Hi Lo Burgers (Gone)
Abingdon, VA
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

The weathered sign at Hi-Lo Burger had probably talked a lot of hungry travelers into pulling off Lee Highway over the years. Even with faded paint, it still had plenty of personality and looked right at home along this busy stretch of road outside Abingdon, Virginia. 03-06

The Hi-Lo was a longtime roadside favorite where burgers, shakes, slaw dogs, and crispy fried mushrooms kept customers coming back for decades. The restaurant's unusual name came from the burgers themselves. Order a "Hi" and you'd get a double burger, while a "Lo" meant a single. It was a simple idea that everyone around town seemed to understand.

Located just down the road from Dixie Pottery and the old Moonlite Drive-In, the Hi-Lo fit right in with some of southwest Virginia's best-known roadside stops. It was easy to make an afternoon of it with a little shopping, a good burger, and maybe a movie after the sun went down.

After serving the community for many years, the Hi-Lo closed in 2014. The old burger stand has since found new uses, but that colorful roadside sign remains a reminder of when this was one of the tastiest stops along old U.S. 11.

UPDATE: The Hi-Lo Burger building has been repurposed, and the original roadside sign has been removed. 08-26

Dizzy Whizz
Louisville, KY
Photo courtesy Rosalind Causey

Looking for a burger? The Dizzy Whizz has been a Louisville favorite since 1947, and it still looks like the kind of place where pulling into a parking space and ordering from your car just feels right. The classic sign, curb service, and little Dairy Bar all help keep the drive-in spirit alive. 12-06

The Dizzy Whizz is best known for its famous Whizzburger, a double-decker topped with the restaurant's secret Whizz sauce, but the burgers are only part of the experience. Shakes, sundaes, onion rings, and old-fashioned curb service have been bringing generations of Louisvillians back for decades. Inside, there's even a small lunch counter if you'd rather grab a stool than stay in the car.

This part of Louisville is full of roadside history, and the Dizzy Whizz fits right in. It has outlasted countless burger stands over the years while changing very little, making it one of those places that feels like a step back into the 1950s every time you stop by.

UPDATE: The Dizzy Whizz remains open and continues serving burgers, shakes, and curbside favorites beneath its classic roadside sign. 08-26

Hardee's
China Grove, NC
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Not every roadside stop has to be a neon diner or giant fiberglass mascot. Sometimes it's simply a Hardee's sitting along old U.S. 29 in China Grove, North Carolina, with a setting that makes you take a second look. Surrounded by trees and open space, this one feels a little different from the average fast-food restaurant. 12-07

Highway 29 was once one of the South's busiest routes, carrying generations of travelers long before Interstate 85 became the preferred way through the area. Restaurants like this were natural stopping places for a quick burger, a biscuit, or a break from the road before continuing on toward Charlotte or Greensboro.

The building itself follows Hardee's familiar design, but its location gives it a little extra character. It's the kind of place that reminds you how even everyday chain restaurants can become part of the roadside landscape when they're found in just the right setting.

UPDATE: This Hardee's remains open and continues serving travelers along U.S. 29 in China Grove. 08-26