Recommendations for a Southern Road Tour

Common Travels is a grassroots initiative started by a group of undergrads across the southern United States. We’re writers, bloggers, and photographers.
 
We’re planning a 2-3 week road trip to explore the back roads and small towns of the American South. Because of time constraints and funding we’re limited to Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina and the very southeast part of Arkansas.
 
We were hoping that all of y’all amazing people here at Roadfood.com might be able to help us and give us some suggestions on places to check out. We’ll be staying of off interstates and away from big cities, so anywhere out of the way or that has a lot of character or is extremely personally would be much appreciated.
 
We’re also interested in any community events as well.
 
Thanks a ton!!
 

If you want something thats off the interstate in South Carolina, try Scott's BBQ at the bottom of this thread:
 
http://www.roadfood.com/F...tle-Beach-m637318.aspx
 
 

There are some interesting places along route 17 in southeastern Georgia around Kingsland you might check out.

Favorite place for us is Ave Maria Grotto.
http://www.avemariagrotto.com/
 
If you are into music Fame recording studios in Muscle Shoals, AL
http://www.fame2.com/recording-studios/

One of the great things about the South, and I think more so than any other region of the country, is the relative number of independent roadfood worthy places that have survived the onslaught of the casual dining and fast food corporations and franchises.
 
Just plot courses from county seat to county seat, as you say, avoiding the Interstate system.  There will be good eating in the county seats and likely a bunch more along the way. 
 
I have such faith in the South and its bounty of roadfood restaurants that I am not sure you need to do much research. But as you are, along with Roadfood.com, check out Dixie Dining, the Southern Foodways Alliance, and dare I suggest, http://www.hollyeats.com/South.htm.
 
Also keep an eye open for church suppers, fire house breakfasts and the like. A great resource are local police and sheriffs departments. I've followed more than one patrol car to some great eating.
 
Finally, don't go by looks. Some of the best eating can come from shacks and shanties that have barely withstood the years.
 
Have a great trip.

Holly gave you real good advice.  You can 'friend' the Southern Foodways Alliance on Facebook, and their flickr feed is also very helpful.

Here's a web site that will give you most of the "Meat and Three's" in the states you're visiting:
http://www.meatandthree.com/
As you probably know, you could spend your entire trip in Louisana! Here's where to get Boudin and other Cajun Foods.
http://www.boudinlink.com/

Must Visit Lynchburg TN, home of Jack Daniels and eat at:
http://www.lynchburgtenn.com/miss-mary-bobos-boarding-house-restaurant.html
In Tuscaloosa AL it's:
http://www.dreamlandbbq.com/Tuscaloosa.aspx

I have several suggestions. In Covington Georgia try Jim Stalvey's, Henderson's Catfish. Neely's Seafood, Pippin's BBQ and RL's off the Square. For breakfast or lunch try Mamie's Biscuits. In Social Circle is the Blue Willow Inn and just outside Monroe is the Campton Restaurant.  Just outside of Jackson are 3 places worthy of a try, Fresh Air BBQ on Ga. 42 has historically been a favorite. In days gone by the floor was sawdust. Falls View Restaurant has good catfish and Buckners has a good Family Style Buffet.  In Swainsboro the Coleman House has an excellent lunch buffet. Moving west a bit The Creek Family restaurant in Atmore Alabama is good. Also Wintzell's in Mobile is worth a stop. In Louisiana off of I-10 in the Henderson area try Pat's Fisherman's Wharf and Robin's Restaurant. Both serve authentic Cajun Food. I first ate at Pat's in the 1960's when my father was a student at LSU. When ever I am in the Louisiana I try to eat at Pat's.  Good luck and good eating on your tour.

If you'lre in Birmingham during Lent, try a fabulous Lenten Lunch:
http://blog.al.com/bob-carlton/2011/03/lenten_lunch_series_returns_at.html

I know you want to visit Memphis for some BBQ and sightseeing. Walk around Beale St. and visit the joints. Go in B B King's and Dyer's Burgers. Walk around inside The Peabody Hotel for a drink maybe and then The Rendevous for some BBQ across the street from The PB. There are some nice restaurants in the area including Felicia Suzanne's for fine dining at dinner, McEwen's for fine dining, Restaurant Iris for fine dining at dinner only, Automatic Slims for drinks and bar food, Gus' World Famous Fried Chicken and South of Beale for good bar dining.

Felicia Suzzane's @ 80 Monroe Ave., Memphis, TN 901 - 523 - 0877.
http://www.feliciasuzanne.com/
McEwen's on Monroe @ 122 Monroe Ave., Memphis, TN 901 - 527 - 7085.
http://www.mcewensonmonroe.com/
Restaurant Iris @ 2146 Monroe Ave., Memphis, TN 901 - 590 - 2828. * FD/DINNER.
http://www.restaurantiris.com/
Automatic Slim's @ 83 South 2nd St., Memphis, TN 901 - 525 - 7948.
http://www.automaticslimsmemphis.com/
Gus' World Famous Fried Chicken @ 310 South Front St., Memphis, TN 901 - 527 - 4877.
South of Beale @ 361 South Main St., Memphis, TN 901 - 526 - 0388.
http://www.southofbeale.com/


I know you are interested in trying good Memphis BBQ. Here are the top choices.

A & R Bar B Que @ 1802 Elvis Presley Blvd., Memphis, TN. 901 - 774 - 7444.
http://www.aandrbbq.com/
BBQ Shop @ 1782 Madison Ave., Memphis, TN. 901 - 272 - 1277.
http://www.dancingpigs.com/
Central BBQ @ 2249 Central Ave., Memphis, TN. 901 - 272 - 9377.
Charlie Vergo's Rendezvous @ 52 S. Second St., Memphis, TN. 901 - 523 - 2746.
http://www.hogsfly.com/
Cozy Corner @ 745 N. Parkway, Memphis, TN. 901 - 527 - 9158.
http://www.cozycornerbbq.com/
Interstate BBQ @ 2265 S. Third St., Memphis, TN. 901 - 775 - 2304.
http://www.interstatebarbecue.com/
Neely's BBQ @ 670 Jefferson St., Memphis, TN. 901 - 521 - 9798.
http://www.neelysbbq.com/
One and Only BBQ @ 1779 Kirby Pkwy., Memphis, TN 901 - 751 - 3615.
http://www.oneandonlybbq.com/
Paynes BBQ @ 1762 Lamar Ave., Memphis, TN. 901 - 272 - 1523.

The BBQ Shop and One and Only are my favorites but Payne's is famous for their pulled pork sandwich

On your way N on I 55 from LA to Memphis, TN there are some fine joints along the way. 
If you have never been to Middendorf's Restaurant you must stop at Exit 15 off I 55. Go E to Highway 51 and turn right. Go S about a mile to some fine fresh seafood right off the boat. They also serve great salads, gumbo, sandwiches and steaks. Stop to rest even if you don't eat. Get a cold drink and head back.

Middendorf's @ 30160 Highway 51, Akers, LA 985 - 386 - 6666.
http://middendorfsrestaurant.com/

BBQ Station is a good stop in Independence, LA. Get off I 55 at Exit 40 and go E on Highway 40 to Railroad Avenue. Take a right and go two blocks for good BBQ.
Bar B Que Station @ 563 W. Railroad Ave., Independence, LA. 985 - 878 - 3747.
If you take a rest stop near the LA/MS state line at Osyka, MS get off I 55 at Exit 1 and go E on Highway 584 and go to Second Street. Take a right and go to Nyla's for outstanding burgers. The nearby town of Kentwood, LA is the home of Britney Spears who is a frequent visitor at Nyla's.

Nyla's Burger Basket @ 1071 Second Street, Osyka, MS 601 - 542 - 5032.

For the best southern cooking in the US go to Dinner Bell in McComb, MS. They are open for lunch only Tuesday through Sunday. Get off I 55 at Exit 17 and go E on Delaware Avenue to S Broadway. Take a right and go 2 blocks to 5th Avenue. Take a right and go to Dinner Bell. You will sit around large lazy susan tables filled with southern specials like fresh vegetable casseroles, fried eggplant and fried chicken. Stop by on your way N.

The Dinner Bell @ 229 5th Ave., McComb, MS. 601 - 684 - 4883.
http://www.thedinnerbell.net/index.html

If you want good soul food near Summit, MS get off I 55 at Exit 20 and go W. Take your first right on Old Brookhaven Road and go N to Doretha's.

Doretha's @ 1139 Old Brookhaven Road, Summit, MS 601 - 276 - 9594.
 
For good BBQ get off I 55 at Exit 72 in Crystal Springs, MS and go E on Highway 27. Go E for about a mile to the Intersection of Highway 27 and Highway 51 to Louise's for outstanding BBQ. Google has Louise's home address so a GPS may take you to the wrong place. Just go straight from I 55 on Highway 27 to the IS of 51 and 27. It's in a brown frame building with a high yellow sign. Here's a link to their menu. They are open to about 9 PM.
Bring an ice chest and pick up some custom processed meat from Wilson's Meathouse in Crystal Springs. Get off I 55 at Exit 68 towards Crystal Springs and go E for .4 mile to Highway 51. Take a right and go 1.1 mile and Wilson's will be on your left.
 
Louise Open Pit BBQ @ 26164 Hwy. 27, Crystal Springs, MS. 601 - 892 - 5003.
http://carpejackson.com/2.../louises-open-pit-bbq/
Wilson's Meathouse @ 23086 U.S. 51, Crystal Springs, MS 601 - 892 - 2951.
http://www.sararoahen.com...issippi_Meathouse.html

Get off I 55 at Exit 81 and go W to Terry Road. Take a right and go to Wyndale's for outstanding steaks.

Wyndale Steakhouse @ 6672 Terry Road, Terry, MS 601 - 878 - 2695.

If you stop in Jackson, MS on your way N/S and you would like outstanding fresh seafood or steaks in a great atmosphere get off I 220 Bypass at Exit 1B and go E on Highway 80 to Crechales. It's in an old run down joint on the right but they serve some fine food. Be sure to try their Cumback Sauce. Get a few bottles to take home.

Crechale's @ 3107 Highway 80 West, Jackson, MS. 601 - 355 - 1840.
Hickory Pit is a great place to stop in Jackson, MS for good BBQ.
Hickory Pit @ 1491 Canton Mart Road, Jackson, MS 601 - 956 - 7079.
…metromix.com/restaurants/…content

If you stop near Grenada, MS to to fHigh on the Hog or Jake and Rips for good road food.

High on the Hog BBQ @ 711 Lakeview Dr., Grenada, MS 662 - 226 - 5635.
Jake and Rips @ at 1525 Sunset Dr., Grenada, MS 662 - 227 - 9955.
　
　
　

If you want to stop in Memphis, TN for BBQ I suggest you go to Cozy Corner BBQ due to it's location close to I 40. Right after your cross the Mississippi River get off I 40 at Exit 1B and go N on N Danny Thomas Blvd. Go about 2 blocks and you will pass St. Jude Children's Hospital then take a right on N. Parkway. Go 2 blocks to Cozy Corner for outstanding BBQ. When you leave CC head E to N Manasas and take your left. Go a block and take a right on Jackson Ave. then go about half a mile to I 240. Go under the IS and take a left going N and get on I 240 or I40 and go N. Go about 15 miles on I 240. You will turn E and then S before you reach Exit 12C then take I 40 E 200 miles to Nashville, TN.
Cozy Corner @ 745 N. Parkway, Memphis, TN. 901 - 527 - 9158.
http://www.cozycornerbbq.com/
It's about 85 miles from Cozy Corner to Jackson, TN. It's a fine place for a road stop. Get off I 40 at Exit # 80A at Jackson, TN and get off to the right on Hwy. 186/45 then turn into Casey Jones Old Country Store on the right. This is a large complex with Casey Jone's Home and Museum and some shops. The Old Country Store serves a buffet of outstanding country food for breakfast, lunch or dinner and opens at 6:30 AM.
Old Country Store @ 56 Casey Jones Lane, Jackson, TN 731 - 668 - 1223.
http://www.caseyjones.com..CountryStore/index.html
Are you going to stop in Nashville along I 40. It's about 4 hours from Memphis, TN. You may want to keep on rolling. If not I will give you a few places for lunch or dinner there, First good country food is at Exit 204 before you get to downtown Nashville on I 40. Get off and go right on Robertson Ave. then take your first left on Charlotte Ave. go past the shopping center on your left and take a left on 53rd Ave. N and Wendell Smith's is on your left open for breakfast, lunch and dinner serving good soul and country food. There's a Best Western, Days Inn, Comfort and Baymont back at Robertson where you get back on I 40 if you want to stay there. If you stay in this area you can go back to Wendell Smith's for breakfast.
Wendell Smith's @ 407 53rd Ave. North, Nashville, TN 615 - 383 - 7114.
If you pass up Wendell Smith's then you can get off I 40 at Exit
Arnold's Country Kitchen @ 605 8th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 615 - 256 - 4455.
http://www.hollyeats.com/ArnoldsCountryKitchen.htm
　
Get off I 40 at Exit 238 in Lebanon, TN and go N on S Cumberland to Sunset Restaurant for good country food. Get off I 40 at Exit 258 at Gordonsville, TN and go N on Gordonsville Highway to Timberloft for good BBQ and road food for lunch or dinner. Get off I 40 at Exit 287 in Cookeville, TN and go N on S Jefferson to Maddux Station at E Spring Street for good road food. Go to Brass Lantern in Crossville for good road food. Dickey's has good BBQ and Halcyon is a fun dining choice.
Sunset Restaurant @ 640 South Cumberland St., Lebanon, TN 615 - 444 - 9530.
Timberloft Restaurant @ 470 Gordonsville Highway, Gordonsville, TN 615 - 683 - 5070.
http://www.timberloftrestaurant.com/
Maddux Station Restaurant & Wine Bar @ 319 East Spring St., Cookeville, TN 931 - 854 - 0883.
http://www.madduxstation.com/#
Brass Lantern Restaurant and Lounge @ 79 Chestnut Hill Rd., Crossville, TN 931 - 484 - 7657.
…officelive.com/default.aspx
Dickey's BBQ Pit @ 965 Northside Dr., Crossville, TN 931 - 484 - 4900.
Halcyon Days Restaurant @ 2444 Genesis Rd., Crossville, TN 931 - 456 - 3663.
Before you reach Knoxville get off I 75 at Exit 373 on the S side and hit the first street left on Parkside and go about a mile to Smokey Mountrain Brewery for pizza, burgers and steaks. Get back on I 75 and head N on I 75/I 40 past Knoxville.
Smokey Mountain Brewery @ 11308 Parkside Dr., Knoxville, TN 865 - 288 - 5500.
http://www.coppercellar.net/smbSite.shtml
The folks that own Smokey Mountain own Copper Cellar just N of SM at Exit 380 S of I 75 on Parkside also convenient to plenty of shopping and just a minute off I 75. Both places are similar.
Copper Cellar Restaurant @ 7316 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 865 - 673 - 3422.
http://www.coppercellar.net/copperSite.shtml
Unless you spend the night close to Knoxville, TN I would keep rolling and get on around Knoxville, TN and head E out of the traffic. Litton's is a good family restaurant in Knoxville, TN but it's not convenient to I 40. If you took the I 640 by pass around Knoxville, TN on the N side it's pretty convenient. Get off I 640 at Exit 6 and go N on N Broadway SE to Litton's for good country family food.
Litton's Market and Restaurant @ 2803 Essary Dr., Knoxville, TN 865 - 688 - 0429.
http://www.littonburgers.com/
When you leave Knoxville, TN you may need to make a road stop.. If you want to get on past Knoxville here's a neat place 30 miles E of Knoxville with good seafood for lunch. If you don't eat you can rest and get a cold drink. Get off I 40 at Exit 417 and go S on Hwy. 92 a couple of miles to Dandridge, TN. This runs into Meeting St. Go 5/6 blocks to Dandridge Seafood Restaurant.
Dandridge Seafood Restaurant @ 310 East Meeting St., Dandridge, TN 865 - 397 - 2315.
I would rather go to Smoky's Steak and BBQ which is one street over on E. Main and before the Dandridge Seafood Restaurant. They have good burgers, salads, etc. I know you did not want BBQ but Smoky's is a very nice restaurant in an attractive location with outdoor dining on the front porch. Check this link for their menu.
Smoky's Steak and BBQ @ 149 East Main St., Dandridge, TN 865 - 397 - 2272.
http://www.smokyssteakandbbq.com/
Get off I 40 at Exit 432B in Newport, TN and go E on U. S. 25/70. Go 2.2 miles to Fox and Hound Way and turn left for good road food at Fox and Hound Supper Club. There's a nice bar with 3 TV's for the game and great burgers, fresh seafood and steaks. There's also outdoor dining.
Fox and Hound Supper Club @ 127 Fox and Hound Way, Newport, TN 423 - 623 - 9161.
Get off I 40 at Exit 440 and go 2.1 miles W on Highway 73/32/Wilton Springs Road to Highway 32/73. Take a left and go to Shirley's Family Restaurant for good road food for breakfast, lunch or dinner. If you go to your first right past Shirley's and take a right go to Creekwalk Inn at Whisperwood Farm Resort for a fine B&B for overnight and good comfort food.
Shirley's Family Restaurant @ 2765 Cosby Highway, Cosby, TN 423 - 613 - 5515.
Creekwalk Inn @ Whisperwood Farm @ 164 Midddle Creek Rd, Cosby, TN 423 - 487 - 4000. http://whisperwoodretreat.com/
Get off I 40 at Exit 447 in Hartford, TN and go to Hartford Road. Take a left and go to Big Creek Road. Take a left and go to fine BBQ @ Pigeon River Smokehouse. Mmmmmm........
Pigeon River Smokehouse @ 3105 Big Creek Rd., Hartford, TN 423 - 487 - 0061.
http://pigeonriversmokehouse.com/

I would spend some time on the River Road which is Highway 61.  It is 1,400 miles long and goes from NOLA to Minnesota.  Here's a few joints to stop and rest along the way. 
 
If you want to try the best Clarksdale has to offer have an early lunch at Ground Zero which is owned by Morgan Freeman and two of his friends. Get a plate lunch or sandwich but eat light. The Blues Museum is next door. Before you leave Clarksdale, MS go to Hick's and get another light lunch of BBQ and tamales. This way you get the best of Clarksdale. Morgan owns Madidi's which is a fine dining restaurant a few blocks from Ground Zero if you would like to stop in for drinks and/or snacks before you leave Clarksdale, MS. It's very nice and highly recommended. The bar opens at 5 PM. There's an old neat store that sells a lot of junk across the street from Madidi's and plenty of places for the wife to purchase items to take home. I wish you could visit Oxford, MS. If not then plan 6/7 hours in Clarksdale. Have an early lunch at GZ, visit the Museum, walk around downtown and shop, get some tamales at Hick's. After lunch head back S on Sunflower by the river and stop at Hick's just to visit. Take a right on Highway 61 which is State St. Go across the river and Hick's is on the right in nice red brick building. Go in visit and get a cold drink. Talk to Eugene and look at his pictures when President Clinton visited. On your way N stop at The Ranchero and get a cold drink. Charlie Conerly who was a famous QB for the NY Giants lived in Clarksdale and there are all kinds of old sports photo's there of Conerly and some of his old buddies. It's a fun place and the food is outstanding.
 
I really hope you find time to visit Oxford. It's my favorite town in Mississippi. If so head N on State St. to Highway 278/6 E to Batesville/Oxford. It's about 60 miles to Oxford. You should be there around 3PM. When you get to Oxford you will come to a red light and Jackson Ave. going to the left. Go straight ahead and get off at the first Exit which is Coliseum Dr. Get off on right but turn back left and cross the highway. Take your first right by the Basketball Practice Facility on Hill Drive. You will see the football stadium straight ahead. Go to dead end at All American Drive turn right and go past N end of stadium. You will run into the Grove. Go to the left on University Ave. and you will go past the Grove on your right and run into the Circle. Go around the circle and you will see The Lyseum which is the oldest building on campus. The James Meredith riot started in the Circle. There's a monument of him behind the Lyseum. The street you came in on at The Grove is University Ave. Take it back E all the way to Lamar. Take a right on Lamar and go about 6 blocks and take a right on Old Taylor. Go about 3 blocks and you run dead into Faulkner's home. You can drive up the gravel road in front and park and go in and visit. Go back to Lamar and go N past University Ave. two blocks and park. You are now on The Square. The building on your left is Square Books which is very famous. John Grisham has a home in Oxford. You passed it on the right just before you got to town. It sits off to the right on a hill and it's easy to see. It's just before the car dealership before you get to the first red light. He's a frequent visitor to Oxford.

Park and walk around the Square. City Grocery is two doors down W of Square Books. Neilson's to your right on the Square is a nice department store. If you walk past City Grocery on the left you will see Waltz Restaurant after you pass the Pizza joint. Going around the Square you will find Ajax which is a good country food joint. There are a couple of nice ladie's shops on that side of the Square. Downtown Grill is on N side of Square. They have a nice bar upstairs. There's a Rebel junk store around on the N side if you want to buy a Rebel souvenir to take home. Go N on Lamar and Lenora's is on the left. Have dinner at City Grocery. CG has a nice bar upstairs and you can sit outside if you like. Tell Jim Weems the manager with a beard that Henry McCaslin said hello. He will take good care of you. If Jim is not there then a cute young lady named Lauren will take care of you. I hope you have a great trip.

City Grocery @ 152 Courthouse Square, Oxford, MS. 662 - 232 - 8080.
http://www.citygroceryonline.com/

If you have time stop by Greenwood, MS where you will find some outstanding casual local dining at Lusco's, Crystal Grill and Giardinia's. Giardinia's is in The Alluvian Hotel which is a 4 * hotel owned by Viking Range. The Crystal has good plate lunches, seafood and steaks. Giardinia's and Lusco's both have outstanding seafood and steaks. Lusco's is old style in a fairly rough neighborhood but safe with lots of history and famous names that have been there. Everyone dines in a booth with a curtain same as Giardinia's. Spend the night at The Alluvian and dine at Giardinia's or Lusco's for dinner.
 
Alluvian Hotel @ 318 Howard Street, Greenwood, MS 662 - 451 - 1500.
http://www.thealluvian.com/
Crystal Grill @ 423 Carrollton Ave.,Greenwood, MS 662 - 453 - 6530.
Giardinia's @ 314 Howard St., Greenwood, MS 662 - 455 - 4227.
http://www.thealluvian.com/restaurants.html
Lusco's @ 722 Carrollton Ave., Greenwood, MS 662 - 453 - 5365.
 
Stop in Greenville, MS if you have time for dinner at Doe's Eat Place. Greenville, MS is W of Greenwood, MS on Highway 82. Doe's Eat Place is not to be missed. You enter the restaurant through the kitchen where you can watch the steaks being prepared. In the center of the main dining room there are stoves at which the fries are made and salads are prepared there as well. In most cases, one steak there easily feeds two.
 
Doe's Eat Place @ 502 Nelson Street, Greenville, MS 662 - 334 - 3315.
http://www.doeseatplace.com/
 
You can head S on Highway 49 to Yazoo City and take Highway 3 to Vicksburg, MS. If you are in Greenville, MS you can go S on Highway 61 to Vicksburg, MS.

In Vicksburg you could tour the old antebellum homes and the Vicksburg National Military Park.
Have lunch/dinner @ Rusty's River Front Grill @ 901 South Washington St., Vicksburg, MS 601 - 638 -2030.
or @ Walnut Hills @ 1214 Adams Street, Vicksburg, MS 601 - 638 - 4910 for southern cooking.
 
Stop in Greenville, MS if you have time for dinner at Doe's Eat Place @ 502 Nelson Street
Greenville, MS 662 - 334 - 3315.
http://www.doeseatplace.com/
 
Rosswood is a great B&B between Vicksburg and Natchez.
Rosswood Plantation @ 2513 Red Lick Road, Lorman, MS 601 - 437 - 4215.
http://www.rosswood.net/


I would definitely stop in Natchez and spend a day touring the plantation homes there. Monmouth is an oustanding place for the night. The dining room there is superb. I would also check out The Carriage House Restaurant at Stanton Hall for a wonderful lunch.
 
http://www.stantonhall.com/
http://www.monmouthplantation.com/
 

Hey Littleman. Great posts as always. Extremely useful information and an invaluable guide. I agree with all of your suggestions. Excellent! Maybe when I am in Mississippi later in the year for teh Howlin' Wolf Memorial Blues Festival in West POint we can share a meal.

When is your trip??
 
If you hit JD in Lynchburg and they have the BBQ on the Hill going, take advantage. Great food, music, dancing, outdoor games and view of the hollow.
 
On Holly's site you'll find Bell Buckle Cafe. Bell Buckle in Tn. is pretty much the kind of place you're looking for. Back road, small town, great food place and it's an artists community. Here's my review and some history and pics.
http://davwudsfoodcourt.b...0/07/yall-eat-yet.html
 
If you're near Chattanooga for the first weekend of Apl 30/May 1 check out the National Cornbread Festival
There's also Lodge Cast Iron They have a factory store.
Not to be out done is the Dixie Freeze. Part Meat n 3, part Drive In. Here's my take on it.
http://davwudsfoodcourt.b...uble-cheeseburger.html
 
A stop off in Fayetteville, Tn. for slawburgers would work well for you. There's a few places on the square that serve them but Honey's is where they were invented. Here's my review of them.
http://davwudsfoodcourt.b...10/07/slawburgers.html
Another really cool place in Fayetteville is Chuck Wagon Diner. Two single wides put together serving great food.
http://davwudsfoodcourt.b...-are-no-tornadoes.html
 
South of Nashville and just of I-65 is Stan's Restaurant. A great place that is rumoured to be the model that Cracker Barrel was built on.
http://davwudsfoodcourt.b...s-62-year-old-ham.html
 
Big Bob Gibson's in Decatur, Al. is a good idea. BBG's is BBQ royalty and the home of White BBQ Sauce. I'd go to the 6th Avenue location.
http://davwudsfoodcourt.b...-bar-be-que-sauce.html
 
Holly has a great site and it's where I get ideas from. Here's a few other things to get you started too.
http://alabama.travel/med...ishes_Brochure2010.pdf
http://blog.al.com/entert...0_most_distinctiv.html
http://southeasttourism.o...top20_summer_2011.html
http://www.choppedonion.com/
 
Well that's about all for now.

Have fun
 
DT
 

I am always astonished at Littleman's level of detail.  Now I want to go to Oxford too.
 
I was trying to think of drives and sights that are not to be missed in SC.  I'm really fond of the drive to Edisto Island that takes you down state hwy 174 through old Jacksonboro and Adams Run on the way to Edisto Island.  Make sure to stop at the Botany Bay plantation.  It's a relatively new addition to the parks and wildlife areas of South Carolina, and it's astoundingly beautiful. 
 
The other thing I would suggest from a completely different part of the state is a tour of the waterfalls of the Upstate, especially Oconee County.  Parts of Oconee County actually qualify as a rainforest, and hiking in some of the parks up there can feel very different from the rest of the state.  There are some thoroughly gorgeous drives in the area too.
 
Angel Oak near Charleston.  Downtown Aiken.  Huntington Beach State Park.  Hmmm, will keep thinking.

Classics to visit should include: Phillips Grocery in Holly Springs, Taylor Grocery in Taylor Ms. and Piggy Park in Thomaston GA.

Oh and BTW can I come?

  In Montgomery, Alabama downtown is Chris' Hot Dogs, 138 Dexter Avenue.  They are family owned and have been there since 1917.   I would suggest ordering a hot dog and a hamburger or cheeseburger with their special sauce.  It is a cheap treat.
 
http://www.chrishotdogs.com/pages/menu.html

Let me know when you will be in MS Smokestack.  Good luck.

(Won't let me post a link) Google: Shealy's BBQ It's in Batesburg SC .  They have a wen site, and are on facebook.  Come Hungry!!
The best southern buffet, period!! Come for the BBQ, stay for the chicken, green beans, desserts, sweet tea, biscuits, etc etc.  veggies change daily. 
 
Also in Dillard, GA is the Dillard House.  This is a unique stop because the meal is served family style.  You get everything on the menu for the day, including several entrees, veggies, breads, salads, and a dessert.  Plus each person can take one to go container filled from items left on the table.  So empty the platter of ribs and ask them to refill it, then take the refll home.  The country fried steak is amazing.  But no matter what is served on the days we have stopped in there,  it's always been so good, your tongue just might slap your eyeballs out.  Oh and they have a hotel too, so you can stay there.
In Summerton SC is the Summerton Diner.  Their coconut cake is worth riding an hour out of the way to get.  It's a meat and three diner, and the food is outstanding, but the coconut cake is what keeps me coming back.  I think it is reviewed here on road food.