Hardee's

It’s late, and the road has been long—one of those stretches where the landscape starts to blur together in your mind. Hardee’s in Harriman, Tennessee, feels like a beacon of light, a familiar sign on the side of the highway promising a taste of nostalgia and a break from the monotony. We pull in, and it’s quiet, just us and the lone worker behind the counter. The place is empty, the kind of stillness that only happens on a road trip at an odd hour, when most people are either home or still out there, pushing through the miles.

I go for the Frisco Burger combo, a road trip staple. The sourdough bread is toasted to perfection, buttery and crisp, while the bacon adds that salty crunch you crave after hours in the car. The Swiss cheese melts into the patty, tangy and creamy, mixing with the tomato for a bite that’s both rich and satisfying. It’s exactly what you need at a moment like this—a no-nonsense, greasy indulgence that hits all the right spots.

A Coke on the side, cold and fizzy, is the perfect complement, cutting through the richness of the burger and giving a jolt of sugar-fueled energy. We sit in the back, the fluorescent lights humming above us, and it feels like we have the place to ourselves. There’s a strange comfort in the quiet; it’s just us, the road outside, and the familiar taste of a fast food burger that’s the same whether you’re here in Tennessee or a thousand miles away.

Hardee’s in Harriman isn’t a destination; it’s a waypoint, a small but necessary pause in the journey. The Frisco Burger combo is the kind of road trip food that’s less about the taste and more about the ritual, a moment of shared comfort in the middle of nowhere.