"NEXT REST AREA" distance signs - which states acknowledge neighboring states?

[KCRoadFan]

On interstates, the blue signs approaching rest areas are accompanied by a panel underneath that reads "NEXT REST AREA (number) MILES," indicating the distance to the rest area following the upcoming one. However, at the last rest area within the state on a given interstate in that direction (such as, for example, the one on I-70 westbound at Concordia or eastbound at Wright City), my state of Missouri doesn't show the distance to the first rest area in the next state (Kansas and Illinois, respectively), but rather simply displays the message "LAST REST AREA IN MISSOURI" instead. That made me wonder: how does your state treat the "NEXT REST AREA" signage when approaching the last one in the state in that direction? Does it show the distance to the first one in the next state, or does it go unacknowledged? I'm interested to find out more.

[Rothman]

NY/MA do on I-90.

[jmacswimmer]

I think the only true example in Maryland is I-70 WB approaching the South Mountain welcome center, which acknowledges the Pennsylvania welcome center 41 miles ahead just beyond I-68 & the Mason-Dixon line.

But as 2 bonuses:
-The first mention of the West Virginia welcome center on I-81 SB is within Maryland exit 1 prior to crossing the Potomac River
-As you leave the Baltimore suburbs on I-83 NB, this sign points out the Pennsylvania welcome center 18 miles ahead

[webny99]

The NYS Thruway WB approaching Angola has this sign. Not a direct reference to another state, but of course the Thruway ends at the PA line.

[1995hoo]

On southbound I-85 in Virginia, the "Next Rest Area 33 Miles" sign happens to be placed right next to the 33 milepost. So they don't tell you it's the North Carolina welcome center, but if you're paying attention you'd realize it.

Can't say I've generally paid attention otherwise.

[elsmere241]

When Delaware House was being rebuilt, the signs for last service area on the New Jersey Turnpike gave the distance to Chesapeake House in Maryland.

[hbelkins]

I've never really paid attention to this, but on a related note, there is a "Last Rest Area on I-79" sign southbound in West Virginia.

If you continue on interstates, you'll encounter a rest area on I-64 westbound near Hurricane, but you won't encounter anything on I-64 eastbound/I-77 southbound until Tamarack at Beckley, on the turnpike.

[SP Cook]

I've never really paid attention to this, but on a related note, there is a "Last Rest Area on I-79" sign southbound in West Virginia.

If you continue on interstates, you'll encounter a rest area on I-64 westbound near Hurricane, but you won't encounter anything on I-64 eastbound/I-77 southbound until Tamarack at Beckley, on the turnpike.

To me, the rest area in Putnam County, eastbound, should be signed "Last Rest Area Before Toll Road - First Turnpike Service Area - 63 miles" . 

Another deal is that the northernmost service area on the turnpike is signed as "Next Rest Area - 48 miles (IIRC) ". Which is the mileage to the next one on I-77, however the turnpike is both 64 and 77 at that point, and 64 receives the bulk of the traffic when they do split.  It also has secondary control city signage for Parkersburg, but no mention of Huntington.  To me it should be signed "Last Service Area on Turnpike - Next Rest Area on I64 - 61 mile - on I77 48 miles" .

[jmacswimmer]

The NYS Thruway WB approaching Angola has this sign. Not a direct reference to another state, but of course the Thruway ends at the PA line.

Your post made me think of one at that exact line you mention: This sign, which is PennDOT-spec but physically in New York just before the line & PA welcome center beyond, is referencing the Ohio welcome center.

[webny99]

The NYS Thruway WB approaching Angola has this sign. Not a direct reference to another state, but of course the Thruway ends at the PA line.

Your post made me think of one at that exact line you mention: This sign, which is PennDOT-spec but physically in New York just before the line & PA welcome center beyond, is referencing the Ohio welcome center.

Yes, this is similar to how the Thruway posts the distance to the next service area. Of course, in this case, the next rest area is in Ohio since I-90 is only in PA for such a short distance.

[kirbykart]

The NYS Thruway WB approaching Angola has this sign. Not a direct reference to another state, but of course the Thruway ends at the PA line.

I've never been on that part of the Thruway, and for some reason, I thought Angola Service Area was in the median.

[hbelkins]

I've never really paid attention to this, but on a related note, there is a "Last Rest Area on I-79" sign southbound in West Virginia.

If you continue on interstates, you'll encounter a rest area on I-64 westbound near Hurricane, but you won't encounter anything on I-64 eastbound/I-77 southbound until Tamarack at Beckley, on the turnpike.

To me, the rest area in Putnam County, eastbound, should be signed "Last Rest Area Before Toll Road - First Turnpike Service Area - 63 miles" . 

Another deal is that the northernmost service area on the turnpike is signed as "Next Rest Area - 48 miles (IIRC) ". Which is the mileage to the next one on I-77, however the turnpike is both 64 and 77 at that point, and 64 receives the bulk of the traffic when they do split.  It also has secondary control city signage for Parkersburg, but no mention of Huntington.  To me it should be signed "Last Service Area on Turnpike - Next Rest Area on I64 - 61 mile - on I77 48 miles" .

That raises a couple of questions about traffic patterns in my mind.

It may be because I come from west of Charleston, but to me the natural movement is I-64 east to I-79 north. And I would think that the bulk of the turnpike traffic stays on I-77 going north to Ohio.

My thoughts on that come from the perception that Corridor H and I-68 have supplanted I-64/I-81/I-66 as the best routes from the west to DC.

I've used the 64E/79N movement a lot more than I have 64E/77S. But conversely, and logically given my home, have used the 64W through route moreso than staying on 77 going north.

I don't remember a sign on I-64 westbound noting the mileage to the Kentucky welcome center. I also don't remember Kentucky signing mileage to the next rest area in general, much less to those in other states.

[webny99]

The NYS Thruway WB approaching Angola has this sign. Not a direct reference to another state, but of course the Thruway ends at the PA line.

I've never been on that part of the Thruway, and for some reason, I thought Angola Service Area was in the median.

The service area itself is in the median, but the parking areas are on the right. Hence the pedestrian bridges over the Thruway which you use to get to/from the restrooms and restaurants.

[dvferyance]

I think pretty much all of them do. Wisconsin does on I-90 for Illinios and Minnesota welcome centers.

[nwi_navigator_1181]

Implied reference:

I-196 southbound has a rest area just south of the US 31 merge by Zeeland, with an advisory saying the next rest area is 80 miles away.

The rest area in question is the I-94 Rest Area/Welcome Center past the Indiana State Line. I'm of the thought that MDOT believes the majority of long range I-196 traffic exits west on I-94 and heads into Indiana. The math also checks out (43 miles to I-94 + 34 miles to Indiana + 3 miles to the welcome center).

[andrepoiy]

Ontario does not.

The last EB OnRoute on Highway 401 is Morrisburg, and I don't believe there's a sign referencing the next rest stop (which would be the Riviere-Beaudette Service Station in Quebec).

[kirbykart]

The NYS Thruway WB approaching Angola has this sign. Not a direct reference to another state, but of course the Thruway ends at the PA line.

I've never been on that part of the Thruway, and for some reason, I thought Angola Service Area was in the median.

The service area itself is in the median, but the parking areas are on the right. Hence the pedestrian bridges over the Thruway which you use to get to/from the restrooms and restaurants.

That's really neat. I guess I didn't realize that when I looked at Street View.

[amroad17]

I am surprised SkyPesos has not weighed in on this...

Both I-71 SB and I-75 SB before each last respective rest area in Ohio have a distance sign for the next rest area--in Florence, KY.  I-71 has a sign with the distance at 45 miles and I-75 has a sign with the distance at 41 miles.

I-70 WB before the South Vienna, OH rest area has a sign with a distance of 92 miles to the next rest area--the Indiana Welcome Center a few miles west of Richmond, IN., although the distance should be 84 miles.

[GaryV]

I-196 southbound has a rest area just south of the US 31 merge by Zeeland, with an advisory saying the next rest area is 80 miles away.

The rest area in question is the I-94 Rest Area/Welcome Center past the Indiana State Line.

The Watervliet rest area on I-94 also references that Welcome Center (45 miles).

The I-275 sb rest area does not reference the I-75 rest area near Bowling Green, OH - not terribly surprising; there's lots of places traffic on I-275 could turn off before getting there.

Nor does the Turkeyville rest area on I-69 (just north of I-94) reference the next rest area in Indiana (south of the Toll Road and US-20). Maybe too much of the traffic would divert to I-94 or I-80/I-90.

[Scott5114]

As far as I remember, Oklahoma doesn't even acknowledge its own rest areas. You just get signage pertaining to the current one, no distance to the next one. Not sure whether you'll be able to make it to the next one? That's strictly a you problem, not an ODOT problem.

[Vaulter]

NY/MA do on I-90.

Interestingly, Massachusetts does not do this on I-95.

Speaking of I-95, Maine doesn't tell you the Kennebunk rest area is the last in the state before NH, but it they do want you to know they have live lobsters https://maps.app.goo.gl/27RBSZPjACFV9mVw8?g_st=ic

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Minnesota will give the distance to the next rest area without acknowledging it's in the next state.

I-94 in Maple Grove (88 miles to the Wisconsin welcome center in Menomonie)
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.1281943,-93.4863308,3a,15y,149.94h,100.63t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1ssVg7IpFQLoIdQXLFQyUY5w!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DsVg7IpFQLoIdQXLFQyUY5w%26cb_client%3Dsearch.revgeo_and_fetch.gps%26w%3D96%26h%3D64%26yaw%3D64.296715%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

I-35 south of Owatonna (40 miles to the Iowa welcome center)
https://www.google.com/maps/@44.0048116,-93.2549537,3a,21.6y,211.4h,91.67t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sZLvD40E3HpdQ-SbEy1BOqw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192