Atlanta to Chicago - any must tries along the way?

I'll be making a run from Atlanta area up to Chicago in August. Looks to be an 11 hour ride or so. I'll be bringing my middle son up to St. Joseph's Seminary at Loyola. I tend to stop and stretch every two hours (and aggravate others in the car that are more destination-minded), and will probably want to stop for 1 or 2 quick, small meals.
 
Any places we absolutely should stop at on the ride up? We're fans of burgers, dogs, home-made fries, fried chicken, and wouldn't mind trying a pork tenderloin sandwich if there is a place along the way. I REALLY like Root Beer, so if there is a really good, have-to-be-there root beer stand, that would be cool, too.
 
On the way back I'm not sure I should drive 11 hours non-stop, so am thinking of looking for a nice, clean independent motel in southern Indiana or maybe Kentucky. Any recommendations? (also considering bringing my popup and finding a campground along the way - I can get kinda cheap!).

Bruce, there's so many places worthy of a stop between Atlanta and Chicago that I don't know where to begin. However, since you mentioned your love for great root beer ( a passion we share ), I recommend the Dog n Suds drive-in on Sagamore Parkway ( US 52 ) on the southeast side of Lafayette IN. There are photos and more info in my North Carolina May 2009 trip report. Good food plus THE best root beer that I've ever tasted, served in a classic 1950s drive-in by friendly carhops. If I knew what route you're taking, I could probably make some other suggestions.   

I will assume you are doing the I-75 to Chatanooga then I-24 to Nashville and I-65 up to Chicago. I am sure you can find some great places in a search for the Nashville and Louisville (and Indy) areas on this site.

As far as Pop-Camping goes..depending on your timing. Hardy Lake St Park near Austin Indiana (exit 36 on I-65) would fit your requirements.

Here are a few suggestions:

Chattanooga:

Lupi's Pizza
Sweet Basil (Thai)
Klumpies (ice cream)

Nashville:

Jack's BBQ  (I love their brisket)
Loveless Cafe  (get their country ham and biscuits)
Demos Steak & Spaghetti House
Mike's Ice Cream
Pralines by Leon (The best pralines outside of New Orleans)

Have a good trip.

Mike Sneddon

You should go right past Prince's Hot Chicken in Nashville. Not too terribly far off the interstate. Also in Chicago I highly suggestion going to Intelligentsia coffee. I know its not food, but good coffee shops fall right in line with good restaurants in my opinion. Some of the best estate direct coffee in the country. Wine connoiseiur's dont even get close to obessing as much as these coffee connoiseuirs do!

Thanks for the recommendations. We made sure to stop at Dog 'N Suds in West Lafayette on the way up. The root beer was good! I was very happy that it was served in a real glass mug. I liked the burger, and my son enjoyed his.

When we got to Chicago we wandered in to St. Joseph Seminary at the Loyola campus. Got my son set up, then wandered over to Giordano's for deep dish pizza. Very different from what I am used to! We enjoyed it.

We wandered around a bit Sunday morning and found a cool bakery. We got some pastries, apple juice and chocolate milk for $3.84 all told! I did not bring the camera, darn. We went back to the seminary, wandered down the street it i on, and had breakfast on a park bench looking at a small beach. Very cool.

Off to Leona's for lunch. Not a roadfood place, but a nice local restaurant. It was good.

I bugged out Monday after doing a teleconference for work. Got home a little before midnight. It is a long haul from Atlanta to Chicago! Next time we're up, we'll look for some nice local restaurants. Off to bed, got to do a conference in a few hours. But I DID snag two souvenier (I'm not even going to use spell-check) mugs from Dog 'N Suds. Shoulda snagged some root beer to go with 'em.

zzzzz, yawn, dreams of root beer and tasty burgers in my head, and missing my kid who's off to school.