Texas is known for it’s BBQ and every year the Texas Monthly magazine puts out a Top 50 BBQ Joints list celebrating the best Texas bbq to be found. TMBBQ released their most recent Top 50 BBQ Joint list in 2021 to wide celebration. There were traditional BBQ joints on the list, some old stalwarts fell off the list (Black’s BBQ) and there were many new BBQ joints that didn’t even exist the last time the list was created 4 years ago.
The next time you are planning your Texas overland trip take a look at the Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ Joint map below and see what’s on the way. Take time to stop by for some Texas brisket, ribs, sausage and other tasty treats!
Scroll down for our recommended trails and bbq spots!
Texas Overland Trails and Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ Spots:
| Texas Overland Trail | Source | Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ Spots Along Trail | Comments |
| Five Tribes Overland Trail | Go Native Overland | – Dozier’s BBQ (Fulshear) – LJ’s BBQ (Brenham) – Snows BBQ (Lexington) – Guess Family BBQ (Waco) – Helberg Barbeque (Woodway) – Trevino’s Craft Barbeque (Graford) – Pitforks & Smokerings BBQ (Slaton) | – Trail created by Go Native Overland – Runs from the Gulf Coast at Freeport to Breckenridge west of Dallas Fort Worth before turning west to the New Mexico border – Cuts through Central Texas famous for Texas BBQ – Coastal and Central Texas portion likely mostly paved, unsure of portions in West Texas and the Panhandle – Includes Texas’ most famous Snows and old stalwart Dozier’s |
| Texas Epic Adventure Trail (TEAT) | Go Native Overland (Free) | – Trevino’s Craft Barbeque (Graford) – Helberg Barbeque (Woodway) – Lum’s BBQ (Junction) – Brick Vault Brewery and Barbecue (Marathon) – Convenience West (Marfa) | – Trail created by Go Native Overland – Running from the Red River south parallel to I-35 then turning West paralleling I-10 to near El Paso |
| Rivers & Hills | Unknown | – Lum’s BBQ (Junction) – Eaker Barbecue (Fredericksburg) – Black Board Bar B Q (Boerne) | – Unsure of original creator – Triangulates between Llano, Fredericksburg and Mason – Includes many water crossings – A nice side trip should include the famous James River Rd water crossing |
| James River Road | Unknown | – Lum’s BBQ (Junction) – Cooper’s BBQ (Llano)* | – Unsure of original creator, recommend viewing file on Texas Overland’s Facebook page – Beautiful scenery in Texas Hill Country with multiple water crossings, including James River Rd. * Cooper’s BBQ was not on the Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ List this year but is darn tasty! |
| Lost Pines & Prairies | Go Native Overland | – Kolacny’s Bar B Q House (Halletsville) – Baker Boys BBQ (Gonzales) – City Market (Luling) – Kreuze’s (Lockhart) – Zimmerhanzel’s Bar B Que (Smithville) | – Right in the strike zone of Central Texas bbq – Includes old time places like City Market and Kreuzes along with new contenders |