Americans are taking more road trips this summer than they have in years, and food is increasingly what they’re planning them around. Route 66 turns 100 this year, while domestic travel is surging as travelers pull back from international trips. More travelers also build itineraries not around mileage or landmarks but around what’s on the plate: which barbecue pit is worth the detour, where the green chile is freshest, how to find the diner that’s been feeding the town for 50 years without ever being written up anywhere.

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