I was noticing that in many of my travels that some rest areas on interstates are not exactly on the interstate proper. One must exit the freeway and use a side road where the facility is located.
Places that I have found are:
I-75 in Punta Gorda, FL via Exit 161 to Jones Loop Road where area is located.
I-24 in Paducah, KY via Exit 7 to Jack Paxton Drive (westbound requires turnabout) where area is located.
I-10 near Bay St. Louis, MS via Exit 2 to MS 607 where area is located.
I distinctly remembered one on I-70 in Colorado, but cannot remember where, even with google. However it was located at some small town somewhere between Denver and Grand Junction. The area was overlooking the Colorado River, but not directly served by ramps to/from I-70. It might not be there any more as to why I cannot find it on google maps and aerials.
The former Kansas Welcome Center for I-35 SB entering from Missouri was located off the freeway, but it was only an information center with no rest area, so I would not count this as a full rest area, however it is sort of kind of.
Any other rest areas?
Massachusetts has these in Plymouth and Barnstable.
There are at least a couple of these on A-10 near Orford and (I think) Bromont, Québec.
The PA welcome center on I-80 at exit 310 (PA 611) is another example. It was constructed a few years ago, but based on old photos, it appears to have replaced an earlier welcome center at the same exit–which perhaps existed as early as I-80 was commissioned.
(borrowed from alpsroads.net)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alpsroads.net%2Froads%2Fpa%2Fi-80%2Fw53.jpg&hash=ba15350dea9b7e1f6af5640a26eb571e221de8d9)
The Thompson Hill Travel Information Center in Duluth, MN is located along I-35's frontage road (coincident with Duluth's Skyline Pkwy here) between Exit 249 (CSAH 14) and Exit 250 (US 2 West).
US 69 near Trading Post, KS. The rest area is on K 52 east of the freeway.
Interstate 40 in North Carolina, Exit 364; the Rest Area (built in 1990) is located in the medium of the interchange, near Warsaw.
Another in North Carolina:
Welcome Center - US 29 at NC 700, must exit to NC 700 to reach it
Mapmikey
Colorado Welcome Center on I-76
one kind of
The rest area on I-94 in Kenosha, WI
The PA welcome center on I-84
Also, the West Gardiner service area on the Maine Turnpike
Princeton Welcome Center off I-77 in WV
Michigan Welcome Centers in Sault Ste Marie and Mackinaw City (off I-75). Yes, Michigan has Welcome Centers not near the boundary of the state. Besides Mackinaw, thy are near Clare and Marquette.
I-25 at Prospect Road, Ft. Collins, CO.
This one is rather egregious due to a traffic signal at both ramp intersections as well as at the rest area entrance. A northbound driver would pass through six traffic signals to use the rest area. You might as well stop at a proper gas station/truck stop and have more amenities at this point.
Quote from: roadman65 on November 22, 2014, 03:17:53 PM
I distinctly remembered one on I-70 in Colorado, but cannot remember where, even with google. However it was located at some small town somewhere between Denver and Grand Junction. The area was overlooking the Colorado River, but not directly served by ramps to/from I-70.
I believe what you’re thinking of are the four rest areas in the Glenwood Canyon area. Because they serve both sides of the highway, they are accessible by a "regular" kind of exit.
Here’s the lat&long of the four:
39.560109,-107.291427
39.560506,-107.250942
39.589656,-107.19005
39.614309,-107.138837
Also on I-70 in Colorado, near these four, is the welcome center in Fruita, which is accessible by surface streets and roundabouts (39.153739, -108.736841).
Past that, the I-40 Westbound Welcome Center in Arizona is accessed by a "regular" exit, but it has a direct ramp back to the highway (35.353045,-109.057858).
There’s also a welcome center in Wisconsin like this, in that it has both direct highway and surface street access (42.522392,-87.949468). (Joe mentioned this one, too.)
Then, there’s the I-40 Welcome Center in Amarillo, Texas, which meets the criteria of your OP directly (35.19164,-101.725991).
Then, there’s the welcome center in Oklahoma City, at the junction of I-44 and I-35 and the Kilpatrick Turnpike, which also meets the OP’s criteria directly (35.594088,-97.434742).
There’s also a welcome center off I-15 in Mesquite, Nevada, accessible by surface streets, but it might not count since it’s run by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and not the state of Nevada. It has truck parking and everything, though (36.812171,-114.062645).
On I-95 north in Maine, there’s a welcome center accessible from the interstate in the regular way, but it is also accessible from US-1 by regular surface streets. You can even, with a bit of meandering, get from 95 to 1 and vice versa through this welcome center (43.128305,-70.716801).
For what it’s worth, I’ve been to all of these rest areas, except the Oklahoma City one, because I didn’t know it was there even though I spent the night at the nearby Motel 6.
Quote from: GaryV on November 22, 2014, 08:31:56 PM
Michigan Welcome Centers in Sault Ste Marie and Mackinaw City (off I-75). Yes, Michigan has Welcome Centers not near the boundary of the state. Besides Mackinaw, thy are near Clare and Marquette.
The former Rest Area/Welcome Center in Port Huron on westbound I-94/I-69 was accessed from the Water Street exit ramp. To enter the rest area, one had to exit the freeway at Water Street and then take a left exit from the exit ramp into the rest area. To re-enter the freeway, one had to merge back onto the exit ramp and cross a signalized intersection onto the entrance ramp from Water Street to the freeway.
The facility was closed three years ago when the interchange was reconfigured, but Bing still has an old map showing the weird Rest Area access:
http://binged.it/1xEW4Ge (http://binged.it/1xEW4Ge)
Are we counting the liquor store at I-95 Exit 5 in New Hampshire near the Maine border? :-D
Ugh, this one drives me nuts: The I-91 rest area in Greenfield, MA is at–indeed, is only–a Registry of Motor Vehicles located off the freeway and even a couple of turns off of Route 2A. As such, though it's signed along the freeway as a normal rest area with normal services (read: bathrooms), the building only accessible during business hours for the RMV, which, as you might imagine, are even less accommodating than banker's hours.
I even pulled in there one evening to walk my dog, and lo and behold, they don't allow dogs. Nope, not even outside in the parking lot or on the sidewalks.
It's just about the stupidest place I've ever been.
The rest area off the Mountain Parkway at Exit 33. You have to exit onto KY 11 to access the rest area.
The I-26 welcome center after entering Tennessee from North Carolina.
The West Virginia welcome center entering from Ohio. (Someone else mentioned Princeton; that means both of I-77's welcome centers are not on the freeway.
* The rest area/welcome center on I-270 in Missouri requires exiting at Riverview, and then going west Dunn Road (the north outer road for I-270).
* The former rest area on I-255 in Missouri, now a CDL test site, required exiting at Koch Road (Exit 3)
The former Wisconsin welcome center on I-94 in Hudson used to require exiting at Carmichael Road (Exit 2). But a few years ago the rest area/welcome center was moved about 40 miles east to Menomonie and no longer fits the criteria.
Sunset Point on I-17 in Arizona
Wiley's Well on I-10 in California (anyone know if it still has the signs warning of snakes?)
Quote from: roadman65 on November 22, 2014, 03:17:53 PM
I-24 in Paducah, KY via Exit 7 to Jack Paxton Drive (westbound requires turnabout) where area is located.
If you mean turnaround, it doesn't. You turn left on US 45 and right into the welcome center. And it's a welcome center, which would normally only be accessible eastbound anyway.
The Welcome Center on US 41 in Marinette, Wisconsin, is located on a side street adjacent to the highway and the Menominee River. Traffic coming over the Interstate Bridge from Michigan has to follow that side street for about a half block after turning at the first intersection in the state.
There's one I know about for sure in South Dakota, the one at the SD 50 exit (the Vermillion and Yankton exit) off of I-29. I also believe the one at the Ward exit on I-29 (Exit 121) is as well, but I do not regularly go that way to know that for sure.
There's also the Nebraska Welcome Center at the 13th Street exit in Omaha just north of the former Rosenblatt Stadium and the Henry Doorly Zoo, in a building which should be thoroughly remodeled and modernized.
I also thought the welcome center for I-90 going west into Minnesota was not directly off the freeway, either.
QuoteI also thought the welcome center for I-90 going west into Minnesota was not directly off the freeway, either.
It sorta is and sorta isn't, but it does technically meet the OP's criteria as you can also access it from US 14/61.
Columbus welcome center off of I-185 (http://goo.gl/maps/01RY2)
Quote from: hbelkins on November 22, 2014, 10:12:29 PM
The West Virginia welcome center entering from Ohio. (Someone else mentioned Princeton; that means both of I-77's welcome centers are not on the freeway.
Would you count the Beckley service area on the WV turnpike?
The US 61/151 rest area east of Dubuque is and isn't. Formally a welcome center (moved to the Platteville C of C building 18 miles N) - it is on the opposing end of the Exit 1 (WIS 11) overpass and is accessible from both routes and WIS 35 (which branches of WIS 11 shortly after turning on to it from the freeway and goes into Illinois.
Quote from: robbones on November 23, 2014, 10:16:13 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on November 22, 2014, 10:12:29 PM
The West Virginia welcome center entering from Ohio. (Someone else mentioned Princeton; that means both of I-77's welcome centers are not on the freeway.
Would you count the Beckley service area on the WV turnpike?
Oddly, I'd say yes since it seems to be accessible acc to Google Maps.
Quote from: NE2 on November 23, 2014, 02:17:12 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on November 22, 2014, 03:17:53 PM
I-24 in Paducah, KY via Exit 7 to Jack Paxton Drive (westbound requires turnabout) where area is located.
If you mean turnaround, it doesn't. You turn left on US 45 and right into the welcome center. And it's a welcome center, which would normally only be accessible eastbound anyway.
Requires a U-turn for anything other than a car.
Several (somewhat primitive) rest areas on I-70 crossing the San Rafael Swell in Utah are located off the freeway, but signed just as any other Interstate rest area, even though they require the use of one or more roads off the freeway to reach them.
Makes sense, IMO, as the rest areas are positioned to allow nice views of the nearby spectacular landscape along I-70.
Quote from: cpzilliacus on November 23, 2014, 05:37:57 PM
Several (somewhat primitive) rest areas on I-70 crossing the San Rafael Swell in Utah are located off the freeway, but signed just as any other Interstate rest area, even though they require the use of one or more roads off the freeway to reach them.
Makes sense, IMO, as the rest areas are positioned to allow nice views of the nearby spectacular landscape along I-70.
It was five years ago that I was there, but I recall these being on longish access roads from the freeway, not an actual exit for another road. We stopped at every one we could (totally worth it) but again, my memory is not infallible.
Quote from: Pete from Boston on November 23, 2014, 06:26:45 PM
Quote from: cpzilliacus on November 23, 2014, 05:37:57 PM
Several (somewhat primitive) rest areas on I-70 crossing the San Rafael Swell in Utah are located off the freeway, but signed just as any other Interstate rest area, even though they require the use of one or more roads off the freeway to reach them.
Makes sense, IMO, as the rest areas are positioned to allow nice views of the nearby spectacular landscape along I-70.
It was five years ago that I was there, but I recall these being on longish access roads from the freeway, not an actual exit for another road. We stopped at every one we could (totally worth it) but again, my memory is not infallible.
The access roads do go to the rest area, but driving on one or more smallish public roads is required.
Not that it matters, since there is almost nothing there (including population) along the entire crossing of the Swell.
Quote from: robbones on November 23, 2014, 10:16:13 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on November 22, 2014, 10:12:29 PM
The West Virginia welcome center entering from Ohio. (Someone else mentioned Princeton; that means both of I-77's welcome centers are not on the freeway.
Would you count the Beckley service area on the WV turnpike?
Hmm. There's arguments both ways. It can be accessed by a road other than the Turnpike.
Quote from: cpzilliacus on November 23, 2014, 08:53:05 PM
Quote from: Pete from Boston on November 23, 2014, 06:26:45 PM
Quote from: cpzilliacus on November 23, 2014, 05:37:57 PM
Several (somewhat primitive) rest areas on I-70 crossing the San Rafael Swell in Utah are located off the freeway, but signed just as any other Interstate rest area, even though they require the use of one or more roads off the freeway to reach them.
Makes sense, IMO, as the rest areas are positioned to allow nice views of the nearby spectacular landscape along I-70.
It was five years ago that I was there, but I recall these being on longish access roads from the freeway, not an actual exit for another road. We stopped at every one we could (totally worth it) but again, my memory is not infallible.
The access roads do go to the rest area, but driving on one or more smallish public roads is required.
Not that it matters, since there is almost nothing there (including population) along the entire crossing of the Swell.
Of the ten rest areas and viewing areas along the stretch of I-70 between Salina and Green River, there are two are that are not accessed directly from the highway. The other eight are. Here's a list of the lat&long of each:
Directly accessible38.829194,-111.115147
38.832504,-111.112186
38.849768,-110.926473
38.860713,-110.812013
38.863520,-110.813354
38.939701,-110.482103
38.933325,-110.472597
38.920839,-110.430905
Indirectly accessible38.755154,-111.418669
38.855224,-110.908808
Quote from: GCrites80s on November 23, 2014, 09:57:04 PM
Quote from: robbones on November 23, 2014, 10:16:13 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on November 22, 2014, 10:12:29 PM
The West Virginia welcome center entering from Ohio. (Someone else mentioned Princeton; that means both of I-77's welcome centers are not on the freeway.
Would you count the Beckley service area on the WV turnpike?
Hmm. There's arguments both ways. It can be accessed by a road other than the Turnpike.
But it also doesn't mean it's off the Turnpike. By saying that any rest/service area connected to the outside world is off the highway, you'd have to include a couple service areas on the Garden State Parkway with park and rides.
Quote from: cl94 on November 23, 2014, 10:03:32 PM
Quote from: GCrites80s on November 23, 2014, 09:57:04 PM
Quote from: robbones on November 23, 2014, 10:16:13 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on November 22, 2014, 10:12:29 PM
The West Virginia welcome center entering from Ohio. (Someone else mentioned Princeton; that means both of I-77's welcome centers are not on the freeway.
Would you count the Beckley service area on the WV turnpike?
Hmm. There's arguments both ways. It can be accessed by a road other than the Turnpike.
But it also doesn't mean it's off the Turnpike. By saying that any rest/service area connected to the outside world is off the highway, you'd have to include a couple service areas on the Garden State Parkway with park and rides.
I believe just about all the ones on the Jersey Turnpike have access from local streets, although the access roads aren't open to the public except perhaps for one at the John Fenwick Service Area (I think someone here once said that road is open so people can go to an E-ZPass service center, though my memory may be mistaken). The access from local streets is so employees can get to work without having to pay a toll.
Quote from: 1995hoo on November 23, 2014, 10:31:07 PM
Quote from: cl94 on November 23, 2014, 10:03:32 PM
Quote from: GCrites80s on November 23, 2014, 09:57:04 PM
Quote from: robbones on November 23, 2014, 10:16:13 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on November 22, 2014, 10:12:29 PM
The West Virginia welcome center entering from Ohio. (Someone else mentioned Princeton; that means both of I-77's welcome centers are not on the freeway.
Would you count the Beckley service area on the WV turnpike?
Hmm. There's arguments both ways. It can be accessed by a road other than the Turnpike.
But it also doesn't mean it's off the Turnpike. By saying that any rest/service area connected to the outside world is off the highway, you'd have to include a couple service areas on the Garden State Parkway with park and rides.
I believe just about all the ones on the Jersey Turnpike have access from local streets, although the access roads aren't open to the public except perhaps for one at the John Fenwick Service Area (I think someone here once said that road is open so people can go to an E-ZPass service center, though my memory may be mistaken). The access from local streets is so employees can get to work without having to pay a toll.
New York is the same way. There's a gate blocking access to the service area and the employee lot is on the far side of the gate.
The WV Turnpike no longer has exit, entrance or side tolls so workers accessing the Beckley service plaza and "Scamarack" don't have to pay tolls unless they go through one of the 3 regular toll plazas during their commute. Pretty sure they give them a free toll card with their picture on it too.
Unfortunately, GSV doesn't cover the street leading into the facilities from Beckley (Vankirk Dr.) and I've never used the street so I don't know if it is gated.
Quote from: GCrites80s on November 24, 2014, 12:19:15 PM
The WV Turnpike no longer has exit, entrance or side tolls so workers accessing the Beckley service plaza and "Scamarack" don't have to pay tolls unless they go through one of the 3 regular toll plazas during their commute. Pretty sure they give them a free toll card with their picture on it too.
Unfortunately, GSV doesn't cover the street leading into the facilities from Beckley (Vankirk Dr.) and I've never used the street so I don't know if it is gated.
[/quote
There's a sign on one of the surface roads pointing to the travel plaza (by sending people down the access road), so I assume it's not gated.
There's also a "To WV 3" sign posted there within the service plaza, or there was the last time I was there.
There would be toll-free access even if there wasn't an outlet to WV 3. All traffic would have to do is enter I-77 from the WV 16 exit and then get off at the service plaza/Tamarack exit. By following WV 16 through Beckley, southbound US 19 traffic doesn't have to pay the toll to enter the turnpike at the end of Corridor L.
I can't recall exactly where but there in one for I-75 in Kentucky, somewhere between Lexington and the Tennessee line.
Quote from: Mike_OH on November 24, 2014, 02:21:05 PM
I can't recall exactly where but there in one for I-75 in Kentucky, somewhere between Lexington and the Tennessee line.
The Berea Artisan Center, but I wouldn't go so far as to call it a rest area, because it's not open 24 hours. AFAIK the restrooms are only open during the hours that the gift shop is open.
Rest area off I-90 near Anaconda, MT: https://www.google.com/maps/@46.0925629,-112.8036396,1315m/data=!3m1!1e3 You have to exit onto MT-1 and turn left.
Rest area at the WA-26 exit off US-395 freeway, same idea: https://www.google.com/maps/@46.7907426,-118.7459277,1299m/data=!3m1!1e3
I'm not sure, but I think there was something like this on I-95 in Baltimore.
Just north of the toll booths for the Fort McHenry Tunnel, ISTR blue signs for "Maryland Travel Plaza", similar to those for the Maryland/Chesapeake House further on north/east. The facility, which is on Boston St. and O'Donnell St. (and the still-extant ghost ramps for the southern terminus of I-83), is now owned by TA, or TravelCenters of America. But it seems like it was being positioned for a while as another service plaza.
Quote from: lepidopteran on November 24, 2014, 05:32:19 PM
I'm not sure, but I think there was something like this on I-95 in Baltimore.
Just north of the toll booths for the Fort McHenry Tunnel, ISTR blue signs for "Maryland Travel Plaza", similar to those for the Maryland/Chesapeake House further on north/east. The facility, which is on Boston St. and O'Donnell St. (and the still-extant ghost ramps for the southern terminus of I-83), is now owned by TA, or TravelCenters of America. But it seems like it was being positioned for a while as another service plaza.
Was that ever more than a privately owned truck stop that is–inexplicably, as far as I can see–signed as if it were a service plaza?
The two I was thinking of were already mentioned - Mackinaw City, MI and Vienna, WV. The rest area in St Ignace, MI, however, doesn't count, as it is directly accessible from I-75.
I-10 at SR 81, Florida Panhandle.
Up in northern Maine, near where I-95 crosses the border, the Houlton Rest Area/Welcome Center is on US-1, about 1/4 mile from the I-95 interchange.
NY 27 has a rest area in an area where it's not a freeway.
Quote from: briantroutman on November 24, 2014, 05:58:33 PM
Quote from: lepidopteran on November 24, 2014, 05:32:19 PM
I'm not sure, but I think there was something like this on I-95 in Baltimore.
Just north of the toll booths for the Fort McHenry Tunnel, ISTR blue signs for "Maryland Travel Plaza", similar to those for the Maryland/Chesapeake House further on north/east. The facility, which is on Boston St. and O'Donnell St. (and the still-extant ghost ramps for the southern terminus of I-83), is now owned by TA, or TravelCenters of America. But it seems like it was being positioned for a while as another service plaza.
Was that ever more than a privately owned truck stop that is–inexplicably, as far as I can see–signed as if it were a service plaza?
I believe it was signed as a service plaza/rest area. This place was the first thing that came to mind when I saw the topic. It was in the "Baltimore Travel Plaza" across from the truck stop, sharing the building with a hotel and a bus terminal. Looks like from GSV that it's closed or at least close to it, and it was always pretty run down.
Buckman Springs rest area, I-8, Exit 51
The mention of the crafts place made me remember that the Gardiner, Maine, rest area (which includes a Maine crafts store) on the Maine Turnpike requires exiting onto Lewiston Rd. Moreover, in order to get back onto 95 North, you first have to get onto 295 North. Similarly, to access it from 95 South, you have to first exit onto 295 south, then Lewiston Rd. Nutty place.
The Welcome Center of MS is located at exit 2. To access it you go south 1/4 mile on MS 607 to the rest area on the right.
The Randolf Collier Safety Roadside Rest Area, located on I-5 about 10 miles south of the Oregon stateline, can only be accessed by taking the CA-96 exit from the freeway.
http://goo.gl/maps/fquEW
Northbound drivers need to exit the freeway, turn left onto Anderson Grade Road, go under the freeway and turn left again into the rest area.
Southbound drivers need to exit the freeway onto CA-96, turn left onto Anderson Grade Road and turn right into the rest area.
Note: with the Klamath River right next to the rest area, this is *the* nicest, most scenic rest area in California.
Quote from: Pete from Boston on November 24, 2014, 09:36:02 PM
The mention of the crafts place made me remember that the Gardiner, Maine, rest area (which includes a Maine crafts store) on the Maine Turnpike requires exiting onto Lewiston Rd. Moreover, in order to get back onto 95 North, you first have to get onto 295 North. Similarly, to access it from 95 South, you have to first exit onto 295 south, then Lewiston Rd. Nutty place.
I know we've discussed that before in connection with the toll voucher cash users have to obtain if they stop there (except southbound onto I-295). E-ZPass users get the credit automatically. Once upon a time there was info online saying the vouchers would be issued by a machine, but I suspect they found that may have been subject to abuse by people coming from local roads, or else there was some other problem because now you have to present a receipt from the other toll plaza instead of a voucher:
http://www.maineturnpike.com/Traveler-Services/Tolls/West-Gardiner-Toll-Vouchers.aspx
New Jersey had unofficial rest areas off of I-80 near the Delaware Water Gap including an information center. The center or rest areas located on the I-80 frontage road are not run by NJ, but by the local park agency that operates the park around the Delaware Water Gap so its not an official Tourist Information or State Welcome Center for the State.
At one time NJDOT signed them as rest areas, but since the late 80's and early 90's signs have been removed, but the parking and picnic areas are still along the riverfront as GSV shows them.
Also the Hamilton County Rest Area on I-45 in Texas is technically off the interstate as you must use the service roads running long side the interstate to enter and exit. The ramps leading to it are smooth slip ramps that merge onto the service road so the driving of the frontage road seems like part of the actual ramp leading in, but is actually putting you on an off interstate roadway.
Nova Scotia's welcome center on the Trans-Canada
I-75 Exit 131 (Daniels Parkway) in Fort Myers, FL
Quote from: roadman65 on November 25, 2014, 08:36:04 PM
New Jersey had unofficial rest areas off of I-80 near the Delaware Water Gap including an information center. The center or rest areas located on the I-80 frontage road are not run by NJ, but by the local park agency that operates the park around the Delaware Water Gap so its not an official Tourist Information or State Welcome Center for the State.
By "local park agency," do you mean the one local to the United States, the National Park Service?