Stopping to eat on a road trip when you’re, say, just 200 miles away from home, is spiritually different from a road trip that requires 500 miles of driving. When you reach hour six of a road trip, you are a different person and, if you do it right, there are different rules. Different expectations. Different foods.
The question I’m asking today is not your favorite road trip food or the best rest stop. This isn’t Whataburger v. Sonic v. In-n-Out. This is about the food your soul and body require when you’ve exited the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to. This is about chasing waterfalls.
My waterfall is a cod sandwich from Culver’s. I grew up in Texas, and the cheerful and butter-based Midwestern cuisine has always been a little foreign to me. Fried cheese curds instead of stuffed jalapenos. A frozen custard instead of the hand-dipped cone. Wisconsin cheddar on a fish sandwich instead of American.
There’s a specific Culver’s in Sandusky, Ohio that calls to me even now. Perhaps I shall return there soon…
Until then, what’s the Culver’s in your mind?
top photo: Culver’s
I love Culver’s, but there are none in the northeast US. I think the closest one is the one in Sandusky, OH. My in-laws live in MI, and there’s one in their town, so I usually hit that at least once per trip.
Otherwise, I go online and try to make a list of local places along my route that look interesting and have reasonable reviews.
I haven’t made enough 500+ mile road trips where I could pick the food, but it generally tends to be diner food when it is. But any time I happen to be in Las Cruces NM I go out of my way for Caliche’s soft serve ice cream, it’s delicious and has so many toppings.
My husband went to school with the Culver’s founder’s kid and greatly misses the cheese curds, so on Midwest trips we’ll be looking for Culver’s at least once.
I am an In-N-Out addicted Californian, but after the 14-hour drive it takes to get to my folks’ place in Idaho, there’s nothing I want so much as to hit up Culver’s for cheese curds and either a mushroom Swiss burger or one of those excellent cod sandwiches… they deserve the hype.
Otherwise my cravings anchor on drive-through fare that’s widely available ‘round midnight: a Sourdough Jack with jalapeño poppers or a Crunchwrap with “steak” instead of ground “beef”.
The Crunchwrap was designed to be eaten at the wheel. That’s why it’s shaped like a deployed airbag.
On a long Road Trip, I like to get a Sausage, or Hot Dog or two from the roller cookers. Sadly they are not that common anymore.
A burger of some kind is always what I crave when driving, likewise my wife. After our honeymoon roadtrip to Nashville, I crave an odd burger we got at an almost defunct chain in the middle of nowhere Virginia.
Kenney’s in Lexington Virginia had what they called an “SMO” or sauce, mustard, and onion, the patty dipped in their own BBQ-like sauce. They are not big burger, closer to a dollar menu McDonald’s burger. That just means that I could easily polish off about 4-5 of them in a sitting after an 6 or 8 hour drive.
Whopper Jr., fries and a diet Coke. I’m a simple man with simple needs.
That said, going up and down I-5 from Tacoma to Davis, I love staying at the Courtyard by Marriott across the street from Hop Valley Brewing in Springfield, OR. There ahi tuna salad is amazing.
I have a former work colleague (in IT) who saved his money and bought a Culver’s franchise in SW Michigan a few years ago. He says he is enjoying it. I hope to visit it next spring. He has a Dodge with a Cummins diesel and a very nice Mercedes 300 wagon.
Recently did a three day, 1700 mile road trip from Washington State to Fargo. In the snow. In an F350 4×4 crew cab with off road tires. First day ended in St. Regis MT. Huckleberry milkshake! The dinner of champions.
We are going to be moving away from Fargo in the near future, and nd the only Midwest chain place I will miss is Culver’s. Though we find ourselves walking downtown to Silver Lining a lot more. So if you know the destination, a quality local joint wins every time.
Buc-ee’s BBQ.
A chicken sandwich and a beer
After 500 miles on the road? The 3 olives in my martini.
When I was a kid in the 60’s/70’s, there were two things to look forward to during family road trips:
Peanut Brittle from Stuckey’s
and
Prime Rib Night at the Holiday Inn.
A gas stop on a long road trip is the only place I crave a Hostess Fruit Pie, or local/regional equivalent.
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Cheddar or pizza *pretzel* combos (don’t listen to Mark Tucker – the road to hell is smooth, just like the cracker style Combos). They’re a clear sign of depression/diabetes if you eat them at home, but they’re essentially required for most trips over 4 hours (or 2 hours with my SO, where the excitement of going places and having snacks overrides even pretending we need sustenance).
I don’t eat most fast foods but I can hit a cook out in a pinch. Most often I’ll at least try to go to a grocery store for their quick serve foods.
I see a thread of destination-restaurants forming, too, so I’ll throw Perly’s in Richmond as required stop for us. It’s not really road trip material – it’s down in the city – but it’s not really trip to Richmond without it, either.
Wild cherry Pepsi zero sugar, honey bbq Fritos twists, Jersey mikes big kahuna cheese steak. (#56)
If I’m in the southeast, I will make it a point to stop at Cook Out. It’s amazing, and if you’re visiting the US, it’s a great place to validate every stereotype about America you learned on Top Gear.
Standard fast food fare to a point, but their “tray” combos feature “side dishes” such as quesadillas, mini chicken wraps, chicken nuggets, and corn dogs. The large sweet tea is just labeled “huge tea”. The coup de grace is their massive array of full-fat milkshakes.
Completing the vibe is everything arriving in styrofoam containers while Christian Rock is blaring from the speakers.
Thank me later: https://cookout.com/menu/
I can think of a couple things with the four main food groups: Sugar, salt, grease, and preservatives. And a Guinness to celebrate getting there alive.
Cheddar Cheese Combos (the cracker kind, not pretzel) are the greatest in-car road trip snacks ever invented. I pick up a bag on any drive that requires a gas stop. Fortunately, I have only found one or two gas stations that didn’t carry them. Wash ’em down with a Dr. Pepper, and I’m good to go for another state line.
Traveling to certain places means stopping for certain treats, however. The cinnamon rolls at Tobies Station in Hinckley, MN are worth a stop, and the only acceptable lunch/dinner stop upon reaching Superior, WI is the Anchor Bar on Tower Avenue. Best cheap burgers in this or any other universe.
Also, there was a Mennonite-run diner somehwere near Great Bend, Kansas where my dad, my grandpa, and I used to have breakfast before Dad and I headed back to Illinois. I can picture the place, but I have no idea exactly where it was, what it was called, or if it still exists, but breakfast there would hold us until we got to a Steak & Shake around Kansas City.
Anchor bar is only 73 miles away ……
That’s my road trip snack! Cheddar Cheese (cracker) Combos.
Those and a Mountain Dew.
I never eat/drink those any other time.
Yes to the cod sandwich! I add a short raspberry malt with extra malt powder so I can tell my doctor I take probiotics! Fully Culverized and happy!
Any significant driving (over 90 minutes) or an early start requires a large 7/11 coffee. No other brand. I blend their medium roast and whatever flavoured coffee they have at the time, and load it with 4-6 cups of creamer (half flavoured/sweetened, half not).
It sounds a bit OCD, but I don’t make the rules. And this is a rule.
Typically something greasy, cheap, filling and to go. Usually off the value menu.
Culver’s fish sandwich is a real winner in the world of fast food.
The fries there are our favorite of the chain fast food variety.
Took me many years to warm up to them but now I really enjoy them. Make em chili cheese fries and you’re really talking!
Goldfish crackers. Road trips remind me of being a small child and make me want to eat like one.
I am a purveyorof the finest rotary protein cylinders. By that I mean gas station roller grill hot dogs and their friends. Great form factor, high energy density, and protein of questionable provenance.
They’re my go-to for a quick breakfast or a fuel-only layover on a trip. I don’t bother getting a bun or whatever. Just raw dogging (heh) like five or six cheesy sausages, all beef-rectum hot dogs, spicy brats, or my preference if the place has it, egg rolls, while path-integrating along the Ike.
Yes I was ordered with an all-stainless-steel exhaust option, why do you ask
Ensure & diet Coke
Today 12/12 is my third day of driving from Michigan all the way to Mexico. I took my 1996 Ford Mustang and its been amazing so far, its so good on the highway. I tested positive for COVID yesterday and the only thing that I am craving for, ramen! It feels amazing after miserables 12 hr shift of driving having chills and fatigue. A warm soup, TV on the background, my dogs sleeping. Mission almost accomplished.
Driving with COVID symptoms sounds horrible. Best of luck for a speedy recovery.