I have never seen a CA rest stop completely full. But then, I usually plan my long trips outside of holidays, Fridays, and other predictable congestion times.
Completely full roadside rest area
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Based on some responses, do states still have very rudimentary rest stops, at least along interstate highways ? All of the ones in Ohio, at least that I'm aware of, have clean facilities, toilets that flush (no porta-potties or even "pit" type toilets), vending machines, etc. I actually believe they have a full-time employee or employees based on the size. There's one between my parent's and home that we've stopped at more than once and there's always a worker there cleaning, emptying trash, etc.
Here's a bigger one just south of where we live
![[Linked Image]](https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/attachments/usergals/2019/02/full-77952-30577-ra.png "[Linked Image]")
Here's a bigger one just south of where we live
Originally Posted by madRiver
Originally Posted by Leo99
I've noticed people spend way too much time at the rest stop. It's weird. It's almost like some folks destination is the rest stop itself.
I am one of those people. I use the rest stop as place to work a bit on their wifi get a cup of coffee and some of them have great seating for it. I get paid hourly and find it a decent way to break up a longer trip.
I see people like you at the rest stops and once or twice, I've done that. But I also see families there eating at the fast food places. Once place for their mains. Another place for ice cream. It's like a whole trip to the rest stop food court.
Originally Posted by Leo99
I've noticed people spend way too much time at the rest stop. It's weird. It's almost like some folks destination is the rest stop itself.
I am one of those people. I use the rest stop as place to work a bit on their wifi get a cup of coffee and some of them have great seating for it. I get paid hourly and find it a decent way to break up a longer trip.
I see people like you at the rest stops and once or twice, I've done that. But I also see families there eating at the fast food places. Once place for their mains. Another place for ice cream. It's like a whole trip to the rest stop food court.
So exactly how does it work in other parts of the country? Around here the designated "safety roadside rest area" is a dying breed. There used to be a lot on I-5 between Sacramento and LA. I even remember one on city streets where it was technically CA-180 going through Fresno. These will always have restrooms and may have vending machines, although there's no guarantee that they'll work. I've seen many that have been vandalized and nobody bothered to fix or remove them. Once I needed coffee and while the machine took my money and made some noises, basically all I got was slightly frothy hot water with whatever residual coffee was left as a bonus.
Also - if anyone can find a "vista point" it's usually legal to sleep at one for 8 hours in California just like at a rest area. If you go over I don't think anyone is really watching.
I remember some radio program where the topic for an entire hour was two days in the life of a rest stop in New York state. I guess technically the Plattekill Travel Plaza - Modena. I guess there are restaurants and everything.
https://www.thisamericanlife.org/388/rest-stop
Also - if anyone can find a "vista point" it's usually legal to sleep at one for 8 hours in California just like at a rest area. If you go over I don't think anyone is really watching.
I remember some radio program where the topic for an entire hour was two days in the life of a rest stop in New York state. I guess technically the Plattekill Travel Plaza - Modena. I guess there are restaurants and everything.
https://www.thisamericanlife.org/388/rest-stop
I've slept in my car on long journeys. A two hour power nap gives you enough energy to drive for another 6 hours or so.
Yes, it happens sometimes that the intended place to stop is full. Try being a trucker - that's even worse.
Reading the posts and traveling the country, there are a wide variety of types of rest areas. Some are elaborate - often called an Oasis (from memory), with gas, restaurants, etc. in addition to the usual restroom facilities. Other places are the basic toilets, a few vending machines, and usually a few places to sit and eat.
It comes down to a couple of things - mainly does that particular state feel a need to spend money on rest area facilities or not? I've been in some nice ones and others that I couldn't get out of fast enough. Sometimes in the same state.
Every year, there is debate in our legislature on this issue whenever money for rest areas is discussed. Some claim the state should just get out of the business all together and let private business do everything (I will note none of our rest areas have restaurants or gas and diesel sales). Others claim it is a driver safety issue. I tend to think a mixture of the two works well - they both have their place.
Reading the posts and traveling the country, there are a wide variety of types of rest areas. Some are elaborate - often called an Oasis (from memory), with gas, restaurants, etc. in addition to the usual restroom facilities. Other places are the basic toilets, a few vending machines, and usually a few places to sit and eat.
It comes down to a couple of things - mainly does that particular state feel a need to spend money on rest area facilities or not? I've been in some nice ones and others that I couldn't get out of fast enough. Sometimes in the same state.
Every year, there is debate in our legislature on this issue whenever money for rest areas is discussed. Some claim the state should just get out of the business all together and let private business do everything (I will note none of our rest areas have restaurants or gas and diesel sales). Others claim it is a driver safety issue. I tend to think a mixture of the two works well - they both have their place.
Originally Posted by StevieC
Originally Posted by CKN
California has 38 million people. When I visit my son in So. Cal-there are lines when ever you go out. Fast food, Walmart, other retail establishments, you stand in lines. Why should "rest stops" be any different?
Costco is about the only place there is a line-up here or Tim-Hortons in the morning.... That's gotta suck!
CostCo's can have a 15 minute wait at peak times to check out. And the cashiers are very fast.
I waited in line 20 minutes one Saturday for gas when I was visiting my son.
AS someone who has spent all his life in So. Cal until the last 6 years-yes it does suck. But you don't realize how much it did until you leave.......
Originally Posted by CKN
California has 38 million people. When I visit my son in So. Cal-there are lines when ever you go out. Fast food, Walmart, other retail establishments, you stand in lines. Why should "rest stops" be any different?
Costco is about the only place there is a line-up here or Tim-Hortons in the morning.... That's gotta suck!
CostCo's can have a 15 minute wait at peak times to check out. And the cashiers are very fast.
I waited in line 20 minutes one Saturday for gas when I was visiting my son.
AS someone who has spent all his life in So. Cal until the last 6 years-yes it does suck. But you don't realize how much it did until you leave.......
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The ones between Colfax and Truckee are closed, I go up snowboarding quite a bit in the winter up to either the north or southsides of Tahoe. When I drove up on Monday, one of the rest stops was completely covered in snow and ice. The other one is closed for construction, which I think is a stupid time to close a rest stop especially with the storms that have been coming in.
I was at the Truckee rest stop not too long ago to take a potty break and fuss with my music before driving down to Grass Valley back in December.
Since there are a scarcity of truck stops on I-80 from the CA/NV border to the outskirts of Sacramento(I'm talking Penryn/Rocklin) and it's a vital truck route from Oakland, I feel Caltrans should make an effort to have them open, or sell the land to a private firm. I actually like browsing the aisles of Flying J myself.
I was at the Truckee rest stop not too long ago to take a potty break and fuss with my music before driving down to Grass Valley back in December.
Since there are a scarcity of truck stops on I-80 from the CA/NV border to the outskirts of Sacramento(I'm talking Penryn/Rocklin) and it's a vital truck route from Oakland, I feel Caltrans should make an effort to have them open, or sell the land to a private firm. I actually like browsing the aisles of Flying J myself.
My wife drives in many different states for her job and said that some rest stops have closed permanently over the past few years.
Originally Posted by skyactiv
My wife drives in many different states for her job and said that some rest stops have closed permanently over the past few years.
Sounds about right. I remember when there were extremely common even in populated areas. On I-5 they were every 25-50 miles.
My wife drives in many different states for her job and said that some rest stops have closed permanently over the past few years.
Sounds about right. I remember when there were extremely common even in populated areas. On I-5 they were every 25-50 miles.
Originally Posted by Lolvoguy
Originally Posted by zorobabel
To top it off, some rest areas close for the winter.
What does distance have to do with anything?
Sorry, I don't follow.
Originally Posted by zorobabel
To top it off, some rest areas close for the winter.
What does distance have to do with anything?
Sorry, I don't follow.
Apparently BITOG is overly censor happy and PC now. Get over yourselves. It's not like I made a comment about our current President...
I slept at a rest stop in a different state for 4 hours recently, I was getting very sleepy and it would have been another hour in the car to reach a hotel. Woke up when I got cold (outdoor ambient was near freezing).
It was a good decision in the situation, I would not normally do it, but it was better than falling asleep at the wheel. The rest stop was staffed so I felt a little better about that.
On topic portion: it wasn't that full except the truck parking portion.
Off topic: Europe has commercialized their rest stops and IMO it works better than trying to have them be a government "service" as they are here.
It was a good decision in the situation, I would not normally do it, but it was better than falling asleep at the wheel. The rest stop was staffed so I felt a little better about that.
On topic portion: it wasn't that full except the truck parking portion.
Off topic: Europe has commercialized their rest stops and IMO it works better than trying to have them be a government "service" as they are here.
Originally Posted by Brons2
Off topic: Europe has commercialized their rest stops and IMO it works better than trying to have them be a government "service" as they are here.
The Canadian folks can confirm this but I remember "travel plazas" in CA along the QEW for many, many decades. I think there are some on the turnpike in Ohio as well as in other states if it's a toll road.
Off topic: Europe has commercialized their rest stops and IMO it works better than trying to have them be a government "service" as they are here.
The Canadian folks can confirm this but I remember "travel plazas" in CA along the QEW for many, many decades. I think there are some on the turnpike in Ohio as well as in other states if it's a toll road.
Outside of the metro areas some of the Washington rest stops will have free coffee and maybe some snacks like cookies etc. These are run by local volunteers like Kiwanis or VFW. There is usually a donation can nearby. They also offer directions and tips on local sites as well.
Originally Posted by PimTac
Outside of the metro areas some of the Washington rest stops will have free coffee and maybe some snacks like cookies etc. These are run by local volunteers like Kiwanis or VFW. There is usually a donation can nearby. They also offer directions and tips on local sites as well.
We used to see that a few years ago but only on holidays (Dec 24-26, Jan 31-1, etc).
Outside of the metro areas some of the Washington rest stops will have free coffee and maybe some snacks like cookies etc. These are run by local volunteers like Kiwanis or VFW. There is usually a donation can nearby. They also offer directions and tips on local sites as well.
We used to see that a few years ago but only on holidays (Dec 24-26, Jan 31-1, etc).
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