This dive bar filled with taxidermy rewards a detour along Route 30. The late owner bequeathed his extensive collection of stuffed animals to the bar, making it a one-of-a-kind destination on the road to Pittsburgh. There’s cheap beer aplenty alongside stuffed polar bears and birds. Food menu is limited to basics like hamburgers and hot dogs.

Stopping in Ligonier for a drink at Joe’s and want more than a hot dog to go with it? Find everything from chicken saltimbocca to grilled artichoke hummus to bananas foster pancakes at this BYOB, open for all three meals.

This restaurant and inn has plenty of history behind it — ask a bartender about flipping through their scrapbook of “haunted” encounters. The French dip is the must-order. Soups, onion rings, garlic wings, and assorted bar food items are safe bets, but the restaurant also has more ambitious entrees and monthly specials. The dining room area is quaint, but the tavern is more festive and often filled with chatty travelers watching sports, along with a crackling fireplace. There’s also a big patio — as well as a goat or two hanging out in a barn off the parking lot. Closed Sundays.

Heard of the Pittsburgh salad? Pine Grill calls its version a char-grilled chicken salad, but it still features the glorious, unlikely combination of iceberg lettuce and French fries. Customers can also find sandwiches, steak tips, pierogi, and specials at this homey stop (Thursday is pasta night).

Come for the burgers, stay for the chicken-fried pickles and homestyle soups. This is a classic diner, with pies and prices to match, except for the fact that the hours are limited (right now, it closes at 3 p.m.).

Shakes, malts, flurries — they’re all on the table at this sundae-shaped, roadside ice cream stand, an attraction during warmer months (closed in the winter; shorter hours in spring/fall).

Steakhouse vibes and a wood-paneled bar room make this all-day restaurant is a more restful, leisurely stop for travelers. People can even stay overnight at the affiliated Omni Springs resort. The menu spans from mushroom soup to steak tips, but don’t miss out on the fried pierogi for an appetizer.

The quirky name at this Maryland restaurant promises plenty of intrigue. It’s known for crab cakes, but the eclectic menu features everything from seared tuna to lobster rolls. Beyond the restaurant, the location has an ever-changing selection of antiques. Live music and a fun patio are other draws.

This Bavarian restaurant serves stuffed cabbage, knackwurst, wiener schnitzel, strudel, and more, not to mention German beers.

Looking for more of a snack than a meal? At Krumpe’s in Hagerstown, travelers can grab a bunch of refreshingly not-fancy doughnuts in flavors like chocolate cake and raspberry jelly. There are also eclairs and doughnut holes. Keep an eye on the website for hours, though — right now, they’re only operational in the evenings.

Diners who’d rather not “spend” one of their few meals in Pittsburgh at this iconic sandwich joint can experience the coleslaw and French fry-slathered sandwiches at an outpost in Hagerstown, the chain’s closest location to D.C.

I-270 can be one of the more frustrating stretches of this drive, so for folks who get hungry early on, this Clarksburg country store, gas station, and deli provides a solid option for road trip-friendly sandwiches (the club sandwich is an excellent go-to). Pro tip — consider taking MD 355 up to Frederick once you’ve pulled over here to avoid some traffic.