10 Virginia Peanut-Country Snack Stops For The Road
Peanuts have shaped local traditions for generations, turning simple roadside stops into destinations filled with flavor and history. Along country highways and in small-town storefronts, the aroma of fresh roasting nuts drifts out to meet travelers, inviting them inside for a taste.
In southern Virginia, family-run shops and diners keep this heritage alive, offering roasted, candied, and chocolate-coated varieties that reflect both craftsmanship and pride. Each stop along the way adds its own character, creating a trail of snacks that celebrates the region’s agricultural heart.
1. Wakefield Peanut Company
Step into peanut paradise at this iconic shop where the aroma of fresh-roasted goobers greets you at the door.
Local farmers deliver their premium crops directly to this family operation, ensuring peak freshness in every batch. Their signature extra-large Virginia peanuts undergo a special cooking process that creates the perfect crunch factor.
2. Hubbard Peanut Company
Founded by Dot Hubbard in 1954, this Sedley institution revolutionized peanut processing with a unique cooking method that creates exceptionally crunchy treasures.
The secret family recipe remains unchanged – super-extra-large Virginia peanuts, hand-cooked in small batches. Their signature gold tin makes the perfect souvenir, though few make it home without being devoured during the drive.
3. Plantation Peanuts Of Wakefield
Experimental flavor combinations make this stop a true adventure for your taste buds. Their honey-roasted peanuts balance sweetness perfectly against the natural nuttiness of premium Virginia goobers.
The shop’s rustic barn setting enhances the farm-to-table experience, with wooden barrels full of different varieties to sample. Their seasonal offerings, like pumpkin spice peanuts in fall, keep loyal customers returning throughout the year.
4. Feridies Peanuts
Hidden along Route 58, this unassuming operation produces some of the region’s most perfectly roasted peanuts using techniques refined over generations.
Their chocolate-covered peanut brittle breaks into shards of sweet-salty perfection, making it dangerously addictive for the road. The friendly staff often shares stories about the farm’s history while visitors sample different varieties, creating an experience that goes beyond mere snacking.
5. Virginia Diner
Starting as a refurbished railroad dining car in 1929, this Wakefield institution serves classic Southern comfort food alongside their famous peanut treats.
Generous portions of country ham and fried chicken satisfy hungry travelers, but save room for peanut pie. The attached gift shop features their signature peanut products, including chocolate-covered varieties that make perfect road trip snacks or gifts.
6. The Peanut Shop Of Williamsburg
Tucked among cobblestone streets in Merchants Square, this charming shop brings Virginia’s peanut heritage to the heart of Colonial Williamsburg.
Copper kettles simmer with fresh batches throughout the day, filling the store with irresistible aromas. Beyond traditional varieties, adventurous eaters love their wasabi peanuts and chocolate-dipped options, all presented in nostalgic packaging that evokes the area’s historical significance.
7. Belmont Peanuts
Nestled among sprawling peanut fields in Capron, this family farm operation takes pride in controlling every aspect of production from soil to package.
Their chocolate-covered peanut clusters have achieved cult status among road-trippers and foodies alike. Visitors can often watch the cooking process through viewing windows, seeing how raw peanuts transform into gourmet snacks right before their eyes.
8. Smithfield Gourmet Bakery & Café
Famous for combining Virginia’s two culinary treasures – peanuts and ham – this Main Street café creates unforgettable flavor combinations in a cozy setting.
Their peanut butter cookies studded with chunks of Smithfield ham create a sweet-savory sensation that perfectly represents local cuisine. Morning visitors can’t resist their peanut butter-stuffed croissants paired with locally roasted coffee – an energizing combination for the road ahead.
9. The Peanut Patch
Housed in a charming country store, The Peanut Patch transforms locally grown legumes into irresistible snacks that bring visitors back decade after decade.
Famous for their butterscotch peanuts that blend sweet and salty flavors perfectly, this family operation started in a kitchen and grew into a regional landmark. Don’t miss their peanut pie – a Southern delicacy that sells out daily.
10. The Peanut Shop Of Charleston
Though its flagship store sits in Charleston, this gourmet peanut purveyor sources exclusively from Virginia’s peanut belt, creating a delicious bridge between states.
Their signature tin celebrates the connection with illustrations of Virginia peanut farms. Unique flavors like bourbon-barrel-aged and sea salt caramel showcase the versatility of Virginia’s prized crop, while educating visitors about the special growing conditions that make Virginia peanuts superior.
