Best stops on I-85 in North Carolina

All 122 exits ranked by what a road-tripper actually needs: real food choice, easy gas, 24-hour service, and the stops worth a detour. Winners below.

1. Exit 120B — Winston-Salem;Martinsville

Milepost 120 · 26 places to eat · 8 gas stations · 2 hotels · ♥ Wet 'n Wild Emerald Pointe Water Park, Greensboro Science Center

2. Exit 176 — Roxboro

Milepost 176 · 29 places to eat · 13 gas stations · 13 hotels · ♥ Nasher Museum of Art, 11-foot-8 Bridge

3. Exit 32 — Charlotte Douglas International Airport;Little Rock Road

Milepost 32 · 29 places to eat · 9 gas stations · 19 hotels · ♥ METALmorphosis

4. Exit 173 — Durham

Milepost 173 · 29 places to eat · 8 gas stations · 14 hotels · ♥ Duke Lemur Center

5. Exit 20 — Dallas;New Hope Road

Milepost 20 · 28 places to eat · 12 gas stations · 15 hotels

6. Exit 21 — Cox Road;Ranlo

Milepost 21 · 29 places to eat · 10 gas stations · 12 hotels

7. Exit 26 — Mount Holly;Belmont;Belmont Abbey College

Milepost 26 · 22 places to eat · 10 gas stations · 6 hotels

8. Exit 33 — Billy Graham Parkway;Farmers Market

Milepost 33 · 22 places to eat · 13 gas stations · 21 hotels

9. Exit 34 — Freedom Drive

Milepost 34 · 29 places to eat · 13 gas stations · 12 hotels

10. Exit 36 — Brookshire Boulevard;Downtown

Milepost 36 · 22 places to eat · 12 gas stations · 4 hotels

← Every I-85 exit in North Carolina