Driving from Cali to DC... help me plan a BBQ tour
 

In ~6 weeks I'm moving from SoCal to the DC area. The last time I did this road trip was the reverse trip and I drove a UHaul while towing my car behind. It sucked ass. This time, I'm having my stuff transported and the wife & I are driving our comfy car. I love BBQ and I figure that this is my chance to do it right. We've got ~5-6 days give or take to do it.

I am open to hitting some other non-BBQ stops if they're worthy enough (and to keep my wife from going nuts). We've never been to New Orleans and so a stop there (if the trip keeps us south) might be a possibility.

Here's what I was thinking off the bat. Any advice?

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=e...,41.132813&z=5

Good luck. I went cross country from San Diego to Orlando. Texas took the fight outta me. At least you'll have an iPod (I hope). Once you get past Tuscon it'll be lots of dead air on the airwaves, especially between El Paso and San Antonio.

How can you do a BBQ tour without going to Kansas City?




I'd say go out of your way to come to Denver but we have fuck all for BBQ.

Yes, I'll have an iPod hookup. After the last x-country trip I wouldn't do it without one. I can't listen to another Steve Miller Band song for my life!

I know, missing KC hurts the concept but it's kinda out of the way...

When you hit Phoenix, try Joe's Real BBQ

Actually REALLY easy to hit on your route, too. When you switch from I-10 to US-60 watch for AZ-101, you'll cross over it a few miles after you get on the 60. About that same distance again you'll come across Gilbert Rd. Get off there and head south (right turn off the highway). It's a few miles down. Yum!

Oh, and in Atlanta there's a place called "Daddy D'z". Only been there once, but it was hella good! :)

If you go a little out of the way, Lockhart Texas has the BEST BBQ in the state.

http://www.kreuzmarket.com/index.shtml

Lockhart is considered BBQ capital of Texas, with the oldest existing BBQ joint as well as the oldest BBQ joint owned by the same family. Kreuz Market is my opinion the best there.

If you wish to stay more in Austin (not much in Lockhart), County Line BBQ is where it's at. They have a location on a creek, as well as one on a hilltop overlooking the Hill Country.

If you go through D/FW, you can't go wrong in the Stockyards in Ft. Worth. They still have the cattle drives through the streets on weekends, though it's a bit touristy for me.

Houston I'm not as well up on, but I've heard great things about The Swinging Door. http://www.swingingdoor.com

Have fun.

Man, you're REALLY going the hard way from Atlanta to Richmond. Just come up I-85. WAY WAY faster than the route you took, and when you hit Greensboro, hit me up and I'll take you to Stamey's for some authentic Central NC barbecue.

There are two distinct barbecue styles in NC, and they're each worth trying. In the East and Central area the sauce is vinegar-based, and in the West it's tomato-based. So I'll give you directions to Bullock's in Durham, where you can taste the West.

Also: NC barbecue is PORK. Pulled, chopped, or sliced, on a plate or in a sandwich. With hush puppies, slaw, and sweet tea.

Aw, now I'm hungry.

OMG, this is gonna be good. Keep it coming.

Updated route:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=e...,20.566406&z=6

Forget finding good BBQ in the DC area...the best is probably the Red Hot & Blue chain with a couple of locations in suburban Virginia.

But if you want the best fried chicken in DC....go to Madams Organ Blues Bar and Soul Food Restaurant in the Adams Morgan neighborhood.

Or just stroll along 18th street and chose from any one of the funky Cuban, Ethiopian, East African, Brazilian, Thai, Turkish restaurants within a two block area.

Not sure what stop in Pflugerville you picked, I'd change it for you.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=7357126841536701834,32.744370,-110.647340%3B18338524560531545621,29.429010,-98.500850%3B15406564415944375361,29.843160,-97.669020%3B4687663845081471750,29.981300,-90.311830%3B6106197270183298757,34.578120,-82.695300&saddr=Anaheim,+CA+92808&daddr=AZ-77+%4032.744370,+-110.647340+to:30.420256,-97.67395+to:US-183+%4029.843160,+-97.669020+to:I-310+S+%4029.981300,+-90.311830+to:I-85+N+%4034.578120,+-82.695300+to:Bethesda,+MD&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=2&sz=8&via=1,2,3,4,5&sll=30.225848,-97.371826&sspn=2.012387,5.141602&ie=UTF8&ll=32.379961,-110.654297&spn=7.864148,20.566406&z=6"

I've added the County Line BBQ on the hill for you.

http://www.countyline.com/comeseeus....n%20the%20Hill)

It shows a Java 360 of the Hill Country view, I think you'll like it. You can also do the one on the lake, just as beautiful... it's up to you.

You'll be driving through Fredericksburg TX. It's a very small, but clean town in the Hill Country. Just FYI, it's the birthplace of Admiral Nimitz and damn proud of it. It has a nice town square, and some great Beergardens.

Have fun and happy eating.

Smithfield VA isn't too far off your path. It's one of the huge pork processing areas (Smithfield Hams etc) so there has to be some good pork BBQ around there. Usually that area of VA does Carolina vinegar style pulled pork (my fav). I used to do demolition over there, but I was always working overnight, so I never got much of a chance to check it out.

If you're heading through ATL, you HAVE to go to Williamson Brothers BBQ. Classic southern BBQ! If you head through DFW I say stop in the stock yards in Fort Worth, my parents live there and we get great BBQ. Although really I would say make a reservation for Texas De Brazil, that food is worth the drive.

Wow. This thread got wide all of a sudden.

If we're allowing "chain" stops along the way, I recommend Shane's Rib Shack, a chain that appears all over the place, but mostly in NC, SC, GA, FL, and surprisingly enough AZ. GREAT ribs.

NOT coming through Memphis on a BBQ tour--what are you thinking? It's BBQ fest this weekend (May 15-17):

http://memphisinmay.org/wbcc.htm

If you're ever in Memphis I highly recommend Central BBQ and stay away from Corky's (too sweet) or the Rendezvous (except for the dry ribs).

Well, I'd also add the Varsity in Atlanta if you're going through. I see you adopted that filthy ratbastid's idea to skip Columbia and hit straight from Atlanta to Greenville. This means you'll miss out on mustard-based BBQ in SC, which is mostly a mid-state thing. Upstate means you can get some catsup-based bbq, and maybe some mustard. In Greenville, I'd recommend Henry's Smokehouse - and if you cut over to Spartanburg (45 miles from Greenville), you can hit the Beacon. Much better known. Not necessarily a BBQ place, although people in the area love their catsup-based hash. It's got great greasy cheeseburgers, and is sort of a local legend.

Personally, I'm more of a pepper-vinegar guy myself, but the best of that would take you closer to the coast. There are some pretty decent places on your original route via I-20 in the Aiken/Augusta region. However, rb is right that 85 will save you a pretty good bit of time.