With summer fast approaching, barbecue season is just about here. To help travelers choose the best barbecue on their trip, TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site, released a list of the top U.S. states for barbecue and the highest-rated barbecue restaurants in the U.S. The lists were determined based on reviews from millions of TripAdvisor travelers.

"Nothing says American summer like barbecue, and with styles that vary by region, aficionados get fired up over which states serve up the best," said Brooke Ferencsik, director of communications for TripAdvisor. "Offering a smorgasbord of the country's finest barbecue styles, Georgia is a traveler favorite and features more than 500 smokin' spots on TripAdvisor."

Top 10 U.S. States for BBQ

  1. Georgia
  2. North Carolina
  3. Texas
  4. Missouri
  5. Tennessee
  6. South Carolina
  7. Florida
  8. Illinois
  9. California
  10. Kansas

Top 10 BBQ Restaurants in the U.S.

1.Franklin Barbecue, Austin, Texas (4.5 out of 5 rating on TripAdvisor)
You know the eating is good when people spend to up three hours waiting to get some grub at this popular Texan barbecue joint which serves up tasty brisket, ribs and sausage. The restaurant simply seasons the meat with salt and pepper and slow cooks it over an oak-fueled flame. 

2.Oklahoma Joe's BBQ & Catering, Kansas City, Kansas (4.5 out of rating on TripAdvisor)
People may be thrown off by the fact that this restaurant has operated out of a gas station since 1996, but the food is out of this world. This Kansas City restaurant offers a mouthwatering medley of meats that are dry rubbed and then slathered in the region's distinctive tomato and molasses-based sauce. Some of the top picks include burnt ends and the "Z-Man" sandwich, a unique stacking of brisket, provolone cheese and onion rings served atop a Kaiser roll.

3. Bogart's Smokehouse, Saint Louis, Missouri (4.5 out of 5 rating on TripAdvisor)
After designing his own grill at the age of 14, pit-master Skip Steele has perfected his method of creating melt-in-your-mouth meats. Guests have a choice of four homemade sauces to go with their meats like "Mad Maddie's," a vinegar-based concoction, and "Pineapple Express," a tangy and sweet sauce with a burst of tropical fruit.

4.  Wiley's Championship BBQ, Savannah, Georgia (4.5 out of 5 rating on TripAdvisor)
Couple Wiley and Janet McCrary opened their first brick and mortar restaurant in 2008 after they gained 30 years of experience winnings awards on the national barbecue competition scene. The favorites at this joint include low-and-slow-cooked meets like the savory St. Louis cut ribs.  

 5. Hickory Pit Bar-B-Que, Chattanooga, Tennessee (4.5 out of 5 rating on TripAdvisor)
This log cabin-style restaurant brings Southern hospitality to the hungry in the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachian Mountains in southeastern Tennessee. They serve up dry-rubbed meats that are smoked over hickory wood, and can be served on a plate, as a sandwich, or even stuffed inside a baked potato.
6.      Jim's Smokin' Que, Blairsville, Georgia (5 out of 5 rating on TripAdvisor)
7.      Joe's BBQ, Blue Ridge, Georgia (4.5 out of 5 rating on TripAdvisor)
8.      Captain's BBQ, Palm Coast, Florida (4.5 out of 5 rating on TripAdvisor)
9.      Poppa's BBQ, Clearwater, Florida (4.5 out of 5 rating on TripAdvisor)
10.      Madd Jacks Grillin Shack, Cape Canaveral, Florida (4.5 out of 5 rating on TripAdvisor)