If you're a frequent traveler, you know that one of the most significant challenges of being on the road or away from home is figuring out where to eat. While some destinations are perfect for foodies, eating at fancy restaurants can diminish your budget faster than you might think. Fortunately, when traveling in the United States, fast-food chains offer quick, affordable meals to keep you satisfied until your next gourmet meal. Sure, fast food isn't one of the ways to sneak in fruits and vegetables while traveling, but when you're short on time and cash, it can satiate you in a pinch.

But high calories and fat content are not the only reasons why fast food isn't ideal for every meal. Depending on where you decide to eat, the chain may be dirty and unsanitary. While local health departments are supposed to flag eateries with unsafe cleaning practices, they can only do so much. Whether you're taking the most scenic road trip in America or just visiting a particular location, these five fast-food places are the dirtiest overall, determined by outbreaks of foodborne illnesses from the chains, violations of food handling practices, and failed health inspections. So you might want to think twice before grabbing a bite on your trip.

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Since 1993, Chipotle has become a mainstay of the fast-casual restaurant industry. The premise is simple: build your own burrito with fresh, authentic ingredients. With over 3,800 restaurants in the United States, the brand has broad appeal, but you might have to worry about experiencing a dirty Chipotle during your trip.

In 2015, the burrito chain had a string of norovirus outbreaks, as well as cases of Salmonella and E. coli poisoning in several states across the country. Then, in 2018, another outbreak in Ohio sickened over 600 people. The scandal and subsequent lawsuits were so bad that the company had to pay out $25 million in fines in 2020 — the largest settlement in a foodborne illness case ever. The company also shuttered restaurants and promised to focus on retraining employees to prevent further incidents.

Fortunately, there haven't been any major outbreaks of diseases at Chipotle restaurants since 2018, but it's still a good idea to keep a sharp eye when visiting, just in case. Plus, as recently as 2024, the company was embroiled in a scandal involving smaller portion sizes, with many customers complaining that they were getting less food for the same price.

Founded in 1954, Burger King has claimed the spot as the second-highest-grossing burger chain in the United States many times, even as recently as 2019. However, while the King's problems have not been as public or financially damaging as Chipotle's, they seem to be more widespread.

Specifically, many Burger King restaurants throughout the United States have had many health violations over the years. In some cases, the results from inspectors are well below average. The chain has a long history of being unsanitary, as the chain topped Dateline's list of dirtiest fast food restaurants in 2003 (via NBC). The show looked at 100 locations, which had a combined total of 241 critical code violations.

Overall, Burger King has over 6,500 locations across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, so it's virtually impossible to travel in America without spotting at least one. However, given how consistently these restaurants fail inspections, you might want to think twice before grabbing a Whopper.

If you find yourself traveling along the California coastline and run into the small town of Pacifica (near San Francisco), you might run into what's considered the "world's most beautiful Taco Bell." This particular restaurant feels more like a local beachside cantina instead of the most popular fast-food chains in the United States, with over 8,100 locations.