New England to Florida drive favorite restaurant recommendations please

[CoachKandSportsguy]

There are several routes between NE and TV.
For foodie exploration purposes, where are great breakfast, lunch or dinner recommendations which you stop at frequently. . we don't have any favorites, we drive or stop depending upon the day

Please provide the establishment name, city or town, close or not to which highway, and favorite menu items. .

If someone wants to do MN to TV, please start another post, thanks!

[Stu from NYC]

There are several routes between NE and TV.
For foodie exploration purposes, where are great breakfast, lunch or dinner recommendations which you stop at frequently. . we don't have any favorites, we drive or stop depending upon the day

Please provide the establishment name, city or town, close or not to which highway, and favorite menu items. .

If someone wants to do MN to TV, please start another post, thanks!

Go anywhere there is a buccees. On 95 only 1 but if you take 81 to 75 there is a plethora of them. All right off the highway.

And for you once you get on 81 we have removed all tolls.

[Rainger99]

Go anywhere there is a buccees. On 95 only 1 but if you take 81 to 75 there is a plethora of them. All right off the highway.

And for you once you get on 81 we have removed all tolls.

There are two on 95. One at Daytona Beach and one at St. Augustine.

[bagboy]

There are two on 95. One at Daytona Beach and one at St. Augustine.

There is also a Buc-ees at I95 exit 170 in SC. That's a Myrtle Beach exit.

[Pinball wizard]

There is also a Buc-ees at I95 exit 170 in SC. That's a Myrtle Beach exit.

Also Macon, Ga.

[Stu from NYC]

Also Macon, Ga.

I do believe that one is on I 75

[Stu from NYC]

There are two on 95. One at Daytona Beach and one at St. Augustine.

To come here he would have gotten off I 95 before those.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Bucees?, fine, what menu items? and which meal?
We only pass one on the way, and breakfast is great, but not sure about other meals. . .

So everyone eats once at the only Bucees and then the next meal is at home?

[BrianL99]

Bucees?, fine, what menu items? and which meal?
We only pass one on the way, and breakfast is great, but not sure about other meals. . .

So everyone eats once at the only Bucees and then the next meal is at home?

Well yeah. There aren't any more Howard Johnsons, so where else can you go? 😂

It could be worse. In the old days, you had to stop at Pedro's South of the Border.

As a roadside stop, Bucees is about as good as it gets, until you get to the Common Man in Hookset, NH. Bucees has plenty of variety, it's usually hot and reasonably fresh ... but it's only a small step up from typical, Highway Rest Area food. Try the Brisket.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Well yeah. There aren't any more Howard Johnsons, so where else can you go? 😂

It could be worse. In the old days, you had to stop at Pedro's South of the Border.

As a roadside stop, Bucees is about as good as it gets, until you get to the Common Man in Hookset, NH. Bucees has plenty of variety, it's usually hot and reasonably fresh ... but it's only a small step up from typical, Highway Rest Area food. Try the Brisket.

Whenever I've traveled along the route, I've always stopped at South of the Border. It's part of the experience of driving north to south and back! It's a convenient bathroom break, and once in awhile I'll get a taco. One time I bought an awesome suede floppy-brimmed hat. I loved that hat. Wore it for years.

[tophcfa]

I know I’m not answering your question, but over the last ten years, and well over 20 drives between MA and the Villages, we have learned that the food options while traveling sucks. We now pack all our food on ice and eat our meals on the road. It’s much healthier, less expensive, and way less time consuming. My wife packs couplets (which are basically omelets made in a cupcake tin), fresh fruit, and yogurt for breakfast. For lunch we have cut up veggies and dip, and cheese and turkey on triscuits. When we get to the hotel, my wife has Tupperware containers filled with salad that we top off with smoked salmon. She also has bags of mixed nuts which are always handy for a snack. And of course, we make a couple large thermoses filled with hot coffee. Once we started doing that it has become a routine that we very much enjoy and we will never go back to dinning out while traveling. Just food for thought, no pun intended. Safe travels : (

[Bill14564]

Not exactly foodie material but for us....

All close to 95
Royal Farms chicken in Maryland
Park Lane Tavern in Fredericksburg
Several places in Savannah, GA including Moon River

In Raleigh, NC
42nd St Oyster Bar in Raleigh, NC
Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing in Raleigh, NC

[Rainger99]

To come here he would have gotten off I 95 before those.

It depends on where you get on or off 95. We usually take 44 to I-4 which hits 95 a few miles south of buc-ee’s. If you go through the Ocala National Forest, you would not go through Daytona Beach. But if my car breaks down, I would rather be on 44 than in the ONF.

[mikreb]

If you like seafood, the Shellhouse in Pembroke GA. It's right next to I-95.
Skippers Fish Camp in Darien GA. It's a little further off I-95 on I-95Business in Darien

[asianthree]

No matter where we travel, our backseat Yeti has a travel list. We only stop for fuel, and walk around, change drivers of 20 hour or less drive.

If we take the stop and visit. We have family or Vaca homes on the coast for overnight or short stay. We avoid all chains either fast food or sit down, due to high sodium content that causes havoc on extremities when on the road.

I am not a fan of trying to fit in a certain Restaurant or stay over while traveling. If Travel is lighter we just keep going. That said our 3 restaurants on your route of travel, no longer exists.

[Mrfriendly]

There are several routes between NE and TV.
For foodie exploration purposes, where are great breakfast, lunch or dinner recommendations which you stop at frequently. . we don't have any favorites, we drive or stop depending upon the day

Please provide the establishment name, city or town, close or not to which highway, and favorite menu items. .

If someone wants to do MN to TV, please start another post, thanks!

Heading back to New Jersey we take 81 and stop in Salem Virginia. (Approx 11hrs) There is a brewery on the main drag with good food selection and beer is good. We stay in a reasonably priced Marriott, which includes breakfast then we hike for a few hours before our 7 to 8 Hour Dr. home.

[golfing eagles]

There are several routes between NE and TV.
For foodie exploration purposes, where are great breakfast, lunch or dinner recommendations which you stop at frequently. . we don't have any favorites, we drive or stop depending upon the day

Please provide the establishment name, city or town, close or not to which highway, and favorite menu items. .

If someone wants to do MN to TV, please start another post, thanks!

Depends on how picky you want to be. Headed north, we take 301 past Baldwin to McClellan, then FL 200 to 95 a few miles south of Georgia border. Usually leave about 5 AM, drive into SC and stop for gas and breakfast just over the border. There are Waffle Houses at the last Georgia and first 2 SC exits, and a few other choices such as Cracker Barrel. Not gourmet dining, but a relatively quick stop.

[Rwirish]

Burger King

[Dotneko]

Reins in Connecticut off of 84. Exit 264 maybe? Pickles, deli food, desserts.
The Blue Colony DIner on exit 10 off of 84 in CT also - pastry, greek food, all day eating.

[mike234]

I know I’m not answering your question, but over the last ten years, and well over 20 drives between MA and the Villages, we have learned that the food options while traveling sucks. We now pack all our food on ice and eat our meals on the road. It’s much healthier, less expensive, and way less time consuming. My wife packs couplets (which are basically omelets made in a cupcake tin), fresh fruit, and yogurt for breakfast. For lunch we have cut up veggies and dip, and cheese and turkey on triscuits. When we get to the hotel, my wife has Tupperware containers filled with salad that we top off with smoked salmon. She also has bags of mixed nuts which are always handy for a snack. And of course, we make a couple large thermoses filled with hot coffee. Once we started doing that it has become a routine that we very much enjoy and we will never go back to dinning out while traveling. Just food for thought, no pun intended. Safe travels : (
yup. thats what we do.

[JohnnyT]

We drive from NY Long Island to TV twice a year and always stop at a Cracker Barrel usually for a late breakfast. All over on interstate 95

There are several routes between NE and TV.
For foodie exploration purposes, where are great breakfast, lunch or dinner recommendations which you stop at frequently. . we don't have any favorites, we drive or stop depending upon the day

Please provide the establishment name, city or town, close or not to which highway, and favorite menu items. .

If someone wants to do MN to TV, please start another post, thanks!

[tophcfa]

We drive from NY Long Island to TV twice a year and always stop at a Cracker Barrel usually for a late breakfast. All over on interstate 95

When my wife, our dog, and I drive we always stay in a hotel and pack all our food. On the occasion when I make the drive by myself, I put the cap on my truck and put an inflatable air mattress in the truck bed and stay in a Cracker Barrel parking lot (they allow overnight campers). Cracker Barrel’s are everywhere. When I wake up I grab a quick breakfast in Cracker Barrel and use the restrooms. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s a decent breakfast and I want to give them some business for the overnight accommodation. My favorite stop is the Cracker Barrel right off I81 in Jonesville, NC. The rest of my meals are out of the cooler.

[BrianL99]

When my wife, our dog, and I drive we always stay in a hotel and pack all our food. On the occasion when I make the drive by myself, I put the cap on my truck and put an inflatable air mattress in the truck bed and stay in a Cracker Barrel parking lot (they allow overnight campers). Cracker Barrel’s are everywhere. When I wake up I grab a quick breakfast in Cracker Barrel and use the restrooms. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s a decent breakfast and I want to give them some business for the overnight accommodation. My favorite stop is the Cracker Barrel right off I81 in Jonesville, NC. The rest of my meals are out of the cooler.

You Western, MA people know how to travel!

[margaretmattson]

When we stop for gas, we always ask the cashier and locals for the best place to eat nearby. If you are in the south, they usually recommend a great barbecue joint. Once in Virginia and beyond, seafood restaurants are often recommended. We had a few recommendations for southern style restaurants but we found all of them VERY BLAND. We now avoid them.

[Stu from NYC]

Bucees?, fine, what menu items? and which meal?
We only pass one on the way, and breakfast is great, but not sure about other meals. . .

So everyone eats once at the only Bucees and then the next meal is at home?

Buccees has great muffins we will stop for breakfast.

We do enjoy their brisket sandwiches and fried chicken sandwiches. Not the healthiest but good. No place to sit and eat, either eat in car or go to rest area.

Cleanest bathrooms around and great prices for gas.

[La lamy]

I'm one for bringing my own food to munch on while I drive, but if I want something healthy before retiring to my hotel I enjoy Subway. You can control which ingredient you eat which I appreciate. Certainly not gourmet, but nothing is better than healthy in my book!

[Joe C.]

Ditto on the Blue Colony in CT. Great menu choices!!!

[Joe C.]

There are plenty of Cracker Barrels along most interstates. They have the absolute BEST PANCAKES anywhere. Their meatloaf lunch special is fantastic. They are always reliable and their food tastes are consistent no matter which restaurant you go to.

[pedwards2932]

Clarks
114 Bradford Blvd, Santee, SC 29142

Genuine home style southern cooking.......just off I 95 in Santee

[bopat]

Buc-ees for sure, then when we hit Virginia or Maryland, Wegmans grab and go.

[Fenster]

For real? The OP was looking for restaurants and he’s a foodie. Buccee’s is fine but it definitely does not fall into the foodie category.

I wish I could offer suggestions but I don’t do that drive.

[H-ned]

Definitely stop at any Buc-ees along the way and get a beef brisket sandwich of any variety - chopped, sliced, extra large, etc.!

[rwfisher1969]

I95 south at exit 130B in Fredericksburg, VA there is one of the largest Wegmans in the chain. Great stop to get breakfast, lunch or dinner. We always bring a cooler on our way south and store there because it is the last Wegmans along that route. It has an amazing menu of different food styles from around the world at their hot bars.

[oldtimes]

Reins in Connecticut off of 84. Exit 264 maybe? Pickles, deli food, desserts.
The Blue Colony DIner on exit 10 off of 84 in CT also - pastry, greek food, all day eating.

I second Reins

[Ecuadog]

Clam Box
246 High St, Ipswich, MA 01938
978.356.9707

Paulie Gee's
60 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222
347.987.3748

Dixie Restaurant
250 N Sycamore St, Petersburg, VA 23803
804.732.7425

Gators BBQ
8142 W Beaver St, Jacksonville, FL 32220
904.683.4941

[CoachKandSportsguy]

We avoid all chains either fast food or sit down, due to high sodium content that causes havoc on extremities when on the road.


That's advice I will heed for the future, and will switch from salt to sugar. . just for the kick. . .


I know I’m not answering your question, but over the last ten years, and well over 20 drives between MA and the Villages, we have learned that the food options while traveling sucks. We now pack all our food on ice and eat our meals on the road. It’s much healthier, less expensive, and way less time consuming. My wife packs couplets (which are basically omelets made in a cupcake tin), fresh fruit, and yogurt for breakfast. For lunch we have cut up veggies and dip, and cheese and turkey on triscuits. When we get to the hotel, my wife has Tupperware containers filled with salad that we top off with smoked salmon. She also has bags of mixed nuts which are always handy for a snack. And of course, we make a couple large thermoses filled with hot coffee. Once we started doing that it has become a routine that we very much enjoy and we will never go back to dinning out while traveling. Just food for thought, no pun intended. Safe travels : (

Best answer yet, as we started with lunches in the cooler and eating while driving. Your suggestions are top notch, and we will start looking at them as a better alternative. .

We often stay with family in VA, so then we are eating out usually. .

Appreciate all the suggestions so far, not the gas station sushi types, as we stop at bucees regularly for fuel, and a bite, not alot, . .

[H-ned]

Definitely stop at any Buc-ees along the way and get a beef brisket sandwich of any variety - chopped, sliced, extra large, etc.!

And although also not gourmet for a foodie, I also recommend any Waffle House or Cracker Barrel for good food fast at many exits along the interstate highways!

[craarmy]

NE is Nebraska not North East

[Ecuadog]

I95 south at exit 130B in Fredericksburg, VA there is one of the largest Wegmans in the chain. Great stop to get breakfast, lunch or dinner. We always bring a cooler on our way south and store there because it is the last Wegmans along that route. It has an amazing menu of different food styles from around the world at their hot bars.

Yes. We stopped there for lunch once. I was able to score some Epoisses cheese to bring home in my cooler.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

NE is Nebraska not North East

only in the MW. . . or maybe the PS and GB

[bcormier@forrester.com]

Clark's Inn & Restaurant, 114 Bradford Blvd, Santee, SC 29142

Great bar and restaurant. We stay at Clark’s Inn overnight.

[laboutj]

We pack subs from a local deli in a cooler for day 1 of the drive from Mass to FL. Wife usually makes a banana choc chip bread or some homemade cookies for a snack. Of course Dunkin right out of the gate for a coffee and breakfast. When we get to Florence, SC we would stop at Mellow Mushroom for a pizza, reason being that we had our dog with us and could do outdoor dining and have her with us rather than leaving her alone in a hotel room barking continuously. Or we would use the iExit app to find restaurants where we could order takeout. Now that she has passed we will have many more options for food and hotels, but we wouldn't trade those memories.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

We pack subs from a local deli in a cooler for day 1 of the drive from Mass to FL. Wife usually makes a banana choc chip bread or some homemade cookies for a snack. Of course Dunkin right out of the gate for a coffee and breakfast. When we get to Florence, SC we would stop at Mellow Mushroom for a pizza, reason being that we had our dog with us and could do outdoor dining and have her with us rather than leaving her alone in a hotel room barking continuously. Or we would use the iExit app to find restaurants where we could order takeout. Now that she has passed we will have many more options for food and hotels, but we wouldn't trade those memories.

Florence, SC Mellow Pizza, will try it out as we stop there often
A friend of mine from college owns all the DD on 95 in CT. . as a final career.

We do buy our own deli meat for easy to make sandwiches or tuna fish. . . usually for two lunches. Egg, cheese and bacon sandwiches with coffee for breakfast. A large thermos for coffee. . . and dinner is the most likely meal to eat out.

Friends recommend The Border Cafe, 483 Stanton Christiana Rd, Newark, DE 19713
where we stay when we leave MA in the afternoon to make it a 2 1/2 day drive.

[Bill14564]

NE is Nebraska not North East

Could be northeast (as the opposite of SW) or could be a sports team, ask the NFL

Since the title of the thread was New England to Florida...., it seemed pretty clear to most of us.