I Hit The Backroads Of Alabama To Try 12 Small-Town Smokehouses (And 6 Of Them Were Worth Every Mile)
Last spring, I decided to spend three weeks chasing smoke across Alabama’s quietest corners, visiting every tiny smokehouse I could find on the map.
My trunk stayed loaded with napkins, antacids, and a cooler that barely kept up with the leftovers.
Some stops turned into instant favorites, while others reminded me that not every pit master has the magic touch.
I ate my way through twelve family-run smokehouses tucked along forgotten highways, roadside gravel lots, and downtown streets that barely show up on navigation apps.
Six of those spots delivered barbecue so outstanding that I still think about them months later, and the other seven taught me that ambition sometimes tastes better than the actual ribs.
This is the full rundown of every stop, the standouts, and the lessons learned while my car smelled permanently like hickory and my jeans got tighter by the week.
1. New Market BBQ – New Market, Alabama
The drive out to New Market turned into the kind of quiet detour that suddenly upgrades my whole barbecue ranking.
New Market BBQ at 5601 Winchester Rd, New Market, AL 35761 sits in a small community where the gravel lot fills long before lunchtime.
I stepped out of the car and smelled hickory smoke from the brick pit drifting across the road before I even reached the door.
Inside, the crew moves with a steady rhythm, slicing brisket, piling pulled pork, and lifting racks of ribs without rushing a single move.
My pulled pork plate with smoked mac and cheese arrived heavy in my hands, and the first bite erased any plan to save room for dessert.
The meat tasted deeply smoky and clean, with a tangy house sauce that brightened each forkful instead of hiding the bark.
By the time I wiped up the last streak of sauce, I knew this was one of the six stops that truly felt worth every mile.
2. Oak and Alley Smokehouse – Eufaula, Alabama
Eufaula drew me off the highway with its brick storefronts, and Oak and Alley Smokehouse gave me a solid reason to stay for lunch.
Oak and Alley Smokehouse at 129 E Broad St, Eufaula, AL 36027 sits right in the heart of downtown, close enough that you can watch small-town traffic drift by between bites.
Inside, the room feels simple and relaxed, with a steady shuffle of regulars ordering ribs, pulled pork plates, and early-day breakfasts.
I went straight for a rib and chopped pork combo with baked beans and mac and cheese, the kind of order that tells you quickly whether a pit is serious.
The ribs brought a gentle smoke and clean chew, nothing showy, just steady seasoning and a little char that kept each bite interesting.
The chopped pork leaned mild until I hit it with a splash of table sauce, which added enough tang to wake everything up.
Beans carried bits of meat and a slow sweetness, while the mac and cheese stayed creamy but could have used one more pinch of salt for me.
Walking back to my car on Broad Street, I marked Oak and Alley as a worthwhile downtown stop that did not topple any giants from my list but absolutely earned its place on the route.
3. Jim’s Highway 82 Barbecue – Billingsley, Alabama
I knew I was getting into proper backroad territory when my navigation showed more tree icons than street names.
Jim’s Highway 82 Barbecue at 3657 Highway 82 W, Billingsley, AL 36006 looks almost modest from the road, but the line of trucks outside tells the real story.
I eased my car onto the packed dirt shoulder and walked up to a counter that clearly sees more regulars than strangers.
The chopped pork sandwich comes out stuffed to structural-engineering levels, smoky and juicy with a peppery sauce that leans more tangy than sweet.
I added a pile of ribs to my order, supposedly to taste, and then quietly admitted to myself that they were not getting shared.
The ribs tugged clean from the bone, with enough bark to keep every bite interesting, especially with the house slaw cutting through the richness.
Driving away, I realized the empty passenger seat had basically turned into a traveling smokehouse thanks to the carryout box riding shotgun.
4. Cooter Brown’s Rib Shack – Jacksonville, Alabama
Some towns announce themselves with billboards, but Jacksonville introduced itself to me with the smell of ribs drifting across Highway 204.
Cooter Brown’s Rib Shack at 8464 Alabama Highway 204, Jacksonville, AL 36265, sits just outside town, a low building that feels designed around the pit instead of the dining room.
I grabbed a seat, listened to the murmur of college kids and locals, and watched racks of ribs come out glistening from the smoke.
My order landed as a heavy tray of ribs, pulled pork, and a few foolishly small sides that I instantly regretted not doubling.
The ribs leaned sticky, smoky, and just firm enough that I had to work a little for each bite in the best possible way.
The pulled pork carried a deeper smoke and a hit of seasoning that let me know whoever rubs those shoulders actually cares about balance.
When I finally sat back, fingers stained and napkin defeated, I knew this was another stop that absolutely earned every mile of backroad wandering.
5. Smokehouse Pit BBQ – Millbrook, Alabama
I first found Smokehouse Pit BBQ while trying to take a shortcut around Montgomery and very happily failing at getting anywhere quickly.
Smokehouse Pit BBQ at 2461 Main St, Millbrook, AL 36054 looks like a classic small-town storefront, but you can spot the serious pit operation from the side lot.
Inside, the menu reads simple, which is usually my cue that the magic is happening behind the swinging door instead of on the chalkboard.
I went for a combo plate of ribs and sliced pork, plus potato salad and baked beans that were clearly not afterthoughts.
The sliced pork had that pink smoke ring that makes you pause for a second before diving in, just to appreciate the work that went into it.
The ribs had a sturdy bark and a gentle tug, with a mild sauce that clung to my fingers longer than my self-control lasted.
By the time I stepped back into the parking lot, I understood why so many locals treat this place as their default we are not cooking tonight answer.
6. Sam’s Smokehouse – Fayette, Alabama
Fayette appeared after a long stretch of pine trees and two-lane quiet, and Sam’s Smokehouse was the first place that looked ready to feed both the town and the travelers.
Sam’s Smokehouse at 460 Columbus St E, Fayette, AL 35555 sits near the vet clinic and has the easy, lived-in feel of a spot that has been a local habit for years.
I joined a short line that moved steadily while plates of ribs, pulled pork, and fries landed on tables before people even settled into their seats.
My tray carried a rib plate with a side of pulled pork, fries, slaw, and a slice of toast that felt less like garnish and more like part of the deal.
The ribs brought a solid chew with a thick seasoning crust, the kind that slows you down just enough to appreciate each bite without turning the meal into work.
Pulled pork leaned a bit sweeter than my ideal, helped along by a sauce that pushed sugar more than vinegar, still satisfying but not quite in my personal top tier.
Fries stayed hot and crisp under the meat, and the slaw kept resetting my palate every few bites so I could keep going without feeling overloaded.
When I pulled back onto the road, I decided Sam’s might not join the handful of truly unforgettable stops from the trip, but it clearly earns every bit of loyalty it has in Fayette.
7. Butts To Go – Pell City, Alabama
Any place bold enough to call itself Butts To Go already has my attention before I even see the smoker.
Butts To Go at 2600 Mays Dr, Pell City, AL 35125 sits by the highway with a drive-thru that stays busier than some full-service dining rooms.
I rolled through late in the afternoon and still found a short parade of cars looping around the building, which I took as a good sign.
The menu leans hard into road-trip comfort, with pulled pork sandwiches, loaded potatoes, and family packs that threaten every sensible plan you had for portion control.
I chose a stuffed baked potato piled high with chopped pork, sauce, cheese, and enough butter to qualify as a life decision.
Each bite carried smoke, salt, and just enough sweetness from the sauce to keep me chasing the next forkful.
When I finally set the fork down, the sun was lower, my drive was longer, and I still felt that detour had paid off in full.
8. Byron’s Smokehouse – Auburn, Alabama
By the time I rolled into Auburn, the car already smelled like a traveling pit, and Byron’s Smokehouse felt less like a discovery and more like checking in with a long-running local habit.
Byron’s Smokehouse at 436 Opelika Rd, Auburn, AL 36830 sits close to Auburn University and has been feeding students, families, and early risers for decades.
Most people around town talk about breakfast here first, so I started my day with eggs, fried potatoes, a biscuit, and a generous heap of chipped pork on the side.
The pork carried gentle smoke and a hint of sweetness, enough to remind me that this kitchen spends serious time with the pit even before lunchtime hits.
Fried potatoes arrived with crisp edges and soft centers, ideal for collecting any stray sauce and bits of pork left behind on the plate.
Later I circled back for a chopped pork sandwich and Brunswick stew, determined to see how the barbecue held up once the breakfast rush faded.
The stew came thick and hearty with plenty of meat, and the sandwich disappeared quickly, though it still sat a notch below the very best plates from my backroad miles.
Stepping back outside into Auburn traffic, I filed Byron’s under essential context for the trip, a long-standing smokehouse that added comfort and history even if it did not replace any of the six stops that kept replaying in my mind long after I parked the car.
9. BBQ 65 – Greenville, Alabama
Greenville greeted me with a big Camellia City sign and the even better sight of smoke drifting above a low building near the interstate.
BBQ 65 at 2391 Pineapple Hwy, Greenville, AL 36037 sits close enough to the exit for convenience but far enough away to feel very local.
I walked into a dining room buzzing with travelers and regulars, the kind of place where everybody seems to know exactly what they are here for.
The pulled pork plate with ribs and classic sides turned my quick stop into a full meal that stretched well beyond just a bite.
The pork came tender and slightly chunky, with enough smoke to stand on its own even before the sauce hit the plate.
The ribs were the star for me, carrying a deep, balanced seasoning that stayed with me halfway down the highway.
As I carried leftovers back to the car, I knew BBQ 65 belonged on the short list of six spots that justified every mile of the trip.
10. Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q – Decatur, Alabama
At some point on an Alabama barbecue trip, you have to pay your respects at Big Bob Gibson, or you are just playing around.
Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q at 1715 6th Ave SE, Decatur, AL 35601 has been serving barbecue since 1925, and the age shows in all the right ways.
I slid into a booth and ordered what everyone told me to get here first: barbecued chicken with the famous white sauce and a side of pulled pork.
The chicken arrived with peppery skin and that tangy, creamy sauce pooling underneath, ready for dragging each piece through.
The pulled pork carried gentle smoke and a slightly sweeter profile, especially once I started sampling the different sauces on the table.
I added a slice of pie at the end because saying no to the dessert case felt irresponsible.
Walking out into the Decatur evening, I knew this was one of the core six stops that defined the whole backroads adventure.
11. Top Hat Barbecue – Hayden, Alabama
I first spotted Top Hat Barbecue from the highway and nearly missed the exit because the smoke distracted me.
Top Hat Barbecue at 8725 US-31, Hayden, AL 35079 sits just off the road, perched on a little rise with a parking lot that always seems half full.
I stepped inside and felt that easy hum of regulars who have long since decided what to order before they even turn off the ignition.
I went for a rib plate with a side of pulled pork, planning to compare styles, which was really just an excuse to order more food.
The ribs landed first, meaty and well seasoned, with a sturdy bark that made every bite feel earned.
The pulled pork tasted softer, with a milder smoke and a sauce that walked the line between sweet and sharp.
As I watched cars roll in and out from my window seat, I realized Top Hat was absolutely another stop that made every mile of the drive feel justified.
12. Bunyan’s Bar-B-Q – Florence, Alabama
Bunyan’s came onto my radar the old-fashioned way, through a chain of enthusiastic recommendations that all ended with the words hot slaw.
Bunyan’s Bar-B-Q at 901 West College Street, Florence, AL 35630 keeps the operation focused, and that focus shows up in every order that hits the counter.
I ordered a pulled pork sandwich with hot slaw and added a slaw dog for research purposes.
The sandwich arrived wrapped in paper, the kind you open carefully so you do not lose a single shred of pork.
The hot slaw brought a slow, creeping heat that played perfectly against the smoke and the soft bun.
The slaw dog pushed things even further, turning a simple hot dog into a full-flavor situation that did not feel remotely fancy and did not need to.
When I finally headed back to the car, I understood why people grow up on this place and then keep returning every time they are anywhere near Florence.