[E92inNC]

In two weeks I’m driving from Phoenix,AZ to Raleigh,NC and would like some recommendations along the way. I’m especially looking for food/treats that is specific to that location/region.

Here is the route I’m planning on taking:

Day 1: Phoenix to Dallas - I’m planning on taking the northern route through Albuquerque, stopping overnight in Amarillo

Day 2: Dallas to Houston - I’m meeting a friend in Dallas for some BBQ in the morning. By the time I get to Houston I won’t be hungry much so I’d like to try Viet-Cajun Crawfish for a snack.

Louisiana - i can either eat in Baton Rouge or take a detour to New Orleans, depending on food recommendations

Driving straight through Mississippi and Alabama with no stops. Stop for the night in Pensacola or further east if I can manage it.

Day 3: Late breakfast or early lunch in Jacksonville, Fl or get a snack and keep going and have lunch in Charleston, depending on food recommendations

Head inland and up to Charlotte then onto Greensboro, maybe going to Winston Salem before Greensboro if anyone has any reason for going there. Spend the night somewhere in Charlotte or Greensboro

Day 4: Lunch in Durham

My goal is to be in Raleigh by afternoon or night of day 4 but can stretch to 5 days if it takes longer than I’m thinking

I’d appreciate any recommendations of restaurants or places to stop for a treat along this route

[ezaircon4jc]

Day 1... take the 72oz steak dinner challenge at The Big Texan in Amarillo.

https://www.bigtexan.com/72-oz-steak/

https://www.bigtexan.com/live-stream/

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

Day 1... take the 72oz steak dinner challenge at The Big Texan in Amarillo.

https://www.bigtexan.com/72-oz-steak/

https://www.bigtexan.com/live-stream/

Then plan on taking Day 2 off to recuperate.

[2000cs]

Day 1 is a long day, especially heading east (against the sun, so to speak). Unless your car is really comfortable or you have a well-padded ass, consider a shorter first day. Any pain from that day will carry over to all the next days.

Pensacola to Jax is around 5-5.5 hrs. After you get past the beach towns on the gulf, there isn’t much until you get to Tallahassee, and again to Jax.

I’m heading the other way in the morning, Flagler Beach to Hattiesburg. 8 hours. I don’t stop on this drive except for one fill-up and maybe a drive thru meal, so I don’t really know what is between here and there.

[Tyga11]

I've done this drive many times (albeit to FL) and it's a horrible drive. Done it north texas and the 10 all the way thru (both ways).

Flat, straight and just boring.

I echo 2000cs and I would not drive straight to Dallas. I'd prob spend the night in ABQ and split it up a little. I like ABQ a lot though I know a lot of people think it sucks.

[E92inNC]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

Day 1... take the 72oz steak dinner challenge at The Big Texan in Amarillo.

https://www.bigtexan.com/72-oz-steak/

https://www.bigtexan.com/live-stream/

Lol something I might have considered 15 years ago, nowadays it’d put me in a coma

Originally Posted by 2000cs

Day 1 is a long day, especially heading east (against the sun, so to speak). Unless your car is really comfortable or you have a well-padded ass, consider a shorter first day. Any pain from that day will carry over to all the next days.

Pensacola to Jax is around 5-5.5 hrs. After you get past the beach towns on the gulf, there isn’t much until you get to Tallahassee, and again to Jax.

I’m heading the other way in the morning, Flagler Beach to Hattiesburg. 8 hours. I don’t stop on this drive except for one fill-up and maybe a drive thru meal, so I don’t really know what is between here and there.

I’ve done multiple trips where I’ve driven 12+ hours in 1 and 2 days and came out of it OK. I figure if I start to feel fatigued I can always add an extra day to the drive and make more stops to stretch.

Originally Posted by Tyga11

I've done this drive many times (albeit to FL) and it's a horrible drive. Done it north texas and the 10 all the way thru (both ways).

Flat, straight and just boring.

I echo 2000cs and I would not drive straight to Dallas. I'd prob spend the night in ABQ and split it up a little. I like ABQ a lot though I know a lot of people think it sucks.

Any Mexican restaurants you recommend in Albuquerque? My first stop is in Payson for a late breakfast if you have any recommendations there too.

[chassis]

Any brisket in Texas

Dreamland BBQ in Tuscaloosa.

[Alfisti]

Jesus 15 hrs driving in a day? We are all different but that's a lot.

[E92inNC]

Originally Posted by chassis

Any brisket in Texas

Dreamland BBQ in Tuscaloosa.

I'm definitely getting brisket in Texas, no question

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Jesus 15 hrs driving in a day? We are all different but that's a lot.

Yep I'll definitely feel the effects once the drive is done

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Jesus 15 hrs driving in a day? We are all different but that's a lot.

When my daughter was going to school in PHX, we would drive from SAN to PHX and back the same day. We get from SAN to DAL in 2 days, with a stop in ELP. West Texas is kinda boring, but the 80mph speed limit (Mr Valentine helps with that ) helps.

[dreamingat30fps]

Shit I'm exhausted just looking at that. Takes me 2-3 days to recover going from FL to NC. If I go alone I usually stop half way and do it in 2 days. If the gf and I go together then we can do it in one shot, but I'm DONE for a couple days after.

Took me like over a month to get from FL to AZ. Mind you it was towing an RV but yeah I typically would not do more than 3-4 hours on any given day and even then I would like a couple days or week rest.

Anyways... since it seems you're from Phoenix you have probably been there already, but the white sands national park in New Mexico is pretty crazy and definitely worth checking out if you haven't already. Also I10 through Louisiana is horrible, I vowed never to go that route again when we were hauling the RV.

If you do stop in New Orleans we found Cochon to be pretty amazing. Practically any brisket in Texas will be amazing. We had crazy good brisket at some shack on the side of the road in TX and also in some fancy uppity BBQ places. In Savannah I'm a fan of Sorry Charlie's if you are into oysters and especially their broiled oysters are really good. In Charlotte there's a million places, however if you like ice cream you have to try Jeni's ice cream (I think they have a location in Charleston also but never been there) and their fresh made waffle cones.

[floridaorange]

As for drive through's "cook out" in NC is good

[freakystyly]

That drive looks so long for only 16 hours... if it was in Canada it would take at least 2-1/2 days.

[rebekahb]

What type of food for you like? Have you been to the New Orleans area before? Any idea of the time frame you would be in the city if you made the detour?

[DocL]

Originally Posted by Tyga11

I've done this drive many times (albeit to FL) and it's a horrible drive. Done it north texas and the 10 all the way thru (both ways).

Flat, straight and just boring.

I echo 2000cs and I would not drive straight to Dallas. I'd prob spend the night in ABQ and split it up a little. I like ABQ a lot though I know a lot of people think it sucks.

I agree. I did the drive from Phoenix to Miami once, and I'll never do it again. I-10 is brutally boring. What was worse is the car I drove back was brand new so I had to get off and on exit ramps every hour and do some local driving. But once I hit San Antonio and got an oil change, I was able to increase my speed.

[hoki06]

Wife and I are big fans of the shrimp and grits at Poogan's Porch in Charleston. I've also had the same dish at Fleets Landing and it was great as well. Both places and many others get crazy busy so be aware of your timing.

[BMWGUYinCO]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

Day 1... take the 72oz steak dinner challenge at The Big Texan in Amarillo.

https://www.bigtexan.com/72-oz-steak/

https://www.bigtexan.com/live-stream/

Ha Ha!

True story: When my wife and I married, we were living in Florida and after our honeymoon we moved (drove) ourselves out to Colorado. We started seeing signs for The Big Texan two states away from Texas, and being a big steak lover I told her we had to change our route just to go eat there. I mean, who advertises a restaurant in different states???

We arrived during lunch, and I learned they had the 72 oz steak challenge. I said I would do it. But then I learned that in addition to the steak, you also had to down a salad, shrimp cocktail. dinner roll, baked potato, etc. all within an hour. So, I passed...still had a good NY Strip though.

In any case, several years ago a small, 120 lb woman named Molly Schuyler walked in and took on the steak challenge. She ate the first meal, then a second, then a third - ALL WITHIN 20 MINUTES!!!!

https://www.amarillo.com/story/news/...-20/985342007/

Here's the video, but I gotta tell you - it's complete carnage. Oh, and she's setting her sights on eating 4 complete dinners some day.

[OkieSnuffBox]

Originally Posted by E92inPHX

Day 1: Phoenix to Dallas - I’m planning on taking the northern route through Albuquerque, stopping overnight in Amarillo

I'm confused? Since you're calling Day 1 Phoenix to Dallas.

Phoenix to Amarillo is 700 miles. That's cake in one day.

[leopard print]

https://www.terryblacksbbq.com/dallas/

Terry Black's in Texas is my favorite BBQ. Their beef ribs are amazing.

[infinitekidM2C]

If you're stopping by in Albquerque and you don't eat, just end it all now. Best Mexican food you'll find in the U.S. Go to old town and you can try Little Anita's Mexican Food. They have a really good brewery too called Santa Fe Brewery and i suggest the happy camper IPA. If you don't like Mexican, at least go to Blakes Lottaburger.

[e90335e36m3]

It's a chain but the best fajitas in Texas are at Lupe Tortilla. Tons of locations in Houston.

[E92inNC]

Originally Posted by rebekahb

What type of food for you like? Have you been to the New Orleans area before? Any idea of the time frame you would be in the city if you made the detour?

I’m just driving through. Looks like I’ll be going through Baton Rouge but I’d take a quick detour to NO if there’s a place there I have to try. My favorites are seafood, bbq, Italian, Mexican but I’ll pretty much eat anything once. Im looking for local food to try during this trip.

Originally Posted by hoki06

Wife and I are big fans of the shrimp and grits at Poogan's Porch in Charleston. I've also had the same dish at Fleets Landing and it was great as well. Both places and many others get crazy busy so be aware of your timing.

Thanks, I’ll look into it.

Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox

I'm confused? Since you're calling Day 1 Phoenix to Dallas.

Phoenix to Amarillo is 700 miles. That's cake in one day.

I’ve never done this trip but I’ll try to make to Dallas or as close to it as I can on this first day.

Originally Posted by leopard print

https://www.terryblacksbbq.com/dallas/

Terry Black's in Texas is my favorite BBQ. Their beef ribs are amazing.

Looks good but I’m trying to avoid the congestion of downtown. I’m meeting a friend that lives in north Texas. If he wants meet up downtown I’d go but I’d prefer to be able to quickly get on the 45 to Houston after we meet up for some bbq.

Originally Posted by infinitekidM2C

If you're stopping by in Albquerque and you don't eat, just end it all now. Best Mexican food you'll find in the U.S. Go to old town and you can try Little Anita's Mexican Food. They have a really good brewery too called Santa Fe Brewery and i suggest the happy camper IPA. If you don't like Mexican, at least go to Blakes Lottaburger.

Sounds awesome, I love Mexican, I’ll look them up. Anything at this place you specifically recommend?