The Ultimate Pit Stop-Worthy Eats On A Road Trip Through The American Southwest, Per Travelers

Road trips make us hungrier — it's science. Long days away from home can lead to deregulated hormones and abnormal hunger cues. What's more, given that it's safest to take breaks every two hours or so when you're behind the wheel, it's important to schedule pit stops along your drive, including places for a quick bite to eat, a refill on gas, and maybe a stretch to keep you from cramping up.

The American Southwest, defined loosely to include Arizona, parts of Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah, per the Paleontological Research Institution, is a popular destination for road trippers thanks to its Route 66 nostalgia and diverse landscape. You'll find sweeping planes, towering red rock formations, and mountain peaks. It still looks like the set of an old John Wayne movie out West — so much so that you'd almost expect to see cowboys galloping on horseback, or robbers on the top of a chugging steam train.

The American Southwest is also incredibly culinarily diverse, so there will be no shortage of tasty pit stops throughout your road trip. Menus advertise a mix of Indigenous American, Mexican, and Southern comfort foods. Plus, although you'll find traditional greasy spoons, there's also upscale restaurants with Michelin potential. So, while you witness the best of the Southwest on a trip through red rock valleys, keep an eye out for these 10 pit stop-worthy eats, all of which come highly recommended by travelers.

If you head west from Denver, one of your stops on the way to Utah just might be Palisade, Colorado. It's three hours and 40 minutes from the Mile High City and relatively small, home to just over 2,500 people and lots of natural beauty. Here, make sure to stop for a meal at Pêche, which brings fine dining to Mesa County. According to The Denver Post, Pêche's two founders met at a three Michelin-starred restaurant in Chicago, fell in love, and decided to open their own place out West. Ingredients at Pêche are locally sourced, and the menu is inventive, with dishes like oxtail ravioli, charred lambchop, and steamed bao served with lotus root. Given this restaurant's popularity, you'll likely need to make a reservation in advance. It's one of those pit stops that requires a bit of planning — it's also one of the more expensive options on our list. Entrees typically hover between $40 and $70, but most former customers find the prices to be worth it given the quality.

Online, you'll find dozens of five-star reviews. "I have been to Michelin star restaurants that didn't leave as good [as] an impression as Pêche. From the friendly staff, to the perfectly orchestrated exhibition kitchen, to the UNBELIEVABLE food and cocktails, Pêche is truly an outstanding dining experience," writes one former customer, per Yelp. According to another on Tripadvisor, "I believe [it] is the top restaurant for fine food on the Western Slope."

A stretch of your Southwest road trip may take you along Arches National Park Road, a 18-mile scenic trail (one way) that provides access to all developed areas within the park. It eventually leads to Moab, a city ranked among the best cities in America for solo travelers, and a restaurant called Cactus Jacks. It has hundreds of five-star reviews across sites like Google, Tripadvisor, and Yelp.

This pit stop is primarily known for its breakfast and brunch, and it's open daily from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. On the menu, you'll find Mexican-inspired dishes like huevos rancheros and Southern comforts like chicken and waffles. Be sure to order one of their cinnamon rolls, which are frequently mentioned in reviews: "We had the Big Ole Cinnamon Roll ... [it] was enormous and delicious," reads one review on Google. "Great breakfast! The food is definitely amazing," wrote another former customer, adding, "The cinnamon roll is huge."

If you're looking to spend a little bit more time in the area — or maybe heading back to Cactus Jacks for another "13/10" meal— you'll find plenty of classic roadside motels along Moab's main street. There are also outdoor equipment stores where you can restock for the rest of your journey across Utah's "Mighty Five" national parks. They're known for their red rock formations, hiking trails, and wildlife: On your journey, see if you can snap pictures of kangaroo rats, porcupines, coyotes, and more.

No Southwestern roadtrip is complete without a visit to what's known as "America's most unique national park," Bryce Canyon. Here, you'll find thousands upon thousands of towering red rock spires called hoodoos. After you work up an appetite exploring the park, consider making a pit stop at Thunderbird Restaurant in Mt. Carmel Junction, about an hour's drive away. The restaurant is attached to a Best Western Resort and serves hearty breakfast, lunch, and dinner plates. On the menu, you'll find dishes like the pastrami burger, homestyle liver and onions, and hot apple pie smothered in buttered rum sauce. In other words, it's enough decadence to keep you going throughout your next hike — and beyond.

"If you're driving US89, it's a good stop," writes one former Thunderbird customer on Reddit, adding, "The Chocolate Creme pie will put you into diabetic shock, though. Totally yummy." Inside, cozy booths line the walls, and the wall is decorated with road sign-themed decor. "Stopped in for the warm apple pie on the way to Bryce Canyon and it didn't disappoint," reads another review on Yelp. "Great food. Service was friendly, and the ambiance and decor were a lot of fun," adds the former customer.

From the restaurant, it's a short drive to Zion National Park, also part of Utah's "Mighty Five" national parks. Make sure to take a few slices of Thunderberry Pie to go.

Zion National Park is a go-to stop on any Southwest road trip, home to a lush oasis of hanging gardens and lots of crowds, especially during the summer season. Before exhausting yourself on scenic hikes, stop to grab breakfast at The Park House Cafe, which is located along Mount Carmel Highway in Springdale. "We just happened to stop here for breakfast on the way to Bryce Canyon via Zion. What a treat! One of the best breakfast meals we've had in a long time," writes one former customer on Tripadvisor, adding, "Atmosphere is cool, service is excellent [and the] food [is] Fantastic! Highly recommended!"

At the Park House Cafe, you'll find menu items like shrimp ceviche, buffalo burgers, and burritos packed with eggs, bacon, ham, and veggies for breakfast. "Get there early, it fills up fast," one insider recommends, adding, "Obviously word has got out on how good it is."

While you're in the area, you'll have the chance to explore ghost towns like Grafton, a 19th-century pioneer village that's now a tourist attraction. Or book a helicopter tour through Zion National Park; there's no shortage of things to keep you occupied after breakfast is over.

Drive about 116 miles from Zion National Park along U.S. Route 89, known as "the most scenic road trip in America," to find Page, Arizona. Whether you're visiting Page for the secret sand cave tucked behind a gas station or its most famous attraction, Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, you'll eventually need a place to eat. That's where BirdHouse comes in. The restaurant, which opened back in 2018, has kept its menu simple: chicken and cold beer. You can order individual boxes or "family meals" with an assortment of wings, breasts, and drumsticks. Sides include mac n cheese, coleslaw, and house-made pickles.

Although it's still a relatively new addition to Page, BirdHouse has already collected thousands of five-star reviews. "One of the best fried chicken[s] you'll ever have! My family came here for lunch 2 days in a row," writes one visitor on Google. "The mix of casual vibes and clean design makes it a great place to sit back and enjoy some seriously good food," comments another.

You can take your order to go or dine in. Chicken dinners are served on classic red and white-checkered paper with bread on the side, and the pit stop is guarded by an 8-foot-tall rooster made from fiberglass, ideal for photo ops.

A little over an hour and 15 minutes from the Grand Canyon is Cameron Trading Post. The hotel-lodge, located in Cameron, Arizona, on the western edge of the Navajo Nation, also has an on-site restaurant. Customers are seated at wooden tables in a grand dining room. Walls are decorated with colorful weavings, baskets, and carvings, most of which were crafted by indigenous artists.

One of Cameron Trading Post's most popular dishes, according to the restaurant's website, includes Navajo tacos made with Navajo fry bread, a chewy, doughy base that's deep-fried in oil. It's also served alone or topped with ground beef, beans, fresh vegetables, and cheese. "Being Navajo and [knowing] what a Navajo fry-bread tastes like, I would come back and just order that," writes one customer on Yelp. There are hundreds of five-star reviews on Tripadvisor as well, and customers often highlight the dining room's large portion sizes, which are sure to keep you full throughout a long day of driving.

As its name implies, the hotel-lodge and restaurant was a former trading post — in other words, it's a pit stop that goes way back. It served as a place for members of the local Navajo and Hopi tribes to trade wares with white settlers throughout the early 1900s. You can still purchase local indigenous art at the trading post's gallery, where there's an assortment of pottery, sandpaintings, textiles, and more. Also on the grounds, you'll find a garden oasis — it blooms year-round, a perpetually green escape from the desert.

In Seligman, Arizona, the birthplace of historic Route 66, there's no shortage of vintage charm. The town played a central role in the highway's tourist-driven revival, and you'll find businesses restored to their former mid-century glory. Westside Lilo's Cafe, which was abandoned for years and re-purchased in 1996, is one of them. There's no shortage of nostalgic decor inside: neon Coca-Cola signs, old-school license plates, and taxidermied deer on wood-paneled walls. The menu — an assortment of old-school American comforts — has also earned this pit stop thousands of positive write-ups across Google, Yelp, and Tripadvisor.

"We have been driving Route 66 for the last ten days, and this is by far the best food I have had," reads one Tripadvisor review of Westside Lilo's, adding, "I ordered the [schnitzel] and homemade banana cream pie for dessert. They had many different flavors of cream pies, and they all looked delicious." The carrot cake is apparently also a must, so even if you're full from Lilo's Famous Burger, make sure you save room for dessert.

Driving through the rest of Seligman will feel like a step back in time. You'll find the world's largest Route 66 sign, a historic barber shop-turned museum, and lots of roadside motels if you're looking to spend the night.

If you're not an overnight guest at the attached inn, you'll need a reservation for Casa Sedona in Sedona, Arizona. The cozy, boutique hotel and upscale restaurant offers views of Thunder Mountain and formations like "Coffee Pot Rock," promising miles of hiking trails in the distance. There's outdoor dining on warm days, and fireside dining when temperatures drop into the 50s in December and January.

The restaurant is known for its breakfast, which is served all day. Order the Aztec Tamale, served over a fried egg, or the Myan Quiche, which comes with a brûléed grapefruit. You'll find stellar reviews on Tripadvisor, with an overall rating of 4.8 stars. "You won't be disappointed with anything on the menu. It's all homemade, full of flavor and quality ingredients," reads one. Other former customers recommend the turmeric smoothie and ordering a papaya with whipped cream — it's technically an off-menu item, but it comes highly recommended by those in the know.

After you fill up at Casa Sedona, make a trip to Fay Canyon, one of Arizona's most scenic canyons which you can explore for free, hike Teacup Trailhead, or simply hit the road, driving past mountains, rivers, and red deserts toward your next destination.

If your Southwest road trip takes you to New Mexico, you might eventually find yourself at La Cueva Cafe in Taos. The little restaurant, housed in a pueblo-style building, serves a mix of authentic Mexican dishes and American classics. According to the restaurant's website, the most popular dishes on the menu include chicken mole enchiladas and fajitas.

According to one recent customer on Google, "La Cueva is the cutest little restaurant in Taos. If you are shopping in the plaza and are looking for an authentic New Mexican meal, be sure to add this to your list!" It's also an ideal stop if you have dietary restrictions: Everything is gluten-free, and there are multiple vegetarian options. Keep in mind that there's a credit card charge here, so bring cash. And be prepared for limited parking, according to other Google reviews.

While you're driving through the area, make sure to check out all the museums Taos has to offer, or drive 3 miles from the restaurant to Taos Pueblo, an unbelievable 1,000-year-old World Heritage Site. Around 150 full-time residents live in the same adobe homes that have been occupied for a millennium.

There's no shortage of pit stop options in America's "oldest capital city." Santa Fe, founded in the early 1600s, is known for its Spanish-style architecture and cuisine. The city is considered to be one of the country's most underrated foodie destinations, and Tia Sophia's often appears at the top of restaurant lists, per TimeOut. It opened back in 1975 and was one of the first places (ever) to offer breakfast burritos on the menu.

Over the past few decades, Tia Sophia's has collected hundreds of five-star reviews on Tripadvisor. "Authentic and delicious southwest fare. Excellent service. Sopapilla sensational," writes one former customer, adding, "Love the small plate options. Mostly locals, so we knew the place was great!" Inside, you'll find casual wooden booths and lots of local art hanging on the walls. Considering this is the alleged "home of the breakfast burrito," make sure you add one to your order, along with blue corn pancakes, which also come highly recommended on Tripadvisor and Yelp.

Also in the neighborhood is the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum — the artist was known for taking inspiration from the Southwestern landscape — and the New Mexico History Museum, housed in a 17th-century adobe building. Hoping to spend the night before continuing on your journey? There are lots of historic hotels to choose from downtown.

To find the ultimate pit stop-worthy eats in the American Southwest, we looked to sites like Tripadvisor, Yelp, Google, and Reddit. Prioritizing the most recent reviews was key, as well as reviews from roadtrippers and out-of-towners. YouTube vlogs helped us gauge the atmosphere in each restaurant. We chose pit stops with unique, nostalgic, or otherwise memorable decor: taxidermy at Westside Lilo's in Seligman, old road signs on the wall at Thunderbird in Mt. Carmel Junction, and local Indigenous art at Cameron Trading Post.

Several other variables went into our decision-making. We looked for pit stops close to — or on the way to — popular Southwestern road trip destinations like the Grand Canyon in Arizona, the "Mighty Five" National Parks in Utah, and the Taos Pueblo World Heritage Site in New Mexico.

We also prioritized restaurants that did not require a reservation — with one exception of Pêche and Casa Sedona — to allow for the traffic delays or spontaneity that often comes with road tripping. If you're still mapping out your road trip, consider our list of the country's most stunning and storied routes. Or check out these clever packing hacks before you head out.