (2kg) steak, which is free to anyone who can eat the entire meal in 60 minutes or less. Customers also love the free limo service to nearby hotels and motels, it’s great if you fancy a drink with your meal.
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Oasis Diner, Plainfield, Indiana
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