Hitting the road? You'll probably want to plan some sustenance stops along the way – and if you skip the chains, there are some real unexpected food treasures to be found. Here are the best truck stop roadside eats in every US state. Just remember to check restaurant websites in advance for any changes due to COVID-19. 

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 road. Alongside diner classics, it serves Hobo Baskets – beef steak, baby carrots, red potatoes, corn on the cob, onions and celery, all slow-roasted in tin foil – with fries and coleslaw. The stop is also famed for its flip-flop fudge.

Truckers in need of comfort food while ploughing through snowy Alaska will be pleased to encounter Hilltop Truck Stop. The joint is known for decadent desserts – people rave about the pies which include coconut cream and blueberry – and its savoury menu features an all-day breakfast with reindeer sausage and a fried halibut sandwich.

Tucson Truck Terminal – or Triple T as it’s fondly known – is home to Omar’s Hi-Way Chef. It's scooped second place on Food Network’s top truck stops in the country and has been crowned the best breakfast in Tucson. Order the I-10 Belly Buster (three eggs, two strips of bacon, two sausage patties, two pancakes and grilled ham) and the signature apple pie which comes with a mountain of ice cream.

Out in the Arkansas boonies, Workman’s Travel Center – and the complex’s Hillbilly Hideout – is a welcome rest stop. There’s a good choice of burgers, sandwiches, steaks and salads, but truckers often praise the 24-hour breakfasts. Choose between omelettes served with hash browns and toast; chocolate chip waffles; French toast; or eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy.

Claiming to offer the best chicken fried steak on Highway 101, Wildhorse Cafe on the outskirts of King City serves Southern-inspired sustenance for those trucking on the West Coast. Customers love the corned beef hash and chile verde omelettes, while the post-breakfast menu is decidedly Californian. Plenty of the dishes are served with generous amounts of avocado too.

While traversing the Centennial State, drivers can satisfy their sweet-treat cravings at Johnson’s Corner on the I-25. It claims the cinnamon rolls are world-famous, and it’s no wonder. Fluffy and dripping with sugary icing, they’re the ideal pick-me-up for a long-haul journey. Other baked goods include the homemade fruit and cream pies.

Connecticut is thin on the ground for great truck stops but offers a couple of quirky options just off the interstate. Our top choice is Magee’s Curbside, a “delicious diamond in the rough”. We can’t get enough of the granola-crusted cherry French toast or oozing breakfast sandwiches with eggs, cheese and short rib chilli. Its green gingham tablecloths in the dining room will make you feel right at home too.

Upon entering Delaware from Maryland, the main road will direct you to 301 Plaza Restaurant. Here hungry truckers can tuck into breakfasts, giant burgers, prime rib with roast potatoes or prawn linguine. The fried chicken dinner also comes with high praise.

Naturally, the wildest place to pull up your truck in Florida is just north of Miami, on the periphery of the Everglades. Not only is Cafe 27 a popular truck spot, but it’s also a meeting place for petrolheads and turns into a bar with metal bands at night (events are currently subject to change, so check before you go). When it comes to food, start with the gator bites or dolphin fingers (actually mahi-mahi), before tucking into a mahi sandwich served grilled, blackened or fried.

On the way into Alabama from Atlanta on the I-20 and getting that country food craving? Old Time Country Kitchen at Newborn Truck Stop has got you covered. There’s fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, cream corn, hot bread rolls, green beans, tender roast beef and all the Southern trimmings. Customers call it one of the last great truck stops.

Although not technically a truck stop, Ted’s Bakery is a decent spot to park up if you’re looking for food while cruising along Kamehameha Highway. Diners can sit down with ocean views and feast on a meat-filled rice omelette or pan-fried garlic shrimp. Don’t miss out on a free slice of cream pie either, if it's on offer. Ted's is temporarily closed due to COVID-19, but keep an eye on the website for updates. 

One of the oldest continually operating businesses in Idaho, Boise Stage Stop opened in 1891. It’s also one of the best-loved truck stops in the US. There are a variety of cuisines on offer at the restaurant including Mexican, classic American and Italian, but it’s best known as a fantastic steakhouse. It serves sirloin with shrimp, a range of steaks and hearty burgers, and you can even get a T-bone at breakfast.

This pared-back truck stop might not look much from the outside, but it houses a mom-and-pop-style restaurant that's a hit with truckers and travellers alike. Vintage signs and music posters decorate the walls, and the menu is packed with comforting dishes from fried chicken to biscuits and gravy. "John's Steak" – broiled rib-eye with grilled onions, mushrooms and jalapeños – is a house favourite. 

If you’re seeking comfort food on Highway 70 between Indianapolis and Columbus, you’ll feel like you’re back in grandma’s kitchen at Gas Grill Family Restaurant. Here you’ll find well-priced and hearty rib-eye sandwiches, country-fried steak and gravy, mashed potatoes and beans. For dessert, there's ice cream, rice pudding or Jell-O.

Encompassing a mind-boggling 100,000 square feet (9,290sqm) of space, Iowa 80 is reportedly the world’s largest truck stop. There are many fast food options here, but most make a beeline to Iowa 80 Kitchen. The buffet is temporarily closed, but the dine-in menu still serves up comforting classics like rib-eye sandwiches, fried chicken and homemade soup of the day. 

It’s not just truckers who love Russell’s Restaurant – locals from all over Salina dine here for well-priced food and huge portions. Rustic and low-key, the place serves all-you-can-eat fried chicken, plus chicken livers and gizzards. The menu also includes Midwest comfort food like smothered steak or the catfish dinner.

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HomeCooker stands head and shoulders above the chains at London Auto Truck Center, dishing out fried chicken, steaks, cheese fries and loaded nachos to hungry drivers. Restless truckers can also pick up something for later at the grab-n-go section.

A stop loved by locals and truckers alike, Frog City Travel Plaza Restaurant in Rayne, Louisiana, is a Cajun affair. Visitors feast on dishes like seafood gumbo and gator burgers, and you don’t have to be in France to try frogs' legs, either, as they’re a menu favourite here. Open 24/7, there’s also a casino. Who knows, maybe you’ll win your meal’s worth back.

Dysart’s Truck Stop is a favourite in Bangor. Top menu picks include their best-selling chicken pot pie and meatloaf, but there’s also poutine and hot sandwiches. You can pick up some sweet treats for the road from the bakery too: choose between chocolate cream pie, whoopie pies and cookie platters. Note that the restaurant is currently operating with altered hours for COVID-19 – check here for details.

Before crossing the Maryland border into Pennsylvania, many drivers make a pit stop at Belle Grove Grocery. Rotating specials such as barbecue pork sandwiches and hamburger macaroni casseroles keep the menu fresh, while the staples – “pies to die for” and “the best burger around” – keep customers coming back for more.

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Brody’s Diner is an unpretentious dining spot offering humongous stacks of buttermilk pancakes, and chunky ham, pepper and onion omelettes. Customers comment on the huge portions. And comedian Jerry Seinfeld even reportedly wrote a Yelp review describing the coffee mugs as “big enough to wash your feet in”.

Ten miles south of Grand Rapids, 76th Street Truck Stop Diner is a haven for hungry truck drivers. All the diner’s burgers, sandwiches and wraps come with fries or homemade chips, with options like the Big Mother Trucker: two half-pound patties, three slices of sourdough, Cheddar, Monterey Jack, sauce and salad. Or you can build your own skillet – to a base of scrambled eggs, potato and cheese, you can add items like bacon, sausage and ham.

One of Minnesota’s best bakeries can be found at a truck stop in Clearwater. Highlights at Nelson Bros. include doughnuts the size of your head and fritter bread in five heavenly flavours. The attached restaurant’s menu goes on for miles with homemade meals such as pizza, meatloaf and fritter French toast. There’s even a Nelson Bros. pub.

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 have even been known to bring food to passengers who have broken down on the surrounding roads – how’s that for Southern hospitality.

Driving through the Kansas City area and in need of a break? Farris Truck Stop, just off I-29, is an old school joint with plenty of parking and a friendly diner attached called Big Rigs – just look out for the big sign with the truck. If you’re stopping by in the morning customers recommend ordering the fluffy pancakes and coffee. If you’re there later in the day, check out the pies, chicken fried steak and pork tenderloin. Big Rigs is temporarily closed as a new location is built – check the Facebook page for updates. 

North of Yellowstone National Park, Broadway Diner at the Broadway Flying J Travel Plaza is a welcome sight for weary travellers and truckers. It offers a big breakfast selection such as blueberry pancakes, biscuits and gravy with eggs, bacon and hash browns, and BLTs on rye at reasonable prices. It's part of a chain, but the quick and friendly service is that of an independent.

While most roadside truck stop diners usually serve classic American dishes, this spot is all about fabulous Indian curries. At Taste of India, you can dive into satisfying plates of butter chicken, biryanis, chana masala and garlic naan in a convenience store setting. It’s a truly original experience that typically has people driving across the Cornhusker State.

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. They whip up shakes, root beer floats, cheeseburgers and fries.

The Common Man Roadside North is a multiplex with something for everyone. The Hi-Way Diner is a kitsch, 1950s-inspired joint with outstanding veggie options. Then, for something sweet, there’s the Common Man Joe Cafe, serving coffee, cookies and cream cakes. Alternatively, you can pick up some fast food – here that means salads, wraps, fresh burgers and smoothies. Or head to the Italian Farmhouse for pizza. The diner is temporarily closed, but the other foodie spots here are open for business.

Located off exit 13a on the New Jersey Turnpike and around the corner from the Elizabeth Seaport, Seaport Diner is a popular place for truckers to stop. For breakfast you can choose between a range of omelettes – customers love the Western with ham, onions and peppers – waffles and breakfast sandwiches. The chicken and vegetable stir-fry with rice is the winner at dinner time.

On the cusp of New Mexico and Texas, Russell’s Travel Center offers truckers a historic Route 66 experience with its classic diner and museum. While there are plenty of standard burgers on offer, why not opt for a Tex-Mex dish? The spot serves great chiles rellenos, refried beans and beef tamales. While you're there, you can also check out all the vintage memorabilia and gain free entry to the classic car museum.

You can't go wrong with a savoury breakfast bowl from Mapleview Family Restaurant. The Farmers Bowl includes homefries, scrambled eggs, sausage gravy and Cheddar, and small details such as real maple syrup are an unexpected treat at a truck stop. Arrive later in the day for Philly cheesesteaks, Reubens and roast beef melts that come with gravy.

For an upmarket truck stop experience, drivers can head to Haywood 209 Cafe in Waynesville, North Carolina which is known as a favourite 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 made by an in-house baker.

Schatz Crossroads in Minot, North Dakota, serves a breakfast steak and eggs plate that comes with hash browns and toast – if you're heading north, it'll tide you over all the way to Canada. If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, you could try a ham and cheese hoagie or a chicken Philly or check out the Facebook page for specials that are regularly updated. 

When hitting the roads of northern Ohio, thirsty travellers can take advantage of Country Corral’s special trucker deals. You can top up your vehicle and receive a free coffee or soda when paying cash. Plenty of drivers stay for a bite and try the chicken tenders and ribs too.

Oklahoma’s favourite mom-and-pop shop, Leo & Ken’s has been open since 1963 and the hamburger steak, lemon Jell-O and fresh cheesecake are dishes to write home about. It’s open 24/7, but it's cash only so make sure you keep some spare dollars in your truck.

Pioneer Villa Truck Plaza's restaurant is a great pitstop along Highway 5 to Portland. On the menu is meatloaf, succulent pork chops and corned beef on rye bread, served in a dark wood dining saloon. The service is top-notch too. Note that this venue is currently take-out only – keep an eye on the website for updates.

Truckers love this central Pennsylvanian haunt for its friendly service and generous portions. This is the place for cheese-lovers, too, as the menu has an entire melt section including tuna, chicken and bacon, and a Reuben with mounds of corned beef, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese. People also rave about the steaks.

As the smallest state in America, good truck stops are hard to come by in Rhode Island. But to get away from fast food chain options, you can head to Cafe Tempo Coffee House further into Warwick for incredible coffee and bagels. It serves plain and onion bagels with cream cheese, egg, ham, bacon, sausage and more. It's well worth the small detour.

Heading down to Myrtle Beach? Little Fisher Truck Stop & Restaurant, a family-owned convenience store open every day of the year, is a top stop. Known for their hospitality, George or Johnny B are there to assist with all your hunger pangs with options like fried chicken, pork chops and gravy, mac and cheese, baked beans and hot dogs. It's reasonably priced too.

Adjacent to Truck Street in Kimball, South Dakota, Ditty’s is an inviting spot to pull up for a rest. There are pre-packed deli sandwiches and salads if you’re hungry and in a hurry, or those with time to stay a while can try the loaded baked potato with pulled pork or beef barley soup.

Pops BBQ is a big-name flame joint at The Tennessean Truck Stop in Cornersville. The rack of ribs and pulled pork are its most beloved dishes. And if you don’t have time to sit and indulge, many of the firm favourites are pre-wrapped and kept warm for you to take back to your truck.

The Lone Star State has more top-notch roadside pit stops than you can shake a stick at, but The Big Texan Steak Ranch might just be the best. It typically hosts a 72-ounce steak competition (served with shrimp cocktail, baked potato, salad and a roll). Looking for something a little smaller? How about Rocky Mountain oysters, fried chicken or a rack of baby back ribs?

You can get your Mexican fix on l-15 between Salt Lake City and Las Vegas at Kan Kun Mexican Restaurant, which stays open until around 10pm. Its speciality is homemade tamales, but its customers are also big fans of the chile verde, shredded beef tacos and margaritas. For those doing the driving, there's Mexican Coca-Cola too.

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If you’re heading up Highway 2 (or down, for that matter) in Danville, Vermont, you can swing into Marty’s 1st Stop for a gourmet trucker’s lunch and all your supplies. The soft-shell crab is a winner and the rotation of soups including clam chowder, chop suey, potato bacon and chicken rice will be sure to warm you up on chillier days. A true one-stop shop, it's also got you covered for groceries.

Virginia road-trippers can stop in at Joe’s Diner at the Harrisonburg Travel Center. A classic 24-hour diner, it serves rotating daily specials such as Salisbury steak, spaghetti and pork tenderloin. If you’re in a hurry, order online so you’re back on the road in minutes.

What better way to start the day than with a Gee Cee's Breakfast? Served at this spot off exit 57 on I-5, it's eggs, hashbrowns and toast, plus breakfast meats and biscuits and gravy. For something a little less heavy, there are salads but whatever you order will be huge. That’s why truckers love it. The dining room is currently closed, but takeout is available.

Tamarack is a truck stop with a difference: this spot along the I-77 has a theatre, a fine arts gallery and regular events, as well as its top-notch gourmet offerings. Travellers can swing by for dishes like tacos, the signature chicken pot pie or fancier options such as the breaded rainbow trout. There are typically food deals for truckers too. 

When heading up l-94 and Highway 26, it's worth holding out for the Pine Cone Travel Plaza at exit 267, which, for a truck stop, has a lot of fans. Choose the eggs benedict or the steak and eggs, then stock up on cream puffs, cookies and éclairs for onward journey.

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Broken Wheel Truck Stop do their bit to help truckers combat the Wyoming winter cold. On Tuesdays, anyone who comes through the door gets a free cup of coffee. But while you’re inside, you can fill up your stomach with one of its cracking breakfast options.

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