Virginia to New Mexico

Good morning everyone! In October, my brother and I will be taking a road trip that I have been dreaming about since high school - we will be driving from Virginia to New Mexico and back. I have been doing a lot of research on this site, and think I have a good list of places to try. I would appreciate any feedback or recommendations! This is what I have so far:
 
Day 1
- Knoxville, TN: Litton's
- Nashville, TN: Rotiers
- Memphis, TN: BB Kings
Day 2
- Little Rock, AR: Waffle House (I couldn't find any breakfast recommendations for Little Rock)
- El Reno, OK: Johnnie's Grill
- Amarillo, TX: Golden Light Cafe
- Roswell, NM: Cattle Baron Steak and Seafood
Day 3
- Roswell, NM: La Posta
- San Antonio, NM: Owl Bar and Buckhorn's
- Albuquerque, NM: Golden Crown Bakery, 66 Diner
Day 4
- Albuquerque, NM: Lindy's, Casa de Benavidez, Kelly's Brew Pub, Gruet Steakhouse (not roadfood, but I love their champagne!)
Day 5
- Albuquerque, NM: Frontier
- Santa Fe, NM: Bert's Burger Bowl, Maria's Mexican Kitchen, Second Street Brewery
Day 6
- Santa Fe, NM: Harry's Roadhouse, Bobcat Bites, Blue Corn Brewery
- Espanola, NM: Stop and Eat Drive In
Day 7
- Colorado Springs, CO: Carl's Jr (I would love a good breakfast recommendation here)
- Colby, KS: Sonic (I would love a recommendation here as well - or in a nearby town)
- Topeka, KS: Winstead's
- Lawrence, KS: Freestate Brewing
Day 8
- Kansas City, MO: Niecie's
- St. Louis, MO: Hodak's
- Indianapolis, IN: Mug'n'Bun
- Columbus, OH: Elevator Brewery
Day 9
- Morgantown, WV: Ruby and Ketchy's
 
 
 
 

Maria-
I love the ambition of your trip.  You are to be commended.  While in Memphis though, you really should try and go to one of the many great bbq parlors instead.  A & R, Interstate, Cozy Corner, Leonard's, Germantown Commissary, etc. would all be better choices for bbq.

If you stop at a Sonic to get your drive-in fix and experience, I would pass on the Mug N' Bun in Speedway especially if you think you are going there for a breaded pork tenderloin sandwich. It is not authentic. There are a half-dozen better restaurants with better in the small town of Speedway alone. If you do want a BPT and a touch of Indianapolis' best known event - racing, the Brickyard Crossing Flag Room on 16th Street at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway along with a tour of the IMS museum would be a more satisfying experience.

If you are trying to stick with Roadfood.com listed places then Gray's in Mooresville outside Indianapolis would be a more interesting and unique experience that speaks Hoosier to the core. You could stop at the Mug N' Bun and quaff a good root beer for a refresher if you do want to experience it.

Buffetbuster - Thank you for the recommendations! I'm going to check those out. By the way - great report on Bobcat Bites - I am even more excited about my stop there now.
Davydd - The stop at Sonic is more about a lack of other options in the area (at least, I couldn't find anything though Roadfood) and needing a driving break around that time. I'm actually not too crazy about their food, I picked them mostly because I love the cherry limeade. :) I am looking for a good BPT - thank you for letting me know that the Mug'N'Bun doesn't have a great one. I will definately check out Gray's.

I've been reading Roadfood for years now, and the trip reports are always my favorite section. I will be taking a ton of pictures, and look forward to posting my first trip report.

Maria,

Gray's is cafeteria style home food. I don't think it would be the place to look for a BPT. So, if making one stop you may have to make a choice. There are just a ton of good to great BPTs in and around Indianapolis but Mug N' Bun just isn't one of them, sad to say. I go back to when it was over 40 years ago. I've gotten around to quite a few places and am recommending the Flag Room as much for its ambiance and significance to the community. If racing is of no interest then there are three I rank at the top. They are Plump's Last Shot in the Broad Ripple neighborhood in north Indianapolis, Green Street in Brownsburg off I-74 and The Red Onion in Sheridan, a small town north of Indianapolis. If I were looking again for ambiance and Hoosier significance I would go to Plump's Last Shot. Bobby Plump was the basketball player from tiny Milan, Indiana that threw up the shot that beat mighty Muncie Central high school in the 1954 state basketball tournament. That game inspired the movie, Hoosiers.

After checking out the recommendations, I think I am going to go with Interstate BBQ in Memphis (would love to try Cozy Corner, but it looks like they close at 5), and the Red Onion in Indianapolis.  I've also added Park Ave Coffee and World's Fair Doughnuts in St. Louis to the list.

I'm still hoping to find good breakfast places in Little Rock and Colorado Springs, and someplace for lunch in Colby, KS (or somewhere in that vicinity). 
Thanks again everyone!

I don't think your day 6 to day 7 idea works out. Do you want to go to Colorado Springs for a reason?
If not, you could go east on US Hwy 50 at Pueblo instead.
Or, you could take US 56 east, following the Santa Fe Trail.
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_56

Bill,

I did want to drive through Colorado. Did you mean not work out in terms of the time it would take? We are planning a 3 am start - according to AAA.com, we should have enough time to get from Santa Fe to Lawrence by evening (the drive shows about 13 hours). I know that online maps can't always be trusted though. Is your experience different? Thanks!

Maria

There's more than just BPT's in Indianapolis...Mug and Bun has good cheeseburgers - the double is unique because it has a slice of Wonder Bread between the patties to soak up the juices.  Their onion rings are outstanding, too, really thick.  Think "Onion doughnut".  Another place that's very Hoosier, very good, and also pretty cheap is Workingman's Friend near downtown and the zoo.  Their double cheeseburgers beat anything I've eaten on any coast or in between, and two people can eat 2 doubles, fries or rings, and beer and have change from $20.  Two caveats for the Friend, though - they close early, like 8 pm, and they only take cash. 
Have fun, sounds like an amazing roadtrip!

I would also recommend Interstate or one of the other BBQ places discussed above rather than BB Kings. With all due and heartfelt apologiies to Mr King. Even if you wind up on Beale Steet there are better food options. If you want to see music in Memphis check out the club listings and see who is playing where. I have seen good music at BB Kings and also other clubs in memphis but its hit and miss really. If you want a real blues expeience check out Wild Bills. Also,  see if Blind Mississippi Morris is playing around Memphis -he is the real thing. The Cupboard is a great place for lunch in Memphis.

I would highly recommend Cattlemans Steak House which is located about 30 miles east of El Paso, TX.  Here is there website:  http://www.cattlemanssteakhouse.com/ 
 
if you're able to take a side trip, than there are many great restaurants in Durango, CO.
 
Have a safe trip.
 
 

Right next to I-70 at the Abilene KS exit is a very large Russell Stover Outlet with a fine ice-cream parlor inside. Plenty of sweets at factory-outlet prices and Blue Bunny Ice cream within 30 seconds of the Interstate.

If you like it HOT, there is NO better place to eat in Santa Fe than Horseman's Haven Cafe on Cerillos. Their #2 Green Chile is infamous (It was a challenge for even a pepperhead like me) but you CAN elect milder options. A very unassuming & inexpensive joint with really great New Mex-Mex. A MUST for Santa Fe. Check out the reviews. Also, on the Old Las Vegas Hwy, VERY close to Bobcat Bites is another fave of mine ~~ Steaksmith at El Gancho. Why do I like them? Not for their main courses, but for their fantastic appetizers & desserts. I've had many meals on just the appetizers (Beef Chupadero & *Grilled Fresh Pasilla Pepper* along with other goodies and finished with their wonderful fresh Raspberry Pie. A great late night stop! Have fun on your trip!
CiaoMeOwwww SBQ