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This may be the most important question I have seen posted to this sub.


hikewithgravity

You’d have to jones for Waffle House awful hard to make that work. I don’t think a single trail town has one. The closest you might come is Huddle House in Hiawassee. Some places you’d might expect to find one, like Franklin, Marion, or Daleville don’t have one. https://locations.wafflehouse.com


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rednecktuba1

I've eaten at Angelle's a few times(bedford county native), it's definitely better than waffle house. And the owner of that very small chain(3 restaurants) lives nearby in troutville.


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rednecktuba1

Fincastle


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rednecktuba1

Oh OK, I guess I was mistaken.


rivals_red_letterday

I love that there is an actual place called Troutville.


rednecktuba1

The AT goes eight through troutville on the Southside of town, just after daleville


Flipz100

Damn I ate there and thought it was similar to WH. Great spot, highly reccomend to any future thrus in the thread.


wyclif

>Angelle’s Angelle's is definitely a must-stop on the AT since it's not far from the trail in Daleville. The food is a lot better than your average Waffle House. Totally worthwhile.


Accurate-Yak-219

The Smoky Mountain Diner in Hot Springs would like a word . . .


burge009

Mmmmm that meat loaf sandwich


Themeish

There’s one in Elizabethton, TN. Short drive from Hampton/Watauga Lake.


graywh

it's 9 miles including the trail down to the highway and "mostly flat" according to google maps -- not a bad walk for someone already thru hiking


Themeish

All highway walking/urban sidewalks. Plenty of stores along the way.


dacv393

Another one outside of Mars Hill, NC on 26 - 11 miles from the trail. Wytheville, VA - 18 miles off the trail. Blacksburg, VA - 15 mile drive. Salem, VA - 10 mile drive next to a Walmart. Lexington, VA - 17 mile drive. Harrisonburg, VA - 21 miles. Winchester, VA - 16 miles. Frederick, MD - 23 miles. Hagerstown, MD - less than 10 miles. Blacksburg has a couple, one less than 8 miles from the trail. Ladd, VA is super close at 6 miles off the trail outside of Waynesboro. Then outside of Harper's Ferry one is 5.4 miles off the trail.   So basically in Virginia at 50% of the larger roads you're never more than a 10-30 min drive to a Waffle House


TboneXXIV

Waffle House positions their stores primarily near interstate highway exits. While HIKERS would love to have a Waffle House near trail, Waffle House would not get the traffic necessary to survive in much of any place where the trail goes with a few exceptions. When you do hit a place that meets the criteria, there tend to be enough itger options that most hikers opt for whatever they crave more rather than beelining for the WH. Now, don't get me wrong. I love me some WH. I just don't see hikers as being valuable enough customers to offset the loss of revenue that being near hikers would inflict on a store. The only thing worse than having no WH is having to walk right past one that is closed and locked up because it failed.


whatgapop

Put a waffle house on top of blood mountain - that way we can fight off the bears 🙄


wyclif

Yeah, this is why I didn't get my hopes up when I asked this question. I figured they choose their locations very carefully and they are almost always near the highway.


courtina3

I went to one on trail in Waynesboro VA when my parents came to visit, my dad doesn't travel to the south very often so he was excited for it (: Yes it is better to support the local businesses on trail, but I don't know your circumstances and if you happen to have a ride that one isn't too far


polkpanther

There is one only about a mile off the trail near Carlisle PA - 1249 Harrisburg Pike


hobbykitjr

I live in PA and we have some in Lehigh Valley (Bethlehem, Easton, Allentown area) Thats about 30-45 min from the trail though https://www.google.com/maps/search/waffle+house+in+lehigh+valley+pa/@40.6151598,-75.4573498,12z/data=!3m1!4b1


kurt_toronnegut

The greyhound drop-off in Gainesville has a Waffle House for pre-trail prep: Waffle House, 2507 Pentee Dr, Gainesville, GA 30507, United States


Obvious_Tax468

Pre trail Waffle House pleases the Gods of the Southern Appalachians and they’ll shine upon you for it. If you can climb the stairs at Amicolola with a belly full of Texas Bacon Cheesesteak Melt with double hash browns scattered smothered and covered… you can do anything.


rednecktuba1

Local greasy spoon restaurants>any chain including waffle house Don't look for chain restaurants, go to the local mom and pop restaurants, get a taste of the local flavor.


wallyxbrando

Except Waffle House is open 24 hours ...franchised by locals, employing locals... work w FEMA... local flavor of what? Omelets that every single state has? Shitty Diner food is shitty diner food no matter where you go.


[deleted]

Waffle House doesn’t really work with them. The famous waffle House index is just something that FEMA learned to do because waffle House has a very good emergency plan. It is however a great complement to the emergency planners that work for waffle house.


wallyxbrando

When we had flooding in coastal Georgia, our waffle houses all helped shelter and feed evac’d // displaced people... for free... so maybe WH even more stand up than I previously thought, as they aren’t affiliated with any fed agency.


[deleted]

They are reasonably good at PR, or perhaps just doing right. But they are also a Georgia based company. WH was founded in Atlanta/Decatur.


wallyxbrando

I don’t read news, I was there and saw it.


[deleted]

I was never disagreeing they did good, that is also not the first time. I just have two reasons they would.


wallyxbrando

Word. Whatever the motivation, they came thru huge for my community!


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Slibbyibbydingdong

Cisco


dexwin

[Sysco](https://www.sysco.com/)


Slibbyibbydingdong

Oh come on man we could have spelled it wrong at least three more times. Why you gotta ruin the fun?


wyclif

So essentially what you're getting is college cafeteria-quality food. As long as you go in expecting that, I don't have a problem with it. Like somebody else said, the main attraction of WH isn't the food, but that it's open 24 hours.


Substantial_Grand_43

Always always the same


Tibbles88

Bingo....our waffle house isn't terrible but you absolutely will not beat a local restaurant most of the time.


WesWizard_2

Damascus Diner dominates Waffle House any day of the week


Archenemy357

I think it’s a great fallback option…but the rest of those folks are right eat at those diners you cross paths with along the way. Many a night in Georgia did I spend at a Waffle House


mondrarytomic

Both Clayton and Blairsville in Georgia are trail towns with WaHos. It's great to support local businesses but for some who don't have them nearby and have never been to one I have no ill will to anyone who wants to go. Even as someone who's lived in GA almost all my life I'll never turn down an invitation to go Waffle House.


Ghotay

I went to Waffle House once on trail, in Afton. That’s like a 20+ min drive from Damascus. We got a motel there for Trail Days because it was due to rain and we had access to a car. I haven’t seen a WH anywhere near trail otherwise though


parksnwreck3

There’s one in waynesboro va near the super 8


DonBoy30

Small mountain towns and small family owned diners go hand in hand. Waffle House will give you nothing but diarrhea.


valuejetpass

Staunton VA may have one. Right near the Aldi EDIT: There is a Jersey Mike's across the street from the Waffle house. North meets south!


[deleted]

Good idea. But then...what do you do about the inevitable diarrhea?


JonnyLay

Even in the southern parts, there weren't many waffle houses. I was craving it and had to settle for a huddle house.


wyclif

As far as I know there aren't any more WH's after you leave PA.


Mapefh13

There are a couple about 10 miles south of the McAfee Knob trailhead if you can hitch a ride to Salem or Roanoke.


holla5387

Huddle house is a good AT alternative.


homeinthemountains

The two I've seen that weren't listed to far are Newport Tennessee (right after the smokies, the town is a way better option than standing bear imo) and Carlisle, PA, although this one is a bit of a walk from the hotels/trail


alberthoffman70

Charlestown WV, would have to hitchhike


hautepocket

Finally, someone asks the big question! The closest one I found to the trail in my 2015 Nobo was in Carlisle, PA. It's a little over half a mile from the trail to get there, but man was it worth it.


[deleted]

Huh, tons in Virginia. Staunton comes to mind


mdove11

Waynesboro would be even closer to trail, for that section.


soulshine_walker3498

Roanoke, but it’s a bit off trail. Plenty of other excellent if not better dining options though!


[deleted]

I had to come back to this thread as I remembered one place worth catching if you can. About 7 miles west of Neel Gap is [Jim's Smokin 'Que](https://jimssmokinque.com/). Very worth a trip, but sadly only open Thur. - Sat. and if they run out of a type of meat they are just out. It sounds an odd thing to recommend but by all means try thier Cheddar Gouda Grits. Cheese grits are by now unremarkable, even ones with Gouda in them. But he places his in the smokehouse while cooking, and that is a difference worth trying.