Why Truck Stops Are Always Better Than Rest Stops
When you’re on the road, you have plenty of options for where to stay to find a bathroom and a candy bar. There are those little brick buildings that have little more than a toilet and a few vending machines; a string of formulaic state plazas with Sbarro and 7-11; and conventional gas stations surrounded by fast food establishments. And then there’s a lesser-known option that knocks everyone out of the water: the truck stop.
Why truck stops are better
A truck stop is not much different from a gas station with an attached store, but a truck stop has more. Food, for example: A small gas station will have chips and candy and maybe a few prepackaged sandwiches. A good store like Sheetz has hot dogs and sandwiches made to order. But a nice truck stop has it all and a diner where you can sit down and eat for real.
The store space is even better: instead of a few shelves full of essentials (tampons, phone chargers), you can often buy things like blankets, toys, books, clothes (souvenir T-shirts, and maybe a basic set of underwear) and much more. If there’s an item you need while traveling but don’t want to get off the highway to find it, you can probably get it at a truck stop – it might be a little overpriced, but it’s not. I will be there. And if you’re bored and just want to browse truck supplies and wacky souvenirs, you’ll find plenty of those too.
Truck stops often have showers that can be used for a fee, are open 24/7, and their bathrooms tend to be much cleaner than those at the occasional gas station along the way. Amenities vary; some even have dog parks .
How to find a truck stop
Because I’ve heard this question before: no, you don’t have to be a trucker to stop at a truck stop. There may be separate entrances for trucks and cars, similar to government rest stops, but all are welcome.
If your trips have always been on the same highways, you may not know how many options you have. In Pennsylvania, for example, the turnpike (I-76) is in the mini food court square , but I-80 is where you’ll find all the truck stops. If you drive only on one of these roads, you will not be aware of your options on the other.
The easiest way to find a truck stop is to familiarize yourself with the most common chains in the areas you drive through. Pilot, Flying J and Love’s are the largest. ( Here’s a map of where Pilot and Flying J are now owned by the same company; here’s a map for Love’s .) And for a more complete search, the Trucker Path app includes these and other brands in its truck stop guide .