America's Deep South is known for its gas station food, but one state has taken it to new levels – mapping out a culinary trail that takes in the best truck stops, roadside restaurants, diners and fast food joints perfect for filling up on the go. Louisiana's Gas Station Eats trail, covering 450 miles (724km), spotlights simple eateries serving food so good, it's well worth taking a road trip for. 

Click or scroll through our gallery to discover the best food to try on Louisiana's Gas Station Eats culinary trail, stop by stop. 

The Gas Station Eats trail snakes its way through the historic region of No Man’s Land, in Louisiana's pine-forested southwest corner. Road trippers are promised a taste of the region’s best homespun dishes, from Cajun specialities and seafood near the Gulf of Mexico to barbecue and traditional Southern recipes in the region’s north. There are 21 stops – gas stations, convenience stores and diners – to discover, scattered throughout the most interesting villages in region’s eight parishes. From hearty on-the-go snacks to comforting sit-down lunches, here's everything you should eat on Louisiana's Gas Station Eats trail, from north to south.

This friendly out-the-way general store hides in Grand Cane, a rural area of well-preserved historic homes. It’s a popular spot for breakfast with the early morning crowd, who sit inside at big, round tables, covered in red-and-white checked tablecloths. Typical dishes include the bacon biscuit, a simple yet delicious Southern-style version of a bacon sandwich, made using a light savoury scone instead of bread. Also in favour is the fried chicken, served with chunky crinkle-cut fries.

Set in the small city of Mansfield, it’s a challenge to resist the vast array of Louisiana eats that pack the big glass counter in this bustling family-chain gas station. Make up a huge ‘plate lunch’ – meat and two or three sides – to eat in the small dining room to the side of the shop. Think Southern staples like fried chicken, mashed potatoes, mac 'n' cheese and collard greens. Or, for a snack on the go, the little meat pies sold here are perfect. This leaves time to visit the former Mansfield Female College, the first of its kind in the 1850s, west of the Mississippi River.

Alongside artisan bread and cookies, colourful king cakes are year-round local favourite staples at this mom-and-pop bakery in Gloster. The seasonal treat, iced in the colours of New Orleans' annual Mardi Gras celebrations, is a cross between coffee cake and a cinnamon roll, often packed with fruit fillings and decadent cream cheeses.

There’s no better spot to sample catfish than at this excellent no-frills diner in Toro near the Toledo Bend Reservoir. It tastes particularly good breaded and fried in sandwich form, and goes well with basket of fried pickle slices, a bowl of red beans and rice and, if you’ve room, a side of Toledo Bend Dam fries. Named after the reservoir, this ultimate local gas station comfort food is served topped with ranch and barbecue sauce, mustard, melted cheese and sliced jalapeños.

The Lake Front Grocery is another trail stop near the Toledo Bend Reservoir. Its menu includes standout Philly cheesesteaks and 'Maria’s famous homemade tamales', made with the corn-based dough, masa, and filled with chicken and cheese. Take a seat in the retro-style dining room by the entrance or grab one to enjoy waterside, with views across to Texas.

This elevated pitstop is the second of three Shop-a-Lott locations on the trail, with an equally tempting cabinet packed with freshly cooked food. In the charming small town of Many – pronounced Manee – this joint is particularly good for on-the-go snacks like cornbread rolls and hush puppies. It’s also a superb spot for the famous Louisiana stew, gumbo, typically made with meat or shellfish.

The attractive town of Natchitoches – pronounced ‘nack-a-tish’ – is perhaps best known as the setting for the Oscar-nominated 1989 movie, Steel Magnolias. It has a crop of good cafés and restaurants, but many locals will tell you that this upmarket, family-run gas station is the best. Described as offering ‘convenience with style’, it’s famous for its sweet and moist iced yam cake, made using a secret family recipe. They sell hundreds each day, along with plate lunches, meat pies, salads, sandwiches and a range of souvenirs.

Swing by Janis’ Gourmet Kitchen, inside friendly 3J’s Fourway, for some of the best gas station food in Natchitoches Parish. When you've finished browsing the hiking and fishing gear, order a bomb burger. This towering creation is made with two or three beef patties, bacon, cheese and a fried egg. Customers also love Renee’s homemade ribs and the hearty helpings of grits and eggs for breakfast. The cinnamon rolls are popular, too. 

Next up is yet another trusty Shop-a-Lott with a tempting selection of roadside snacks, from corn dogs and crawfish pies to chicken tenders and hush puppies. It's a good sit-down option, too, with a menu filled with affordable meals including lunch plates – one meat and one side – for $7.50. Set on an intersection and close to several local businesses, it's a favourite breakfast spot for local workers.

Hidden inside an Exxon station off Highway 171 is this homey café, best known for its burgers and fried chicken sandwiches. The irresistible plate lunch specials, served on Mondays, have earned the spot plenty of fans, too. Think brisket lasagne with potato salad, and plates piled high with butterfly chicken, mashed potatoes, white or brown gravy, green beans, mac 'n' cheese, corn and fried okra.

Alongside roadside staples like plate lunches, burgers, and pizza, this unpretentious standout roadside stop is known for its fish dinners. Take a seat to savour a plate of freshly fried breaded fish and chunky crinkle-cut fries. A selection of rustic homemade sweet treats decorates the counter for afters. Choose from bags of chunky peanut butter fudge and boxed slices of cake, such as chocolate sponge with coffee icing the locals rave about.

Open from 5am each day, you’ll find this budget-friendly gas station with Wild West vibes tucked to the side of Highway 10 in tiny Pitkin. The success is all down to the quality of the food, with absolutely everything freshly cooked to order. There’s plenty to rave about; the burgers and potato wedges are served perfectly crisp and piping hot, while huge baked potatoes come loaded with fillings like bacon and grated cheese.

Some of the best barbecue in No Man’s Land awaits drivers at roadside restaurant, Big Thicket. It's located in fascinating DeRidder, the region’s first frontier town. The brisket alone is worth travelling for. One mouthful, and you’ll understand why this stop quickly outgrew its food truck origins. The food comes served piping hot on a tray or in a box filled with any number of sides you choose, like cornbread, smoky beans, collard greens and mashed potatoes. It's a comforting meal after a spine-tingling visit to the nearby Beauregard County Jail, gothic in style and said to be haunted.

The unpretentious Back Home Collection is an intriguing sweet win in DeRidder. It’s essentially a giant thrift store, packed to the brim with rack upon rack of second-hand clothes, stacks of homewares – and several big refrigerators and shelves filled with neat stacks of freshly homemade treats and jars of jam. Hits include molasses sugar cookies, blueberry loaf cakes and traditional Southern cream pies.

Located off Highway 171, family-run South Beau Dairy Barn is beloved by locals for its cosy parlour, serving Blue Bell ice cream from Texas. Hot American food staples like burgers and fries are available, too, delivered to your table in an atmospheric wood-panelled dining room by some of the friendliest staff. Customers can’t get enough of the crispy fried onion strips, while the hand-dipped banana split is said to be incredible. 

Pork cracklins, or pork scratchings, are an essential part of Louisiana’s Cajun culinary identity. Tasty bite-sized bombs of crispy skin, juicy meat and soft fat make the ultimate guilty-pleasure roadside pitstop snack. Chadeaux’s Cajun Kitchen, off Highway 165 in Kinder (population 2,500), serves some of the tastiest They're twice-fried fresh each day, offered alongside speciality meats like alligator sausage.

A friendly welcome awaits hungry travellers at this longstanding spot. It's tucked in a red wooden cabin in the tiny hamlet of Mittie, named after the area’s first-ever postman, Mittie Burnett. Hearty, homemade burgers grilled to perfection are the mainstay offering, served with crispy bacon and iceberg lettuce in soft white buns. The place is also much loved for its Hunt Brother’s Pizza, from Nashville. 

Everything is superb at the family-run Jewel’s Quick Stop, tucked away in the backstreets of Oakland. It sees a steady stream of loyal hungry locals all day long, tempted in by daily specials like beef stew with rice. The deep-fried boudin balls – Cajun speciality sausage made with rice, pork and spices, shaped into balls, covered in breadcrumbs and deep fried – are a firm fan favourite, which people travel far and wide to eat.

There's a tiny kitchen tucked amid the vast selection of fishing gear in this unpretentious convenience store in Sulphur. It's well worth seeking out, as this place grills up some of the best bacon sandwiches in the area. They may not look the prettiest, but they won’t be around for long. Local fishing fans and road trippers also drop in for the excellent shrimp po'boys – these Depression-era baguettes were first served in New Orleans – and the giant double patty cheeseburger, a beast not to be reckoned with. Bring your reusable cup for free coffee.

The delightful family-run spot is perfectly located on the Creole Nature Trail near Lake Charles, one of 150 designated scenic byways in the USA and known as Louisiana’s Outback. This inspiring setting is just one reason to visit Chesson's. The other (and perhaps the most important) reason is to sample its life-changing chilli cheese dogs, loved by its loyal local following and anyone who happens to swing by. The joint also hosts the odd live music gig and sells quirky souvenirs.

Barbecue and smoked meats are a way of life in the South. There’s something very special about this friendly gas station country store, which has a smokehouse on site. Faithful punters come for the simple and delicious smoked, wood-fired brisket, ribs marinated in a secret recipe, and melt-in-the-mouth pulled pork. You can buy any of it by the pound, in sandwich form or on a plate with two sides, sliced bread and a drink.

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