Roadside Pit Stops

With summer in full swing, many of us are taking road-trip vacations from Houston. Whether heading up north to Dallas or out west to San Antonio, or to another part of our vast state and beyond, there are some great pit stops along the way to break up the miles of driving for refueling and snacks.

While Stuckey’s Roadside Stores no longer flank the side of I-45 North to Dallas, one restaurant continues to attract travelers passing through Fairfield, 150 miles north of Houston. Since 1966, early travelers can opt for the breakfast buffet at Sam’s Original Restaurant at 1015 W. Commerce Street. Beyond breakfast, manager Kathy G. Jones said, “passers-by and locals come to Sam’s for the barbecue and onion rings.” Sam’s is especially famous for homemade pies. Coconut cream pie is most popular, and cherry, pecan, and chocolate pecan pies are other favorites. The rotating pie case stands next to a gift shop full of souvenirs.

Making a stop in Columbus, after a 75-mile drive west down I-10 toward San Antonio, is a ritual for many travelers. Schobels’ Restaurant at 2020 Milam Street, established in 1979 by the Schobel family, offers a comfortable atmosphere and a menu or buffet of homemade offerings. Fried Chicken & Waffles, a newer item on the breakfast menu, is topped with whipped butter and maple syrup. Service is friendly and efficient. Folks like to stop by the gourmet-foods area on the way out for sauces, jams, homemade pickles and pecans for treats or gifts.

Should your travels take you to the Hill Country, north on Texas Highway 71, make a stop at Hruska’s Kolache Shop in Ellinger for fresh kolaches. Founded in 1912, Hruska’s is a perfect halfway stop between Houston and Austin. Kolaches, made from the same recipe since 1962, are the main attraction. Hruska’s offers 16 varieties of this Czech pastry. Ask for yours to be heated and enjoy with coffee. Or, there is a full breakfast menu and a grill, with burgers, sandwiches and wraps. A gift shop is stocked with souvenirs and novelties, while the convenience store offers rows of snacks and drinks.

Of course, there is more than one route to Austin, and my preference is Highway 290. As you approach Washington County, halfway between Hempstead and Brenham, the landscape evolves into rolling hills and bluebonnets (in April) at Chappell Hill. While the bluebonnets are gone by mid-summer, there is another reason to stop there – Chappell Hill Bakery and Deli at 8900 Hwy 290 East. Since 2011, the rustic exterior has welcomed visitors, who are greeted with an inviting aroma of smoked meats. The south wall is lined with baked goods, including homemade kolaches filled with fruit or sausage, as well as pralines made with mounds of brown sugar and pecans. The other half of Chappell Hill Bakery and Deli is full of smoked meats and varieties of jerky. The east side is a full-service restaurant with a menu of barbecue and other comfort foods.

When writing about favorite pit stops, the many locations of Buc-ee’s – famous for their clean and private bathrooms – certainly should be included. And if your travels take you down 59 South to Corpus Christi, you are in luck. Take a break from driving at the Wharton location at the intersection of 59 and FM 102, just 52 miles south of Houston. The famous Buc-ee’s Beaver sign and plenty of gas pumps greet you. Once you enter those sliding-glass doors, you run into the familiar. Among the offerings are a quirky gift shop and big jerky counter, with teriyaki-flavored jerky seeming particularly popular the last time I was there. Or opt for the fudge counter, or grab a bag of Beaver Nuggets to snack on. Grab your beverage to go in a “Big Red Beaver Cup” for $4.99, and bring it in for $1 refills on your next visit.

Editor’s note: Do you have a favorite roadside pit stop to recommend? We’d love to share your favorite spots. Comment below or email [email protected].