November 19, 2023
Where Truckers Can Get Thanksgiving Meals
Thanksgiving is a time for friends and family and for giving thanks for everything you have in life. Celebrations involve food, drink, and laughter. Typical dinners include turkey or ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, rolls, and desserts.
Truckers spend lots of time on the road and often work on Thanksgiving. However, working on the road doesn’t have to mean missing out on good food. There are many places in the U.S. where truckers can get Thanksgiving meals.
Give Thanks to Truckers on Thanksgiving
The holidays are generally busy for truckers, and Thanksgiving is no exception. Drivers are racing to deliver all the components of a Thanksgiving dinner to stores before the big day. The meal’s star is the turkey; someone must move those birds.
In 2021, the U.S. gobbled up over 216 million turkeys, a majority during Thanksgiving, and the big rigs sure felt the weight. This Thanksgiving, take some time to thank truckers for making the day possible and for the sacrifices they make during those special times of the year.
Truck Stops Offering Thanksgiving Meals
Truck stops are a trucker’s dream, especially when they have good parking. Some truck stops go above and beyond to ensure truckers have a great holiday time. Many chains like Love’s and Pilot offer special holiday foods and discounts.
If you find yourself in the Chicago area during Turkey Day, Greater Chicago I-55 Truck Plaza has also offered free turkey dinners to CDL drivers. The famous Iowa 80 Truck Stop in Walcott is having its annual Thanksgiving Day Buffet from 10:30 am-9 pm on November 23rd, serving up all the traditional fixings. Last year, the Boise Stage Stop held a Driver Appreciation Day celebration for Thanksgiving, offering free meals for CDL truck drivers so they’re a safe bet for where to stop on Thanksgiving.
With some of the best food a truck stop can have, Johnson’s Corner in Colorado is worth a visit on Thanksgiving for a tasty bite. The giant cinnamon rolls alone will have you itching for a stop when in the area.
Chain Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving
Many chain restaurants are open around Thanksgiving and offer outstanding meals truckers can enjoy. Bob Evans Restaurants, for example, are open from 8 am to 7 pm and serve farm-fresh meals featuring everything you can think of for a Thanksgiving feast. If you want to enjoy your feast later, you can pick up their packaged dinners, prepped and ready to heat.
Golden Corral and Cracker Barrel are also Thanksgiving food central, and they have heat-at-home options ready for the oven or microwave.
Truckers Can Make Their Own Thanksgiving Meals
Sometimes, eating dinner at a restaurant for Thanksgiving doesn’t cut it, even for a trucker. Finding creative ways to celebrate the holidays on the road may look complex, but the outcome is worth any amount of work.
If cooking on Thanksgiving puts you in a holiday mood, take advantage of some cook-at-home meals that don’t require too much prep. If hotels are an option for you on Thanksgiving, look for ones offering extended stays because they tend to have decent kitchens. Air BnB’s are also an excellent option for a night since many of them feature full kitchens. While eating, video call your family members for a whole family Thanksgiving dinner experience.
Turkey may get slightly overrated during Thanksgiving, and some prefer ham. The Honey Baked Ham Co. will ship a ham wherever you want and is also available for pickup. The hams don’t need to be baked because they arrive pre-cooked, ready to enjoy after a 24–36-hour thaw. You can eat it cold; they recommend you DON’T heat them for a whole flavor experience. Just try to avoid picking at it while driving.
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What to Expect: Driving on Thanksgiving
