I Hit The Backroads Of Missouri To Try 13 Small-Town Smokehouses (And 6 Were Absolutely Worth The Drive)
Spending a week chasing smoke signals across Missouri probably sounds like an odd vacation plan.
But, I figured if I was going to eat my way through enough barbecue to test the structural limits of my car’s suspension, I might as well document which spots were genuinely great and which ones were just coasting on the fact that people like meat.
I mapped out 13 small-town smokehouses tucked into corners of the state where the roads get quieter, and the parking lots fill up with locals who know exactly where to spend their lunch money.
Some of these places blew me away with brisket so tender it made me question my life choices, while others left me wondering if I had accidentally ordered from the warming tray instead of the pit.
Six of them earned a spot on my personal must-visit list, and the rest taught me that not every plume of smoke leads to barbecue glory.
1. Duke’s BBQ Shack – Wentzville, Missouri
Rolling into Wentzville on a sleepy weekday afternoon, I followed the smell of hickory before I ever spotted Duke’s BBQ Shack tucked by the tracks at 100 Ash St, Wentzville, MO 63385.
The line of work trucks out front told me everything I needed to know before I even opened the door, because the folks who earn their lunch rarely waste it on mediocre ribs.
Inside, I watched trays piled with brisket, pork steaks, burnt ends, and sides that looked suspiciously homemade in the best possible way, the kind of spread that makes you plot out when you can reasonably eat again without alarming your doctor.
I went for brisket and burnt ends with slaw and cheesy corn, and every bite had that deep smoke ring and bark that proves somebody has been babysitting the pit since early morning.
By the time I wiped the last streak of sauce from the tray, I knew Duke’s was one of the six stops on this trip that absolutely justified every mile of Missouri pavement.
2. Old Town Smokehouse – Wentzville, Missouri
Some towns save their best secrets for the historic main drag, and in Wentzville, that secret wears a plume of smoke over Old Town Smokehouse at 2 E Main St, Wentzville, MO 63385.
Stepping inside feels less like walking into a restaurant and more like joining a very informal neighborhood meeting where the agenda is ribs, conversation, and whose turn it is to pick the playlist.
I ordered a platter with ribs, sausage, and pulled pork, and the smoke flavor had that slow, steady intensity that only happens when someone cares more about the fire than the clock.
The sides surprised me almost as much as the meat, from loaded potatoes to beans that tasted as if somebody refused to rush a single ingredient.
Walking back to my car under the old brick storefronts, I caught myself checking the hours so I could plan a return lap through town before winter ended.
3. The Rebel Pig Smokehouse & Grill – Palmyra, Missouri
Highway miles started to blur together until a bright sign for The Rebel Pig shook me awake and pulled me toward 119 S Main St, Palmyra, MO 63461.
This spot calls itself a small-town family BBQ joint, and it absolutely leans into that promise with jumbo tenderloins, big burgers, racks of ribs, and platters that barely fit on the table.
I grabbed a seat where I could watch plates leaving the kitchen, then committed to a rib and pulled pork combo that arrived glistening, smoky, and generous enough to make me briefly reconsider dessert.
The staff moved at that friendly, efficient pace you only see in places where half the customers are regulars, and the other half are becoming regulars by the end of the meal.
Driving out of Palmyra with sauce on my sleeve and leftovers riding shotgun, I had no trouble naming The Rebel Pig as one of the six smokehouses that were absolutely worth the drive.
4. Tiger Country Smokehouse – Marceline, Missouri
Disney’s hometown has its own kind of magic, and in Marceline, a lot of it seems to gather around Tiger Country Smokehouse at 302 N Kansas Ave, Marceline, MO 64658.
This little spot only opens on limited days, which instantly tells you they prefer selling out of good barbecue instead of coasting on an endless schedule and tired meat.
I timed my visit for a Friday, walked into a room that smelled like hardwood smoke and patience, and went straight for sliced brisket and ribs with beans and potato salad.
The brisket had that tender pull that lets you know the pitmaster took their time, and the ribs clung to the bone just long enough to keep things interesting without turning into a wrestling match.
Rolling back toward the highway, I kept glancing at the to-go box on the seat beside me and happily counted Tiger Country among the six stops that made this whole backroads experiment feel brilliant.
5. Kettelhut’s Smokehouse – Crystal City, Missouri
South of St Louis, the road dips toward the river and points you straight at Kettelhut’s Smokehouse, sitting proudly at 1267 N Truman Blvd, Crystal City, MO 63019.
The parking lot was already busy when I pulled in for lunch, which is always a good sign in a town where people have plenty of opinions about where to spend their barbecue money.
I started with fried green tomatoes, then moved to a plate loaded with ribs and sliced pork, each piece carrying a solid smoke ring and just enough seasoning to let the meat stay the star.
The room felt easygoing and local in the best way, with regulars trading jokes with the staff and newcomers getting welcomed in almost immediately.
When I finally headed back toward the highway, box of leftovers perfuming the cab, I had no doubt that Kettelhut’s belonged in the group of six smokehouses that fully earned the phrase worth the drive.
6. Gobble Stop Smokehouse – Creve Coeur, Missouri
Not every great barbecue story starts in a downtown square, and mine took an unexpected suburban turn at Gobble Stop Smokehouse, tucked into 1227 Castillon Arcade Plaza, Creve Coeur, MO 63141.
This family and veteran-owned spot focuses almost entirely on smoked turkey and chicken, which immediately grabbed my attention because most smokehouses treat poultry like a side project.
I ordered smoked wings and a turkey sandwich, and the first bite delivered that rich, clean smoke flavor that proves you do not need brisket to feel serious about barbecue.
The sides leaned comforting rather than fussy, with cornbread, potatoes, and slaw backing up the star of the show without trying to steal it.
Pulling back onto Olive Boulevard, I felt genuinely grateful that curiosity had nudged me off the main route long enough to discover a place where the bird really does get top billing.
7. Smokin’ Jones BBQ – Lebanon, Missouri
Some detours feel completely justified the moment you see the smoker, and that was the case when I pulled into Smokin’ Jones BBQ at 135 Wrinkle Ave, Lebanon, MO 65536.
This location is part of a small Missouri trio, but it keeps a laid-back, neighborhood feel where locals swap stories over trays of brisket, ribs, pulled pork, and turkey.
I went for a two-meat platter with brisket and pulled pork, plus cheesy corn and green beans, and every bite tasted like somebody had been tending that fire since well before sunrise.
The staff treated first-timers and regulars with the same easy warmth, answering questions, suggesting sauces, and somehow keeping the line moving without making anyone feel rushed.
Rolling back toward Route 44, I mentally circled Lebanon on my map as a place worth exiting for whenever I find myself crossing this part of Missouri again.
8. Smokin’ Jones BBQ – Osage Beach, Missouri
Lake traffic usually means bait shops and boat ramps, but in Osage Beach, it also means Smokin’ Jones BBQ calling from 5837 Osage Beach Pkwy, Osage Beach, MO 65065.
This spot pulls in a mix of locals and lake visitors, all chasing plates of ribs, turkey, pork, and brisket that smell like summer afternoons even when the air outside feels closer to winter.
I grabbed a table with a view of the parking lot full of trucks and SUVs, then dug into a brisket plate with banana pudding waiting patiently in the corner.
The meat carried that balance of smoke and moisture that keeps you reaching for the next bite even when you know you should probably slow down for the sake of basic dignity.
Leaving town, I could still taste the char at the edges of the slices, and I started wondering how early in the day is too early to justify another barbecue stop.
9. Smokin’ Jones BBQ – Eldon, Missouri
Small town Missouri keeps hiding good things in plain sight, and Eldon slips its contribution into a corner building at Smokin’ Jones BBQ, 201 S Maple St, Eldon, MO 65026.
This location feels especially hometown-focused, serving as both a lunch stop and a kind of unofficial gathering spot for people who know exactly what day their favorite special appears.
I ordered ribs with sausage and a side of cobbler, and the food landed on my table looking straightforward and confident, the way barbecue should when it has nothing to hide.
The crew behind the counter moved with that relaxed rhythm that says they have done this a thousand times, but they still care about how each plate leaves the window.
Driving away through the quiet streets of Eldon, I realized this was exactly the kind of find that makes a backroads trip feel bigger than whatever itinerary I scribbled at home.
10. The Tavern Smokehouse – Camdenton, Missouri
My route around the Lake of the Ozarks kept bending back toward Camdenton, partly because The Tavern Smokehouse sits right there at 1175 N Business Rte 5, Camdenton, MO 65020.
Chef John is known for using locally sourced ingredients and certified Hereford brisket, and you can taste that focus the second your fork hits the cutting surface.
I put together a plate with brisket, sausage, and fries, and every component carried that clear, steady smoke flavor without tipping over into bitterness or showiness.
Families filled the dining room, kids working through ribs while grownups compared favorite sides and debated whether to commit to dessert.
By the time I stepped back into the parking lot and looked over at the highway, I knew The Tavern Smokehouse belonged firmly in my personal list of six places fully worth rearranging a drive to revisit.
11. Sugarfire Smokehouse – Washington, Missouri
Route 94 handed me river views and then rewarded my patience with Sugarfire Smokehouse, perched at 512 W Front St, Washington, MO 63090, just steps from the Missouri River.
This location combines a relaxed small-town setting with a menu that reads like a greatest hits album of brisket, ribs, pulled pork, turkey, sausages, burgers, creative sandwiches, and daily specials.
I went for the Meat Daddy style spread, which lets you try several smoked meats on one platter, and every item carried that consistent, careful smoke you expect from a place with this many loyal fans.
From my table by the window, I could see the river rolling past while customers cycled in and out with foil-topped to-go boxes balanced in their arms.
Rolling out of Washington as the sky shifted colors over the water, I put Sugarfire firmly among the six smokehouses that turned this whole cold-weather road trip into something I will be replaying for years.
12. Smokee Mo’s Arnold BBQ – Arnold, Missouri
Heading through Jefferson County, I could not resist a stop at Smokee Mo’s Arnold BBQ, sitting at 606 Jeffco Blvd, Arnold, MO 63010, with its promise of slow-smoked everything.
This place bills itself as one of the best smokehouse spots in the county, and the menu backs that up with ribs, pulled pork, brisket, turkey, sausages, and a slate of comforting sides.
I ordered a combo platter heavy on ribs and brisket, and both arrived with deep bark, visible smoke rings, and just enough moisture to keep every bite satisfying from first slice to last.
Families, couples, and solo travelers all shared the dining room, united by the simple goal of making sure no rib left the table unappreciated.
Pulling back onto Jeffco Blvd, I felt pleasantly weighed down by good barbecue and quietly impressed that a strip of road I had always treated as a drive-through corridor held something this solid.
13. American Way Smokehouse – Independence, Missouri
On the edge of Independence, tucked into a busy commercial stretch, American Way Smokehouse waits at 17710 East 39th St S, Independence, MO 64055, ready to surprise anyone who only came to shop.
This spot leans into classic barbecue comfort, serving brisket, pulled pork, and ribs that taste like someone back there still takes wood and timing seriously.
I built a plate with brisket and pulled pork, then added potato salad and beans, and every bite reminded me that good smoke and simple sides can still feel exciting when they are handled with care.
The service matched the food, friendly without being pushy, efficient without rushing anyone through the important business of deciding which dessert to commit to.
Driving away toward the next stretch of backroads, I kept thinking that if more shopping areas hid barbecue this good, my errands would get done a lot more slowly and a lot more happily.