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Tomato bisque with broiled cheese and bread on top.
Tomato bisque with broiled cheese from Jean Bonnet Tavern.
Jean Bonnet Tavern/Facebook

Where to Stop and Eat on the Drive From D.C. to Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh salads, fried pierogies, and sandwiches stuffed with fries can all be found on the scenic route through Maryland and Pennsylvania

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Tomato bisque with broiled cheese from Jean Bonnet Tavern.
| Jean Bonnet Tavern/Facebook

Looking for a long-weekend road trip option? Pittsburgh is a food lovers’ paradise and a relatively easy escape for D.C.-area residents. It’s about a four-hour drive without traffic. Visitors can take a speedy route (I-70 to I-76) or a scenic route (back roads to I-68).

Road trippers looking to save time may find it easiest to make a pit stop at Breezewood, the exit and interchange between I-70 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which has several fast-food restaurants, generic chains, and grab-and-go options (that said, there’s been a lot of turnover lately and options are pretty limited). Patient travelers can totally do better than Breeze (unless they’re prioritizing terrific regional potato chips). Here are some of the standout restaurants (ordered from East to West) located just a few minutes off of the direct routes between D.C. and Pittsburgh.

—Additional reporting by Tim Ebner

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Joe’s Bar

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This dive bar filled with taxidermy rewards a detour along Route 30. The late owner bequeathed his extensive collection of stuffed animals to the bar, making it a one-of-a-kind destination on the road to Pittsburgh. There’s cheap beer aplenty alongside stuffed polar bears and birds. Food menu is limited to basics like hamburgers and hot dogs.

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#taxidermy #beast #Pennsylvania

A post shared by Maux (@fields_of_aphelion) on

The Kitchen On Main

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Stopping in Ligonier for a drink at Joe’s and want more than a hot dog to go with it? Find everything from chicken saltimbocca to grilled artichoke hummus to bananas foster pancakes at this BYOB, open for all three meals.

Pancakes topped with bananas, drizzle, and nuts.
Pancakes from The Kitchen on Main
The Kitchen on Main/Facebook

Jean Bonnet Tavern

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This restaurant and inn has plenty of history behind it — ask a bartender about flipping through their scrapbook of “haunted” encounters. The French dip is the must-order. Soups, onion rings, garlic wings, and assorted bar food items are safe bets, but the restaurant also has more ambitious entrees and monthly specials. The dining room area is quaint, but the tavern is more festive and often filled with chatty travelers watching sports, along with a crackling fireplace. There’s also a big patio — as well as a goat or two hanging out in a barn off the parking lot. Closed Sundays.

A cheese-covered French Dip sandwich on a pewter plate with au jus on the side.
French dip sandwich from Jean Bonnet Tavern.
Missy Frederick/Eater DC

Bad Boyz Bistro

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Bad Boyz was featured on Food Network’s Outrageous Food, and the fun menu includes dry-rubbed wings that taste like Cool Ranch Doritos. There’s even a respectable salad or two. People who finish a giant burger or survive the intensely spicy wings can win free food, a T-shirt, and glory.

Several buffalo wings with dipping sauce and a lone stick of celery on a blue plate.
Wings from Bad Boyz Bistro.
Bad Boyz Bistro

Pine Grill Restaurant

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Heard of the Pittsburgh salad? Pine Grill calls its version a char-grilled chicken salad, but it still features the glorious, unlikely combination of iceberg lettuce and French fries. Customers can also find sandwiches, steak tips, pierogi, and specials at this homey stop (Thursday is pasta night).

Large fried onion rings with dipping sauce in the background.
Onion rings from Pine Grill.
Pine Grill

Summit Diner

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Come for the burgers, stay for the chicken-fried pickles and homestyle soups. This is a classic diner, with pies and prices to match, except for the fact that the hours are limited (right now, it closes at 3 p.m.).

Rey Azteca Mexican Restaurant

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Sometimes chips and salsa just hit the spot after a long drive. Rey Azteca has the Mexican-American classics you’d expect: fajitas, chimichangas, enchiladas, burritos, and a hefty selection of combination platters.

Red barn restaurant.
The storefront of Rey Azteca.
Rey Azteca/Facebook

The Igloo

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Shakes, malts, flurries — they’re all on the table at this sundae-shaped, roadside ice cream stand, an attraction during warmer months (closed in the winter; shorter hours in spring/fall).

Frontier Tavern

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Steakhouse vibes and a wood-paneled bar room make this all-day restaurant is a more restful, leisurely stop for travelers. People can even stay overnight at the affiliated Omni Springs resort. The menu spans from mushroom soup to steak tips, but don’t miss out on the fried pierogi for an appetizer.

A rendering of a wood-paneled dining room with a hanging candle chandelier.
Frontier Tavern.
Frontier Tavern

Buddylou's Eats Drinks & Antiques

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The quirky name at this Maryland restaurant promises plenty of intrigue. It’s known for crab cakes, but the eclectic menu features everything from seared tuna to lobster rolls. Beyond the restaurant, the location has an ever-changing selection of antiques. Live music and a fun patio are other draws.

Crabby Pig

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Cumberland, Maryland, is a perfect place to stop on a more leisurely route to Pittsburgh. The Crabby Pig serves seafood staples like fried clam strips and Maryland crabs, alongside barbecue dishes and a respectable jambalaya.

Schmankerl Stube 

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This Bavarian restaurant serves stuffed cabbage, knackwurst, wiener schnitzel, strudel, and more, not to mention German beers.

View this post on Instagram

Some mid-week food motivation #germanfood #snitzel

A post shared by Katie Rogers (@travelartphotos) on

Krumpe’s Do-Nut Shop

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Looking for more of a snack than a meal? At Krumpe’s in Hagerstown, travelers can grab a bunch of refreshingly not-fancy doughnuts in flavors like chocolate cake and raspberry jelly. There are also eclairs and doughnut holes. Keep an eye on the website for hours, though — right now, they’re only operational in the evenings.

Primanti Bros.

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Diners who’d rather not “spend” one of their few meals in Pittsburgh at this iconic sandwich joint can experience the coleslaw and French fry-slathered sandwiches at an outpost in Hagerstown, the chain’s closest location to D.C.

A sandwich on whie bread stuffed with meats, cole slaw, and french fries, shown cut in half with the fillings exposed.
A sandwich at Primanti Bros.
Primanti Bros.

Clarksburg Market - Grille & Gas

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I-270 can be one of the more frustrating stretches of this drive, so for folks who get hungry early on, this Clarksburg country store, gas station, and deli provides a solid option for road trip-friendly sandwiches (the club sandwich is an excellent go-to). Pro tip — consider taking MD 355 up to Frederick once you’ve pulled over here to avoid some traffic.

Missy Frederick is the Cities Director for Eater.

Joe’s Bar

This dive bar filled with taxidermy rewards a detour along Route 30. The late owner bequeathed his extensive collection of stuffed animals to the bar, making it a one-of-a-kind destination on the road to Pittsburgh. There’s cheap beer aplenty alongside stuffed polar bears and birds. Food menu is limited to basics like hamburgers and hot dogs.

View this post on Instagram

#taxidermy #beast #Pennsylvania

A post shared by Maux (@fields_of_aphelion) on

The Kitchen On Main

Stopping in Ligonier for a drink at Joe’s and want more than a hot dog to go with it? Find everything from chicken saltimbocca to grilled artichoke hummus to bananas foster pancakes at this BYOB, open for all three meals.

Pancakes topped with bananas, drizzle, and nuts.
Pancakes from The Kitchen on Main
The Kitchen on Main/Facebook

Jean Bonnet Tavern

This restaurant and inn has plenty of history behind it — ask a bartender about flipping through their scrapbook of “haunted” encounters. The French dip is the must-order. Soups, onion rings, garlic wings, and assorted bar food items are safe bets, but the restaurant also has more ambitious entrees and monthly specials. The dining room area is quaint, but the tavern is more festive and often filled with chatty travelers watching sports, along with a crackling fireplace. There’s also a big patio — as well as a goat or two hanging out in a barn off the parking lot. Closed Sundays.

A cheese-covered French Dip sandwich on a pewter plate with au jus on the side.
French dip sandwich from Jean Bonnet Tavern.
Missy Frederick/Eater DC

Bad Boyz Bistro

Bad Boyz was featured on Food Network’s Outrageous Food, and the fun menu includes dry-rubbed wings that taste like Cool Ranch Doritos. There’s even a respectable salad or two. People who finish a giant burger or survive the intensely spicy wings can win free food, a T-shirt, and glory.

Several buffalo wings with dipping sauce and a lone stick of celery on a blue plate.
Wings from Bad Boyz Bistro.
Bad Boyz Bistro

Pine Grill Restaurant

Heard of the Pittsburgh salad? Pine Grill calls its version a char-grilled chicken salad, but it still features the glorious, unlikely combination of iceberg lettuce and French fries. Customers can also find sandwiches, steak tips, pierogi, and specials at this homey stop (Thursday is pasta night).

Large fried onion rings with dipping sauce in the background.
Onion rings from Pine Grill.
Pine Grill

Summit Diner

Come for the burgers, stay for the chicken-fried pickles and homestyle soups. This is a classic diner, with pies and prices to match, except for the fact that the hours are limited (right now, it closes at 3 p.m.).

Rey Azteca Mexican Restaurant

Sometimes chips and salsa just hit the spot after a long drive. Rey Azteca has the Mexican-American classics you’d expect: fajitas, chimichangas, enchiladas, burritos, and a hefty selection of combination platters.

Red barn restaurant.
The storefront of Rey Azteca.
Rey Azteca/Facebook

The Igloo

Shakes, malts, flurries — they’re all on the table at this sundae-shaped, roadside ice cream stand, an attraction during warmer months (closed in the winter; shorter hours in spring/fall).

Frontier Tavern

Steakhouse vibes and a wood-paneled bar room make this all-day restaurant is a more restful, leisurely stop for travelers. People can even stay overnight at the affiliated Omni Springs resort. The menu spans from mushroom soup to steak tips, but don’t miss out on the fried pierogi for an appetizer.

A rendering of a wood-paneled dining room with a hanging candle chandelier.
Frontier Tavern.
Frontier Tavern

Buddylou's Eats Drinks & Antiques

The quirky name at this Maryland restaurant promises plenty of intrigue. It’s known for crab cakes, but the eclectic menu features everything from seared tuna to lobster rolls. Beyond the restaurant, the location has an ever-changing selection of antiques. Live music and a fun patio are other draws.

Crabby Pig

Cumberland, Maryland, is a perfect place to stop on a more leisurely route to Pittsburgh. The Crabby Pig serves seafood staples like fried clam strips and Maryland crabs, alongside barbecue dishes and a respectable jambalaya.

Schmankerl Stube 

This Bavarian restaurant serves stuffed cabbage, knackwurst, wiener schnitzel, strudel, and more, not to mention German beers.

View this post on Instagram

Some mid-week food motivation #germanfood #snitzel

A post shared by Katie Rogers (@travelartphotos) on

Krumpe’s Do-Nut Shop

Looking for more of a snack than a meal? At Krumpe’s in Hagerstown, travelers can grab a bunch of refreshingly not-fancy doughnuts in flavors like chocolate cake and raspberry jelly. There are also eclairs and doughnut holes. Keep an eye on the website for hours, though — right now, they’re only operational in the evenings.

Primanti Bros.

Diners who’d rather not “spend” one of their few meals in Pittsburgh at this iconic sandwich joint can experience the coleslaw and French fry-slathered sandwiches at an outpost in Hagerstown, the chain’s closest location to D.C.

A sandwich on whie bread stuffed with meats, cole slaw, and french fries, shown cut in half with the fillings exposed.
A sandwich at Primanti Bros.
Primanti Bros.

Clarksburg Market - Grille & Gas

I-270 can be one of the more frustrating stretches of this drive, so for folks who get hungry early on, this Clarksburg country store, gas station, and deli provides a solid option for road trip-friendly sandwiches (the club sandwich is an excellent go-to). Pro tip — consider taking MD 355 up to Frederick once you’ve pulled over here to avoid some traffic.

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