Eat Your Way from Little Rock to New Orleans
The Local Palate|Summer Road Trips 2024
A seven-hour, food-fueled trip from one state capital to another has no shortage of great stops along the way. Just make sure to drive hungry.
KEVIN SHALIN
Eat Your Way from Little Rock to New Orleans

Folks in Little Rock, Arkansas, love them some New Orleans. And really, who doesn’t? Just about everyone enjoys The Crescent City for its eclectic atmosphere, laid-back vibe, varied entertainment, and most of all, food. But with no direct flights between cities, making the long drive filled with a mix of back roads and interstate—is typically the best option for Little Rockers. So instead of rushing down there with only a couple of bathroom and gas station breaks along the way, make a true road trip out of it with the following game plan best suited for a group of four or fi ve die-hard foodies, plus a spacious cooler for leftovers.

Breakfast of Champions

Little Rock, Arkansas

Timing is everything on this trip, so start things off at 10:30 a.m. with a hearty breakfast inside one of the capital city's most iconic spots, The Root Café. As one of Little Rock's true farm-to-table restaurants, the café has been a SoMa District anchor for more than a decade with a downhome setting and a hyperlocal menu to match. A majority of the meats, as well as fruits, vegetables, cheeses, and nuts, come from nearby farms and businesses. Even the coffee they serve is locally roasted, hailing from a few miles away at Fidel & Co.Coffee Roasters.

The restaurant exudes Southern charm thanks to a collection of hodgepodge tchotchkes and the overall aesthetic of the building. Once a tiny space, The Root Café received a serious upgrade and makeover a few years back thanks to a grant that allowed ownership to expand the kitchen and dining room areas. Upcycled shipping containers have doubled the size of the restaurant and provide an alfresco dining experience on good weather days and nights.

Denne historien er fra Summer Road Trips 2024-utgaven av The Local Palate.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra Summer Road Trips 2024-utgaven av The Local Palate.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA THE LOCAL PALATESe alt
Fit for a King
The Local Palate

Fit for a King

Tupelo beckons with great bites and beverages, plus plenty of Elvis lore

time-read
3 mins  |
Summer Road Trips 2024
Spring Forward
The Local Palate

Spring Forward

In a city as diverse as Houston, whatever you crave is on the plate—sometimes in the most surprising places

time-read
3 mins  |
Summer Road Trips 2024
Dine and Dash
The Local Palate

Dine and Dash

Small-town charm meets urban dining and culture in southern Kentucky

time-read
3 mins  |
Summer Road Trips 2024
In With the Old and the New
The Local Palate

In With the Old and the New

This popular DC neighborhood keeps its historic charm while offering an increasingly diverse and eclectic food scene

time-read
3 mins  |
Summer Road Trips 2024
SOAKING IT UP
The Local Palate

SOAKING IT UP

A nourishing 48-hour retreat awaits in Bath County, Virginia

time-read
7 mins  |
Summer Road Trips 2024
time TRAVEL
The Local Palate

time TRAVEL

Retracing memories on a family road trip from Alabama to Tennessee

time-read
9 mins  |
Summer Road Trips 2024
Eat Your Way from Little Rock to New Orleans
The Local Palate

Eat Your Way from Little Rock to New Orleans

A seven-hour, food-fueled trip from one state capital to another has no shortage of great stops along the way. Just make sure to drive hungry.

time-read
7 mins  |
Summer Road Trips 2024
A GIN-SOAKED JOURNEY
The Local Palate

A GIN-SOAKED JOURNEY

The Sunshine State is making a splash with craft distilleries

time-read
5 mins  |
Summer Road Trips 2024
CHOOSE YOUR OWN (MOUNTAIN) ADVENTURE
The Local Palate

CHOOSE YOUR OWN (MOUNTAIN) ADVENTURE

In Jackson County, you'll find scenic getaways for families, couples, and solo travelers alike

time-read
6 mins  |
Summer Road Trips 2024
Island Days
The Local Palate

Island Days

Explore the land of seafood, Spanish moss, and sunsets in Jekyll Island, Georgia

time-read
3 mins  |
Summer Road Trips 2024