Barbecue trail
Texas BBQ Trail
Texas is the brisket holy land, and the BBQ Trail strings together the smoky temples from the Hill Country to the Gulf — the Central Texas classics around Lockhart and Taylor plus the new-guard pitmasters topping Texas Monthly’s every-four-years Top 50.
Why do it
The best brisket in America, across the whole state.
Post-oak smoke, no sauce required, and lines worth standing in. From 1940s meat markets to beef-cheek innovators, this is the most delicious road trip in America, full stop.
The essential stops
Where to stop on the Texas BBQ Trail.
01Franklin BarbecueAustin — the most famous brisket in the country, get there earlyTX02Terry Black’s BarbecueAustin — the crowd favorite right now; also in Dallas, Fort Worth & LockhartTX03LeRoy and LewisAustin — new-school cuts like beef cheeks; ranked #2 in Texas in 2025TX04Snow’s BBQLexington — Saturdays only, pitmaster Tootsie Tomanetz, legendaryTX05Louie Mueller BarbecueTaylor — smoke-blackened walls since 1949TX06Kreuz MarketLockhart — no forks, no sauce, pure traditionTX07Smitty’s MarketLockhart — pits you walk past on the way inTX08City MarketLuling — a small-town classic worth the detourTX09Burnt Bean Co.Seguin — named the best in Texas on the 2025 Top 50TX10Truth BarbequeHouston — top-ranked Houston smoke (save room for the cake)TX11Goldee’s BarbecueFort Worth — a former #1, opened by Franklin alumniTX12Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-QueLlano — Hill Country cowboy-style, direct-heat pitsTX13Evie Mae’s Pit BarbequeWolfforth — the best of West Texas, near LubbockTX
Plan the trip
Build your Texas BBQ Trail trip.
Roamward turns the trail into a real itinerary — the stops, the scenic line between them, the gems worth a detour, and where to stay. Join early access for the iOS beta.