About Our I-26 SC BBQ Restaurant Guide
Driving I-26 through South Carolina takes you from the foothills toward the Midlands, putting plenty of South Carolina barbecue within easy reach of the interstate. This first part of our I-26 guide follows the route from Landrum to the Columbia area, with restaurants organized by exit so you can see what’s nearby as you travel.
We generally include barbecue restaurants with South Carolina locations within about 10 miles of I-26, while leaving out national chains and brands that are widely available across a broad region. Inclusion doesn’t necessarily mean a restaurant is a Destination BBQ recommendation; the goal is to give travelers a useful picture of the local barbecue options along the route.
At the top of each exit section, the highway-sign graphic shows the restaurant and its approximate distance in miles from the interstate. Below that, you’ll find photos along with listing information from the Destination BBQ restaurant directory, including current hours, location, contact details, and other useful information where available. Restaurant hours can change, so it’s always a good idea to confirm before making a special trip.
This stretch of I-26 also crosses areas historically associated with several of South Carolina’s barbecue sauce traditions, from tomato-based sauces in the Upstate toward the mustard-sauce heartland farther south. Those regional boundaries have never been absolute, but they help explain some of the differences you may encounter along the way.
Distances in miles are approximate: Use our map for directions to each restaurant.
Exit 5
Approximate one-way distance from Exit 5
Southside Smokehouse and Grille
726 S. Howard Avenue, Landrum, SC 29356
Hours: Mon–Sat 11 AM–9 PM · Sun closed
Sauces: Mustard-Based · Vinegar-Based · Tomato-Based
Exit 16
Approximate one-way distance from Exit 16
Pig Out BBQ in Inman
3001 New Cut Road, Inman, SC 29349
Hours: Mon–Tue closed · Wed 11 AM–3 PM · Thu–Fri 11 AM–8 PM · Sat 11 AM–3 PM · Sun closed
Sauces: Mustard-Based · Vinegar-Based · Tomato-Based
Headed to Greenville?
If you’re leaving I-26 for Greenville via I-85, our guide to the best BBQ in Greenville, SC will help you narrow the choices once you get there.
Headed to Spartanburg?
If Spartanburg is your destination rather than just a quick stop off I-26, our guide to the best BBQ in Spartanburg, SC will help you narrow the choices and find the kind of barbecue you’re looking for.
Exit 19: Greenville / Spartanburg
Approximate one-way distance from Exit 19
Carolina Barbecue & More
7115 Lone Oak Road, Spartanburg, SC 29303
Hours: Mon–Thu 10:30 AM–8 PM · Fri–Sat 10:30 AM–9 PM · Sun closed
Sauces: Mustard-Based · Vinegar-Based · Tomato-Based
Pig Out BBQ #2 in Drayton
1945 Drayton Rd, Drayton, SC 29303
Hours: Mon closed · Tue–Wed 11 AM–3 PM · Thu–Sat 11 AM–8 PM · Sun closed
Sauces: Mustard-Based · Vinegar-Based · Tomato-Based
Southern Barbecue
6 Fairview Church Road, Spartanburg, SC 29303
Hours: Mon closed · Tue–Fri 10:30 AM–8 PM · Sat 10:30 AM–3 PM · Sun closed
Sauces: Vinegar-Based · Tomato-Based
Exit 21: Greer / Spartanburg
Approximate one-way distance from Exit 21
Bubba’s BBQ & Bash
827 W. Blackstock Road, Spartanburg, SC 29301
Hours: Mon–Sat 11 AM–8 PM · Sun closed
Sauces: Mustard-Based · Vinegar-Based · Tomato-Based
Little Pigs BBQ of Pine Street
840 S. Pine Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302
Hours: Mon 9 AM–8 PM · Tue–Sat 11 AM–8 PM · Sun closed
Sauces: Mustard-Based · Vinegar-Based · Tomato-Based
Game Day BBQ
165 W. Main Street, Duncan, SC 29334
Hours: Mon 10:30 AM–3 PM · Tue–Sat 10:30 AM–8 PM · Sun closed
Sauces: Mustard-Based · Tomato-Based
Exit 22
Approximate one-way distance from Exit 22
Smok’y Blues BBQ
458 Oak Grove Road, Spartanburg, SC 29301
Hours: Mon closed · Tue–Sat 11 AM–8 PM · Sun 1 PM–7 PM
Sauces: Tomato-Based
Exit 52
Approximate one-way distance from Exit 52
Big “D” Butcher & BBQ
257 Torrington Rd, Clinton, SC 29325
Hours: Mon–Thu closed · Fri–Sat 11 AM–7 PM · Sun closed
Sauces: Mustard-Based · Tomato-Based
Exit 66: Jalapa
Approximate one-way distance from Exit 66
Wise’s Bar-B-Q House
25548 US 76, Newberry, SC 29108
Hours: Mon–Thu closed · Fri–Sat 9 AM–7 PM · Sun closed
Sauces: Mustard-Based
Exit 74: Newberry / Winnsboro
Approximate one-way distance from Exit 74
Steelhorse Smokehouse
1506 Main Street, Newberry, SC 29108
Hours: Mon–Wed closed · Thu 11 AM–9 PM · Fri 11 AM–10 PM · Sat 11 AM–9 PM · Sun closed
Sauces: Vinegar-Based · Tomato-Based
Exit 82: Prosperity / Pomaria
Approximate one-way distance from Exit 82
Hamm’s Hawg Heaven
11375 C.R. Koon Highway, Hwy 76, Prosperity, SC 29127
Hours: Mon–Wed closed · Thu 11 AM–3 PM · Fri 11 AM–8 PM · Sat–Sun 11 AM–3 PM
Sauces: Mustard-Based · Vinegar-Based · Tomato-Based
Exit 85
Approximate one-way distance from Exit 85
KennyBo’s Bar-B-Que
4318 Macedonia Church Road, Prosperity, SC 29127
Hours: Mon–Fri closed · Sat 9 AM–4 PM · Sun closed
Sauces: Mustard-Based
Exit 91: Chapin
Approximate one-way distance from Exit 91
Farm Boy's Barbeque
525 Columbia Ave., Chapin, SC 29036
Hours: Mon–Wed closed · Thu–Sat 11 AM–8 PM · Sun closed
Sauces: Mustard-Based · Vinegar-Based
518 Smokehouse
673 Chapin Road, Chapin, SC 29036
Hours: Mon–Thu 11 AM–10 PM · Fri 11 AM–11 PM · Sat 10 AM–11 PM · Sun 10 AM–10 PM
Sauces: Mustard-Based · Vinegar-Based · Tomato-Based · White Sauce
Exit 101: Ballentine / White Rock
Approximate one-way distance from Exit 101
Roy's Grille
7971 N Woodrow St, Suite D, Irmo, SC 29063
Hours: Mon closed · Tue–Sun 11 AM–6 PM
Sauces: Mustard-Based · Vinegar-Based · Tomato-Based · White Sauce
Cox Family BBQ
7709 Saint Andrews Rd., Irmo, SC 29063
Hours: Mon–Thu closed · Fri–Sat 11 AM–8 PM · Sun closed
Sauces: Mustard-Based · Vinegar-Based · Tomato-Based
Exit 102: Lake Murray / Irmo
Approximate one-way distance from Exit 102
Maurice’s Piggie Park BBQ on Lake Murray Blvd
1141 Lake Murray Boulevard, Irmo, SC 29063
Hours: Mon–Sun 10 AM–9 PM
Sauces: Mustard-Based · Vinegar-Based · Tomato-Based
Exit 108: Columbia
Approximate one-way distance from Exit 108
Maurice’s Piggie Park BBQ on Elmwood
800 Elmwood Avenue, Columbia, SC 29201
Hours: Mon–Wed 10 AM–4 PM · Thu–Fri 10 AM–8 PM · Sat 11 AM–8 PM · Sun closed
Sauces: Mustard-Based · Vinegar-Based · Tomato-Based
The War Mouth
1209 Franklin St, Columbia, SC 29201
Hours: Mon 11:30 AM–9 PM · Tue–Sat 11:30 AM–10 PM · Sun closed
Sauces: Mustard-Based
Smoke It Up Express
2191 Pickens St, Unit B, Columbia, SC 29201
Hours: Mon closed · Tue–Thu 11:30 AM–9 PM · Fri–Sat 11:30 AM–10 PM · Sun 12 PM–8 PM
Sauces: Mustard-Based · Tomato-Based
Railroad BBQ
2001 Hampton St, Columbia, SC 29204
Hours: Mon–Tue closed · Wed–Sat 11 AM–6 PM · Sun 1 PM–6 PM
Sauces: Mustard-Based · Vinegar-Based · Tomato-Based
The BBQ Pit
5609 Farrow Road, Columbia, SC 29203
Hours: Mon closed · Tue–Sat 12 PM–7 PM · Sun 12 PM–4 PM
Sauces: Mustard-Based · Tomato-Based
Doc’s Barbeque
1601 Shop Road, Columbia, SC 29201
Hours: Mon–Fri 11 AM–2:30 PM · Sat–Sun closed
Sauces: Mustard-Based · Vinegar-Based
Routing powered by Geoapify · Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Interesting Interstate Info
Here are a few interstate highway facts that help explain how the route is numbered:
- Exit numbers stay the same in both directions. Whether you’re traveling east or west, a given interchange keeps the same exit number, though individual ramps may use letter suffixes such as A or B.
- Even-numbered primary interstates generally run west to east. Their numbers increase from south to north, which is why I-26—one of the lower-numbered two-digit interstates—runs across the southern part of the country.
- Mile markers reset at each state line. On west-to-east interstates such as I-26, the mileage generally begins at the state’s western border and increases as you travel east.
Need a different route? Start with the SC BBQ Road Trip hub to choose another interstate guide, or visit the BBQ Guides hub for more South Carolina barbecue guides beyond these road-trip pages.
Mike Dodds
Sunday 7th of April 2024
Steelhorse in Newberry is excellent. Now they have a robot that brings the food to your table. Downtown Newberry is so cool.
James Roller
Monday 8th of April 2024
@Mike Dodds, Whoa...really? That's crazy!
Paul Corden
Saturday 2nd of January 2021
Somehow you missed Blue Grass BBQ in Cowpens at the beginning of your trip down I-26. Would suggest you visit. Best in the Spartanburg area.
James Roller
Saturday 2nd of January 2021
Hey Paul, thanks for commenting. We set the parameters to show the restaurants "within 10 miles of an interstate exit." Bluegrass falls just outside that range at between 13 and 18 miles from the exits we tested. However, we do include Bluegrass in the I-85 article.