SC BBQ Road Trip: I-26: Pt 1- First 100 Exits (Landrum to Chapin)

Part 1: The First 100 Exits (Landrum – Chapin)

In South Carolina, barbeque has a long and special history. Because of this tradition, our BBQ is both unique and widespread. So much so, in fact, that anyone enjoying a road trip within our borders could really use a guide to help them find just the right location to sample from the SC BBQ Trail.

To help our hungry, road-weary residents and guests, we have created SC BBQ Road Trip: A Restaurant Field Guide for each of the interstates that traverse our state.

If you love SC BBQ as we do, you will appreciate this guide. Part One of the Interstate 26 edition covers the first 100 exits between Landrum and Chapin.

I-26 in South Carolina stretches from the mountains to the coast, intersecting the state and passing near or through each of the four primary barbecue regions in the state.Travelers who find themselves traversing the state via I-26 have a great opportunity to sample all of the different styles of barbecue South Carolina offers.

What’s better: they don’t need to travel far off the beaten path to do so.

(As a side note, learn how to eat SC’s best BBQ for FREE!)

Interstate 26 runs 220 miles along its journey through the state.  Entering the state near Landrum, skirting around the capital of Columbia, and terminating in Charleston, I-26 passes through urban and rural areas alike.Along the way, I-26 spends most of its length in the region of SC most known for the sauce born in South Carolina: the mustard BBQ sauce.

(Note: if you’d like to learn to make authentic SCBBQ recipes, including the world’s best mustard sauce, check out the recipes we’ve published on this site or our SCBBQ Recipes: Going Whole Hog cookbook, with 300 pages of recipes from ages-old family traditions and today’s top SCBBQ pitmasters.)

Here is a look at a rough breakdown of South Carolina’s BBQ sauce regions:

You see, of course, that I-26 passes through the heart of the mustard region; however, it also briefly runs through our heavy tomato region and begins in the light tomato region of the state. Despite the map’s insistence, barbecue in our state is not necessarily as defined as the map suggests. This map generalizes and whitewashes regions based on historical precedence.

Today, you are likely to find any of the sauces in any corner of the state, particularly among the newer restaurants that are paying homage to the state’s grand history, but if you are looking for a particular sauce, now you know where to look.

Finding SC BBQ Restaurants along this Stretch of I-26

Anyway, today you find yourself traveling I-26. You know traveling this stretch of road you certainly ought to be able to find some of this SCBBQ you’ve been hearing (and reading) about.

But where is it hidden?

We strongly suggest checking out our SC BBQ Trail Locator Map or our SC BBQ Directory, but if you prefer, you might also consider downloading a copy of the SC Dept. of Tourism’s official SC BBQ Trail Map.

The map will find your location (with your permission) and show you the closest 25 SCBBQ restaurants within 100 miles of you.While our locator map is fantastic (if we do say so ourselves), we know you probably don’t want to drive 40 miles off the interstate just to get a taste of SCBBQ.

So, here we present to you all your options for enjoying real SCBBQ within 10 miles of a given exit along I-26.

How We Selected These Restaurants

Interesting Interstate Info

Thus, we will follow the exits along I-26 from where it enters on the western side of the state until its terminus in Charleston. Buckle your seatbelt and away we go…

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Note: Distances are approximate: Use our map for more precise directions.

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