On my ongoing cross-country Street View journey following US 20 from Newport, Oregon to Boston, I came upon a most interesting sight while traversing the empty, wide-open scrublands of Wyoming west of Casper: namely, it was one of those familiar blue "REST AREA" signs that dot the country's interstate highways - but on a two-lane road!
That made me wonder: where else throughout the country might one find official, state-designated rest areas on roads other than freeways? My guess is that most of them are found in environments similar to the example I gave: that is, in sparsely populated areas that are long distances from freeways and/or services such as gas stations (most commonly the case in Western states). Where, precisely, might other such rest areas be found?
The first thing that went to my mind when I was reading this post was the state of Ohio with some rest areas on non-freeway roads...
Minnesota has a handful of these, mostly on expressway grade roads but a few on two-laners; MN 61 has a lot of rest areas, though some are closed in winter.
AZ 87 near Rye and US 60/AZ 77 in Salt River Canyon pop to mind. US 95 in Nevada has a bunch as does US 395 in California.
There's a seemingly random one on WY-28 between Lander and Farson.
(https://i.imgur.com/oTTgKyv.png) (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.382444,-108.8973227,578m/data=!3m1!1e3)
I visited it a few years ago. When I first got there, it felt abandoned, like there was no one around for miles, and I had a calm and peaceful lunch. Then, out of the blue, a motor coach pulled up, and then another, and then a third. At that point, the rest area turned into something of a madhouse, with a sizeable crowd of people talking, eating, taking pictures, and so on. Then, about twenty minutes later, they all left, and the rest area went back to being calm and peaceful, like nothing had happened. It made me wonder if I had imagined the whole thing.
Some others that I'm remembering:
- US 70 in the San Carlos Reservation in Arizona.
- US 19/98 in Florida
- US 27 on the south shore of Lake Okeechobee.
Quote from: KCRoadFan on February 21, 2021, 12:06:40 AM
On my ongoing cross-country Street View journey following US 20 from Newport, Oregon to Boston, I came upon a most interesting sight while traversing the empty, wide-open scrublands of Wyoming west of Casper: namely, it was one of those familiar blue "REST AREA" signs that dot the country's interstate highways - but on a two-lane road!
That made me wonder: where else throughout the country might one find official, state-designated rest areas on roads other than freeways? My guess is that most of them are found in environments similar to the example I gave: that is, in sparsely populated areas that are long distances from freeways and/or services such as gas stations (most commonly the case in Western states). Where, precisely, might other such rest areas be found?
US-95 in western Nevada is two-lane conventional highway for most of the route and has at least one, if not two rest areas.
One very famous non-freeway rest area in California is on CASR-41/46 near Shandon. The Caltrans map https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/design/documents/srra-11-apx-c-all-maps-rev.pdf shows at least 8 other Rest Areas that are common to both directions which means that the road isn't divided at those points.
Michigan has several Rest Areas in the UP on non-freeways: US 2 near Naubinway and Garden Corners, and M-28 near Seney
Plus Welcome Centers and Rest Areas in Ironwood, Iron Mountain, Marquette and Menominee
There are a lot more Roadside Parks, which typically do not have flush toilets and often close in the winter.
There is one on US 421 heading towards Wilmington NC. I used to drive there frequently and would use 421 as an alternate to I-40. I always loved this tiny little rest area. Sadly, it was closed last time I passed, and I can't imagine its going to be opened again...
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.8524591,-78.2605305,917m/data=!3m1!1e3
Wisconsin only has "Rest Areas" on four lane highways, but has numerous seasonal "Waysides" on two lane roads. They generally have more "rustic" bathrooms and a few picnic tables. I have seen some of these closed permanently in recent years.
There are several on US 101 north of San Fransisco to the Oregon State Line. US 199 has one at the south portal of the Collier Tunnel. I recall stopping at one at the split of US 65 and US 82 at Lake Chicot in Arkansas.
Pretty sure NY 13 has one between Ithaca and Cortland.
MA 116 used to have one just before you got to Sunderland Center on the south side of town. I believe the pavement still exists and it's still used as some sort of maintenance lot, but the old rectangular blue "REST AREA" sign with a long horizontal arrow is long gone.
Pretty sure we've had this thread before.
Maryland has one (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.0789711,-75.9786303,777m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e1) along US-301 on the Eastern Shore between the Bay Bridge and Delaware.
IIRC, Virginia only has one (https://www.google.com/maps/@37.9896385,-75.5331683,483m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e1) of these, and it's located at the Virginia / Maryland state line along US-13 on the Eastern Shore. It's two-way, though Maryland has an opposite (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.0042622,-75.5422219,557m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e1) northbound only welcome center on its side of the border.
North Carolina has a number of these. Here's a few examples from a couple major routes in Eastern North Carolina I'm aware of off the top of my head...
NC-168 / US-158 has one (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.3044575,-75.9295886,523m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e1) half-way between Virginia and the Outer Banks, then one (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.0982208,-75.7151339,495m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e1) in the Outer Banks proper.
Similarly, US-64 has two (https://www.google.com/maps/@35.86502,-76.7252671,361m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e1) between (https://www.google.com/maps/@35.9158082,-76.2535939,278m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e1) Williamston and the Outer Banks, then one (https://www.google.com/maps/@35.8849024,-75.6669541,788m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e1) in Manteo, just outside the Outer Banks. Interestingly enough, this 85 mile segment of largely arterial US-64 east of Williamston (with 25 miles built to freeway standards between Plymouth and Columbia) has 3 rest areas, though the 95 miles of US-64 that is fully built to freeway standards west of Williamston all the way to Raleigh has none.
US-17 has one (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.5072377,-76.3543956,696m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e1) south of the Virginia state line, and another one (https://www.google.com/maps/@35.4910178,-77.1058771,576m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e1) south of Washington. There's an additional one (https://www.google.com/maps/@33.9749518,-78.4054816,466m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e1) between Wilmington and Myrtle Beach, though it's positioned along the Shallote Bypass which is a freeway at that location, so it's a more traditional setup, though connects to an interchange to provide two-way access.
Quote from: GaryV on February 21, 2021, 08:05:11 AM
Michigan has several Rest Areas ...
(Quoting myself)
I should have also noted that the Welcome Centers in Sault Ste Marie, Mackinaw City, Port Huron and Detroit are technically not on freeways, as you have to take an exit from the Interstate and travel on surface streets to get to the Rest Area. I'm not even sure how you get to the Detroit one from a freeway; you cross the Ambassador Bridge and follow a surface street to get to it - it's in a building that looks like a strip mall.
US 13 on the Delmarva at the MD- VA border.
US 231 at the AL- FL state line.
US 22 in Whitehouse, NJ. (Or had one).
Quote from: GaryV on February 21, 2021, 09:50:42 AM
Quote from: GaryV on February 21, 2021, 08:05:11 AM
Michigan has several Rest Areas ...
(Quoting myself)
I should have also noted that the Welcome Centers in Sault Ste Marie, Mackinaw City, Port Huron and Detroit are technically not on freeways, as you have to take an exit from the Interstate and travel on surface streets to get to the Rest Area. I'm not even sure how you get to the Detroit one from a freeway; you cross the Ambassador Bridge and follow a surface street to get to it - it's in a building that looks like a strip mall.
Well the Port Huron one is definitely off of the freeway, I got off on it from I-69/I-94 a few years back. If I recall though the older welcome center was off of a street.
Presumably it's actual rest areas with facilities that are being looked for, and not just parking areas?
Parking areas are quite a bit more common: Here's one (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.6208887,-77.0389611,3a,75y,357.04h,80.38t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sADm0myeJLjMN8dTGa7dZMA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1) on NY 14A south of Penn Yan, NY.
Quote from: tdindy88 on February 21, 2021, 10:13:20 AM
Quote from: GaryV on February 21, 2021, 09:50:42 AM
Quote from: GaryV on February 21, 2021, 08:05:11 AM
Michigan has several Rest Areas ...
(Quoting myself)
I should have also noted that the Welcome Centers in Sault Ste Marie, Mackinaw City, Port Huron and Detroit are technically not on freeways, as you have to take an exit from the Interstate and travel on surface streets to get to the Rest Area. I'm not even sure how you get to the Detroit one from a freeway; you cross the Ambassador Bridge and follow a surface street to get to it - it's in a building that looks like a strip mall.
Well the Port Huron one is definitely off of the freeway, I got off on it from I-69/I-94 a few years back. If I recall though the older welcome center was off of a street.
The Port Huron welcome center was replaced a few years ago when I-94 was reconstructed and widened by a new rest area / welcome center right on the freeway a mile or so west of the old location.
https://goo.gl/maps/7k2NiVEru7KfieNDA
Intersection of US-18/US-85 in Wyoming (Mule Creek Junction).
https://goo.gl/maps/4kbX7zJbLKyEPv6m9
OH 2 has a rest area just west of where the freeway section ends on the west side of Port Clinton
Utah has a handful on the state's larger rural US and state route corridors. US 6, 40, 89, 191, and SR 12 and 24 all have at least one.
Quote from: US 89 on February 21, 2021, 01:27:55 PM
Utah has a handful on the state's larger rural US and state route corridors. US 6, 40, 89, 191, and SR 12 and 24 all have at least one.
Where are they on 12 and 24?
In New York, US 20 / NY 5 has one along Seneca Lake in Geneva. That is the only normal state rest area in New York that is not located on a freeway or at an exit. A few towns in the Adirondacks also operate "rest areas", such as along NY 28 in Eagle Bay (https://goo.gl/maps/Ed4bGiCoXhA9HVbTA).
Vermont has a welcome center along US 2 in Allburg (https://goo.gl/maps/f4xSYQ9CopYCyHkBA). New Hampshire has one along US 3 in Colebrook (https://goo.gl/maps/RNVDd9MtkSqzh3dC6). Maine has one along US 302 in Fryeburg (https://goo.gl/maps/CGreCyjPHhvtbYfE8).
Quote from: Rothman on February 21, 2021, 09:25:34 AM
Pretty sure we've had this thread before.
We almost certainly have.
Quote from: SEWIGuy on February 21, 2021, 08:47:31 AM
Wisconsin only has "Rest Areas" on four lane highways, but has numerous seasonal "Waysides" on two lane roads. They generally have more "rustic" bathrooms and a few picnic tables. I have seen some of these closed permanently in recent years.
The one on Wis 23/73 east of Princeton actually has a bit part with my family. My Great Uncle Ollie owned the farm that the wayside was built on. Back in the 1950s or so, he sold some of the land to the state for the wayside.
https://www.google.com/maps/@43.8361072,-89.0833084,3a,75y,354.62h,84.38t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sYBomuftW7tcmRqFLJdjA4Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
He also had sold a small parcel at the northwest corner of Wis 23 and Wis 73 that became the Acorn Ridge Motel.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on February 21, 2021, 12:54:24 AM
US 95 in Nevada has a bunch as does US 395 in California.
Quote from: michravera on February 21, 2021, 01:24:04 AM
US-95 in western Nevada is two-lane conventional highway for most of the route and has at least one, if not two rest areas.
Here's NDOT's map (https://www.nevadadot.com/home/showdocument?id=138). A few of these are nothing but a couple picnic tables and a trash can, as noted in the attached chart, like "Mountain House" near me, but most do have restroom facilities.
I remember Nebraska had one on US 275 east of Norfolk, but it looks like it may have been sold to a private business.
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on February 21, 2021, 12:23:36 AM
Minnesota has a handful of these, mostly on expressway grade roads but a few on two-laners; MN 61 has a lot of rest areas, though some are closed in winter.
The two famous ones, as far as my family is concerned, are US 169 north of LeSueur and MN 60 east of St. James.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on February 21, 2021, 01:40:51 PM
Quote from: US 89 on February 21, 2021, 01:27:55 PM
Utah has a handful on the state's larger rural US and state route corridors. US 6, 40, 89, 191, and SR 12 and 24 all have at least one.
Where are they on 12 and 24?
The one on SR 12 is a few miles west of the Bryce Canyon junction with SR 63 (https://www.google.com/maps/@37.7081726,-112.2057459,424m/data=!3m1!1e3). 24 has one on the Fish Lake climb between the SR 62 and 25 intersections (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.5346916,-111.836686,707m/data=!3m1!1e3).
I realize now SR 10 also has one, but that one seems a little weirder than the others as it's actually within the town of Emery (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9235057,-111.2496814,236m/data=!3m1!1e3) instead of out in the middle of nowhere. There's also one on SR 30 by Bear Lake (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.856693,-111.3646667,260m/data=!3m1!1e3)...which I shouldn't have forgotten the first time since I've actually stopped there before.
Quote from: catch22 on February 21, 2021, 12:11:53 PM
Quote from: tdindy88 on February 21, 2021, 10:13:20 AM
Quote from: GaryV on February 21, 2021, 09:50:42 AM
Quote from: GaryV on February 21, 2021, 08:05:11 AM
Michigan has several Rest Areas ...
(Quoting myself)
I should have also noted that the Welcome Centers in Sault Ste Marie, Mackinaw City, Port Huron and Detroit are technically not on freeways, as you have to take an exit from the Interstate and travel on surface streets to get to the Rest Area. I'm not even sure how you get to the Detroit one from a freeway; you cross the Ambassador Bridge and follow a surface street to get to it - it's in a building that looks like a strip mall.
Well the Port Huron one is definitely off of the freeway, I got off on it from I-69/I-94 a few years back. If I recall though the older welcome center was off of a street.
The Port Huron welcome center was replaced a few years ago when I-94 was reconstructed and widened by a new rest area / welcome center right on the freeway a mile or so west of the old location.
https://goo.gl/maps/7k2NiVEru7KfieNDA
The old Port Huron Welcome Center was actually in the
middle of the ramp for westbound exit 274 on I-94/I-69.
(https://i.imgur.com/h4OQrg4.png)
TX has rest areas in many parts of the state, shown on this site:
https://www.txdot.gov/driver/travel/rest-areas-map.html
Some of those are on interstates, but several others are not. Many of those have been renovated and upgraded.
For many years, all of TX' roadside stops were signed as "rest areas" but several years ago, a separate signed category, "picnic area", began appearing at some of them. Picnic areas have a basic offering of parking area, picnic tables (usually covered but not always), and some grills.
This picnic area, a typical one for the most part, along US 175 NW of Athens is the only one that remains along the highway. The other 2 that were beside the highway were victims of road widening projects.(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d5/PicnicareaalongUS175nearAthensTexas.jpg/800px-PicnicareaalongUS175nearAthensTexas.jpg)
The "rest area" signing still appears, but indicates stops with more amenities, primarily bathrooms. Others may include additions like vending machines, pay phones, and wi-fi. Here is an upgraded one, along US 69 on the north side of Jacksonville at Love's Lookout, a popular scenic overlook:
(https://www.dot.state.tx.us/apps-cg/safety_rest_areas/images/Cherokee.jpg)
It includes bathrooms, vending machines, staffed local tourist info center, and a sheriff's substation. The original rest area at the site was damaged in a 1987 tornado, and was eventually restored and upgraded to what is in place there now. The architecture of the building there evokes what was used in the city beside its railroads and main street for tomato sheds for many years (the city was known before World War II for its tomato crops). A state Historical Marker (https://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/Details/5073006965) is also at the facility, detailing history of the site and area.
By the 1960s, West Virginia had an extensive network of "Roadside Rest Areas" scattered on U.S. routes. These all consisted of hand-dug outhouses (male and female) along with a tall red handpump water fountain. As they were gradually abandoned, some were rescued by localities. One that still remains is the St. Albans Roadside Park on MacCorkle Avenue (US-60) alongside the Kanawha River. This one was a larger facility that included swingsets, slides, teeter-totters, spinner-go-rounds and even a basketball court. This was close enough to one of the original Kentucky Fried Chicken huts that it got heavy use on the weekends.
I doubt that any of the original facilities are still there, but the St. Albans Roadside Park still gets heavy use.
Georgia has a welcome center (which in GA are technically called Visitor Information Centers) near Exit 12 of I-185, north of Columbus. Not only is this rest area accessed from a local road, more recently there has been an apartment complex built, with the entrance to the apartments being accessed via the entrance to the welcome center.
https://goo.gl/maps/eWp1Thsii3DWwcw27
I saw one on ME 9.
Does the Maine Welcome Rest Area on I-95 still have a "back door" to US-1?
Quote from: GaryV on February 21, 2021, 06:56:01 PM
Does the Maine Welcome Rest Area on I-95 still have a "back door" to US-1?
It does, complete with its own separate parking area.
Ohio's been mentioned. The facility on OH 7 near Gallipolis has a display memorializing the Silver Bridge (US 35) collapse.
Most of the rest areas in Colorado ‐‐ west of the Divide -- are off the freeway, as you have to physically exit the freeway and turn onto a crossroad to access the single center that serves both ways. You could argue that the I-70 Rest Areas through Glenwood Canyon are along the mainline as all "exits" are all NO OUTLETS that serve small areas.
US-40 and CO-13 also have roadside rest areas as well.
If we want to go across the pond, the Skiach Services along the A9 north of Inverness, Scotland are a signed service area (https://goo.gl/maps/66zC5EZHHku5dWFF7) along a 2-lane road. This is notable as the northernmost official service area in the UK. The UK has several official service areas along dual carriageways (expressway-grade roads for those in North America), but very few along 2-lane roads.
All of these rest areas are on two-lane highways. Idaho does not have many freeways outside of interstate highways.
Idaho
US 12
Lenore
Lolo Pass
US 95
Sheep Creek (South of Riggins)
Mineral Mountain (North of Potlatch)
Winchester
US 93
Lost Trail Pass
Washington
US 195
Horn School (South of Rosalia)
My first thought in Texas was the one on US 287 north of Decatur. The road is a four-lane divided highway and the rest area is on one side. There are crossovers to get there from, and back to, the southbound lanes. Then I remembered the one near the Guadalupe Mountains. That's on US 62/180 south of the New Mexico state line. That's along a two-lane road.
The Marfa Lights viewing area doesn't meet the criteria, because it isn't officially marked. On Street View I don't see any signs (Marfa doesn't really like to publicize their lights, and TxDOT built this place mainly to keep viewers contained, so they're not parking along the road). On the state travel map it's shown as a picnic area. It has very nice restrooms, interpretive displays, binoculars, benches, and a short hiking trail. What it doesn't have is picnic tables. That's probably because it's mainly used at night, when the lights are visible. It must be the only picnic area without picnic tables.
Quote from: wxfree on February 21, 2021, 10:11:11 PM
My first thought in Texas was the one on US 287 north of Decatur. The road is a four-lane divided highway and the rest area is on one side. There are crossovers to get there from, and back to, the southbound lanes. Then I remembered the one near the Guadalupe Mountains. That's on US 62/180 south of the New Mexico state line. That's along a two-lane road.
The Marfa Lights viewing area doesn't meet the criteria, because it isn't officially marked. On Street View I don't see any signs (Marfa doesn't really like to publicize their lights, and TxDOT built this place mainly to keep viewers contained, so they're not parking along the road). On the state travel map it's shown as a picnic area. It has very nice restrooms, interpretive displays, binoculars, benches, and a short hiking trail. What it doesn't have is picnic tables. That's probably because it's mainly used at night, when the lights are visible. It must be the only picnic area without picnic tables.
I've been to that US 62/180 rest area. I like how this board makes me have to remember all of my 2009 El Paso trip.
There are a couple in Washington, such as the one on WA-7 on the way to Mt. Rainier.
Others in the south/mid-atlantic not yet mentioned...
US 301 has welcome centers on both sides of the GA/SC border
US 301 has welcome centers on both sides of the VA/MD border
US 17 has welcome centers on both sides of the SC/NC border
It appears this one at US 220/NC 73 jct is closed now - https://goo.gl/maps/UgRd2BkgvT6s9o6m9
US 17 had one south of Vanceboro that was torn down not too long after this GMSV - https://goo.gl/maps/eHbKUrFta4xbZsix8
I'm sure NC had more of these older types but I don't really remember them anywhere else.
US 64 has non-freeway rest areas in Plymouth NC and Manteo NC
Virginia had some waysides that were developed enough to have bathrooms...Carters Wayside on Old US 11 near Ft Chiswell is still around as is Hanover Wayside on US 301 but both of these are parks now.
VA 598 at the VA/WV line appears to still have a rest area
There is also one buried within the skewed interchange of US 7 and VA 279 in Bennington VT
US 2 has several across the expanse of Montana
PA has a few; they tend to be in rural locations but not necessarily. The ones I've used have either a port-a-potty or an outhouse, with picnic tables.
The only ones I know of are:
US 11/15 south of Selinsgrove
US 15 south of Williamsport
I think there are more but the PA map labels Park-and-Ride lots the same as the Rest Areas so it's hard to tell.
VA used to call their non freeway rest areas as Waysides and were on state maps.
US 301 had one on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in the median north of MD 213 about ten miles or so. It used to have outhouses for facilities. Heck it may still have. Haven't been that way since 2009 and never used it since high school days in the 80s.
Quote from: Mapmikey on February 22, 2021, 08:26:13 AM
US 301 has welcome centers on both sides of the VA/MD border
Only the Maryland side has a welcome center, there's none on the Virginia side.
IIRC, the only Virginia non-freeway rest area is along US-13 south of the Maryland border.
Quote from: Mapmikey on February 22, 2021, 08:26:13 AM
US 17 has welcome centers on both sides of the SC/NC border
While there's one on the South Carolina side, the only one in North Carolina is about 15 miles north near Shallote, unless this is what you were referring to.
Quote from: Mapmikey on February 22, 2021, 08:26:13 AM
US 17 had one south of Vanceboro that was torn down not too long after this GMSV - https://goo.gl/maps/eHbKUrFta4xbZsix8
IIRC, the one slightly further north closer to Washington was built specifically to replace this one.
https://goo.gl/maps/tt1MsTqnDeL2D2nA6
https://goo.gl/maps/DAioBvBr5Rw76TE69
Last GSV both US 22 in Readington, NJ and US 301 in MD are still there.
Quote from: sprjus4 on February 22, 2021, 08:59:47 AM
Quote from: Mapmikey on February 22, 2021, 08:26:13 AM
US 301 has welcome centers on both sides of the VA/MD border
Only the Maryland side has a welcome center, there's none on the Virginia side.
IIRC, the only Virginia non-freeway rest area is along US-13 south of the Maryland border.
Quote from: Mapmikey on February 22, 2021, 08:26:13 AM
US 17 has welcome centers on both sides of the SC/NC border
While there's one on the South Carolina side, the only one in North Carolina is about 15 miles north near Shallote, unless this is what you were referring to.
Quote from: Mapmikey on February 22, 2021, 08:26:13 AM
US 17 had one south of Vanceboro that was torn down not too long after this GMSV - https://goo.gl/maps/eHbKUrFta4xbZsix8
IIRC, the one slightly further north closer to Washington was built specifically to replace this one.
The Wayside is no longer there, but there is still the TIC part of the US 301 facility in Virginia which houses restrooms and a small museum - https://goo.gl/maps/3hGR1AGTf5dDH5kF7
I am referring to the Shalotte rest area.
Quote from: KCRoadFan on February 21, 2021, 12:06:40 AM
On my ongoing cross-country Street View journey following US 20 from Newport, Oregon to Boston, I came upon a most interesting sight while traversing the empty, wide-open scrublands of Wyoming west of Casper
You passed over multiple rest areas just on US-20.
US-20 in Brothers, OR (east of Bend) (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.8123802,-120.5982993,3a,74y,311.74h,81.77t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sDYPuOZHcN9gfwplHgvAwAA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656). I've used this one many many times, very useful driving from Bend to Idaho.
US-20 West of Burns, OR (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.5327896,-119.3213543,3a,75y,128.71h,79.45t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1soYMw1ZTinPLtsVQ_CrxhHw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)
US-20 East of Burns, OR (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.6477222,-118.6129942,3a,70y,89.36h,80.9t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sLTIeX7njfsb4CXn-v1a_zA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656). This one may be closed now, not sure. At one point it was marked closed but port-a-pottys were still available.
US-20 at ID-75 (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.3316872,-114.2824686,3a,75y,111.51h,87.4t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s3BFt-lXSoyBAyuhmjORB9w!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D3BFt-lXSoyBAyuhmjORB9w%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D90.78084%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656)
Oregon has a lot of them, here are more I often have stopped at.
US-26 between Seaside, OR and Manning, OR (https://www.google.com/maps/@45.7972015,-123.4628522,3a,75y,123.89h,89.62t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1svIfrHKgvNHuFSpIzU8u8Tw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192)
US-26 in Government Camp, OR (https://www.google.com/maps/@45.3020352,-121.7472119,3a,75y,88.2h,90.07t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s1gucZ0VZgeqDMo2YATlKig!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)
US-26 East of Prineville, OR (https://www.google.com/maps/@44.4866114,-120.3966803,3a,75y,257.48h,78.6t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1shgWRFxzIQXC2mFSe31jhdA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656). This one is probably one of the most desolate in Oregon, though it's just outhouses and it's co-signed with a sno-park/trailhead.
OR-22 near Gates, OR (https://www.google.com/maps/@44.7555449,-122.3860693,3a,75y,265.57h,80.74t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sMEFObxz-v2DdhIbf9YzS_Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)
US-97 North of Madras, OR (https://www.google.com/maps/@44.8964105,-120.9361138,3a,75y,163.88h,75.75t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1ssqqP-Iam0p1htlNxz3GGIQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)
US-97 North of Terrebonne, OR (https://www.google.com/maps/@44.3913971,-121.1908318,3a,49.6y,144.06h,85.07t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sCOgEqwVYOIj2b-R0bCwlaA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192). There is upstream signage marking this one as a Rest Area.
US-97 near Chemult, OR (https://goo.gl/maps/iMK19sJZRShMBtU1A). This one's interesting because there are separate northbound and southbound rest areas, which is usually only the case on freeways.
US-97 South of Klamath Falls, OR (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.1235328,-121.8272982,3a,75y,31.95h,86.34t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1slOcGhFC9C9Cw0NwSVjg3qA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)
US-97 in Oregon provides very solid rest area coverage, better than some Interstates. And for good measure, there's one in California too. Was closed in 2018 for this GSV but I believe it's open again. US-97 North of Weed, CA (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.6422538,-122.1634706,3a,74.2y,287.82h,83.3t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sJ6N_hRV9gWVCasD-OA3yRA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)
Here's a map of Oregon's. Some of these are not signed as Rest Areas (usually they are State Parks in that case) but many of them are. A majority of these have full plumbed bathrooms and are comparable to what you'd find on an interstate. A few of them are more primitive.
(https://www.tripcheck.com/Content/img/map/restAreaMap.gif)
Link with more details (https://www.tripcheck.com/Pages/Rest-Areas)
Quote from: gonealookin on February 21, 2021, 02:34:42 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on February 21, 2021, 12:54:24 AM
US 95 in Nevada has a bunch as does US 395 in California.
Quote from: michravera on February 21, 2021, 01:24:04 AM
US-95 in western Nevada is two-lane conventional highway for most of the route and has at least one, if not two rest areas.
Here's NDOT's map (https://www.nevadadot.com/home/showdocument?id=138). A few of these are nothing but a couple picnic tables and a trash can, as noted in the attached chart, like "Mountain House" near me, but most do have restroom facilities.
Real rest rooms, clean water, and a couple of picnic tables and a trash can, some maybe some "stretch my legs and walk my dog" room. What more do you need? Slot Machines? A couple of gaming tables?
I know of three former ones in Alabama which have all been shut down and demolished. One on US-280 south of Birmingham at the top of Oak Mountain which is now the entrance to the Highland Lakes subdivision. Another one on US-280 northwest of Auburn at AL-147 and one on US-31 just south of Bay Minette. The last two can still be made out on Google Maps.
Quote from: doorknob60 on February 22, 2021, 01:48:30 PM
Quote from: KCRoadFan on February 21, 2021, 12:06:40 AM
On my ongoing cross-country Street View journey following US 20 from Newport, Oregon to Boston, I came upon a most interesting sight while traversing the empty, wide-open scrublands of Wyoming west of Casper
You passed over multiple rest areas just on US-20.
US-20 in Brothers, OR (east of Bend) (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.8123802,-120.5982993,3a,74y,311.74h,81.77t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sDYPuOZHcN9gfwplHgvAwAA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656). I've used this one many many times, very useful driving from Bend to Idaho.
US-20 West of Burns, OR (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.5327896,-119.3213543,3a,75y,128.71h,79.45t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1soYMw1ZTinPLtsVQ_CrxhHw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)
US-20 East of Burns, OR (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.6477222,-118.6129942,3a,70y,89.36h,80.9t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sLTIeX7njfsb4CXn-v1a_zA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656). This one may be closed now, not sure. At one point it was marked closed but port-a-pottys were still available.
US-20 at ID-75 (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.3316872,-114.2824686,3a,75y,111.51h,87.4t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s3BFt-lXSoyBAyuhmjORB9w!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D3BFt-lXSoyBAyuhmjORB9w%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D90.78084%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656)
Oregon has a lot of them, here are more I often have stopped at.
US-26 between Seaside, OR and Manning, OR (https://www.google.com/maps/@45.7972015,-123.4628522,3a,75y,123.89h,89.62t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1svIfrHKgvNHuFSpIzU8u8Tw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192)
US-26 in Government Camp, OR (https://www.google.com/maps/@45.3020352,-121.7472119,3a,75y,88.2h,90.07t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s1gucZ0VZgeqDMo2YATlKig!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)
US-26 East of Prineville, OR (https://www.google.com/maps/@44.4866114,-120.3966803,3a,75y,257.48h,78.6t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1shgWRFxzIQXC2mFSe31jhdA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656). This one is probably one of the most desolate in Oregon, though it's just outhouses and it's co-signed with a sno-park/trailhead.
OR-22 near Gates, OR (https://www.google.com/maps/@44.7555449,-122.3860693,3a,75y,265.57h,80.74t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sMEFObxz-v2DdhIbf9YzS_Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)
US-97 North of Madras, OR (https://www.google.com/maps/@44.8964105,-120.9361138,3a,75y,163.88h,75.75t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1ssqqP-Iam0p1htlNxz3GGIQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)
US-97 North of Terrebonne, OR (https://www.google.com/maps/@44.3913971,-121.1908318,3a,49.6y,144.06h,85.07t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sCOgEqwVYOIj2b-R0bCwlaA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192). There is upstream signage marking this one as a Rest Area.
US-97 near Chemult, OR (https://goo.gl/maps/iMK19sJZRShMBtU1A). This one's interesting because there are separate northbound and southbound rest areas, which is usually only the case on freeways.
US-97 South of Klamath Falls, OR (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.1235328,-121.8272982,3a,75y,31.95h,86.34t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1slOcGhFC9C9Cw0NwSVjg3qA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)
US-97 in Oregon provides very solid rest area coverage, better than some Interstates. And for good measure, there's one in California too. Was closed in 2018 for this GSV but I believe it's open again. US-97 North of Weed, CA (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.6422538,-122.1634706,3a,74.2y,287.82h,83.3t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sJ6N_hRV9gWVCasD-OA3yRA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)
Here's a map of Oregon's. Some of these are not signed as Rest Areas (usually they are State Parks in that case) but many of them are. A majority of these have full plumbed bathrooms and are comparable to what you'd find on an interstate. A few of them are more primitive.
(https://www.tripcheck.com/Content/img/map/restAreaMap.gif)
Link with more details (https://www.tripcheck.com/Pages/Rest-Areas)
I noticed the Oregon ones as well when I was at that point in my virtual travels. It's just that my Street View journey had encountered a similar one in Wyoming - namely, the Waltman rest area between Shoshoni and Casper - which prompted me to create this thread.
Illinois used to have them but all that remain area few picnic tables.
Quote from: Mapmikey on February 22, 2021, 08:26:13 AM
Others in the south/mid-atlantic not yet mentioned...
US 301 has welcome centers on both sides of the GA/SC border
US 301 has welcome centers on both sides of the VA/MD border
US 17 has welcome centers on both sides of the SC/NC border
It appears this one at US 220/NC 73 jct is closed now - https://goo.gl/maps/UgRd2BkgvT6s9o6m9
US 17 had one south of Vanceboro that was torn down not too long after this GMSV - https://goo.gl/maps/eHbKUrFta4xbZsix8
I'm sure NC had more of these older types but I don't really remember them anywhere else.
US 64 has non-freeway rest areas in Plymouth NC and Manteo NC
Virginia had some waysides that were developed enough to have bathrooms...Carters Wayside on Old US 11 near Ft Chiswell is still around as is Hanover Wayside on US 301 but both of these are parks now.
VA 598 at the VA/WV line appears to still have a rest area
There is also one buried within the skewed interchange of US 7 and VA 279 in Bennington VT
US 2 has several across the expanse of Montana
Also in North Carolina is the welcome center on US 23/441 for traffic entering from Georgia
Quote from: sprjus4 on February 22, 2021, 08:59:47 AM
Quote from: Mapmikey on February 22, 2021, 08:26:13 AM
US 301 has welcome centers on both sides of the VA/MD border
Only the Maryland side has a welcome center, there's none on the Virginia side.
On the Virginia side is the Dahlgren Wayside Park, which felt like a rest area (if not welcome center) when I stopped there on 301 heading home from Myrtle Beach in 2004. As of last August the park is closed for the replacement of the Nice Bridge.
In addition to the one off the Nice Bridge in Maryland, US 301 has the Bay Country Welcome Center in the median in Queen Anne's County. US 13 has a welcome center northbound just over the Virginia line in Worcester County and one in Princess Anne. US 15 has the Mason-Dixon Welcome Center southbound near Emmitsburg. US 219 had Cove Overlook in Accident between I-68 and the Deep Creek Lake drag, however the State Highway Administration axed its restrooms and now it's just a parking lot.
Quote from: SEWIGuy on February 21, 2021, 08:47:31 AM
Wisconsin only has "Rest Areas" on four lane highways, but has numerous seasonal "Waysides" on two lane roads. They generally have more "rustic" bathrooms and a few picnic tables. I have seen some of these closed permanently in recent years.
How many of the old Waysides that are still open still have the hand-pumped water wells? I haven't stopped at one of them in years. One of my favorite things to do when on the road with my parents was to stop at a Wayside and pump the water to get a drink of the best tasting well water. On the other hand, I hated using the pit toilets. They stunk, for one, and for another, I was always afraid to use the toilet because I though I was going to fall in the pit, along with looking down at the pit grossed me out.
Quote from: Voyager75 on February 22, 2021, 06:38:12 PM
I know of three former ones in Alabama which have all been shut down and demolished. One on US-280 south of Birmingham at the top of Oak Mountain which is now the entrance to the Highland Lakes subdivision. Another one on US-280 northwest of Auburn at AL-147 and one on US-31 just south of Bay Minette. The last two can still be made out on Google Maps.
US 231 had one between Troy and Montgomery in 2003. Was gone in 2019.
Quote from: roadman65 on February 21, 2021, 09:53:30 AM
US 22 in Whitehouse, NJ. (Or had one).
Its gone along with the eastbound one in Mountainside ("Echobrook Rest Area")
Over half of the rest areas maintained by WSDOT are on non-Interstates, and probably most are on non-freeways. There's 47 total counted on this list (https://wsdot.wa.gov/travel/safety/rest-areas/locations).
WI welcome center on US-51 in Hurley.
Quote from: michravera on February 22, 2021, 05:21:11 PM
Quote from: gonealookin on February 21, 2021, 02:34:42 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on February 21, 2021, 12:54:24 AM
US 95 in Nevada has a bunch as does US 395 in California.
Quote from: michravera on February 21, 2021, 01:24:04 AM
US-95 in western Nevada is two-lane conventional highway for most of the route and has at least one, if not two rest areas.
Here's NDOT's map (https://www.nevadadot.com/home/showdocument?id=138). A few of these are nothing but a couple picnic tables and a trash can, as noted in the attached chart, like "Mountain House" near me, but most do have restroom facilities.
Real rest rooms, clean water, and a couple of picnic tables and a trash can, some maybe some "stretch my legs and walk my dog" room. What more do you need? Slot Machines? A couple of gaming tables?
Seriously. It's a place to stop and use the restroom, maybe eat lunch. What else is a rest area
supposed to be?
Quote from: kphoger on February 23, 2021, 11:42:45 AM
Quote from: michravera on February 22, 2021, 05:21:11 PM
Quote from: gonealookin on February 21, 2021, 02:34:42 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on February 21, 2021, 12:54:24 AM
US 95 in Nevada has a bunch as does US 395 in California.
Quote from: michravera on February 21, 2021, 01:24:04 AM
US-95 in western Nevada is two-lane conventional highway for most of the route and has at least one, if not two rest areas.
Here's NDOT's map (https://www.nevadadot.com/home/showdocument?id=138). A few of these are nothing but a couple picnic tables and a trash can, as noted in the attached chart, like "Mountain House" near me, but most do have restroom facilities.
Real rest rooms, clean water, and a couple of picnic tables and a trash can, some maybe some "stretch my legs and walk my dog" room. What more do you need? Slot Machines? A couple of gaming tables?
Seriously. It's a place to stop and use the restroom, maybe eat lunch. What else is a rest area supposed to be?
New York calls em Text Stops for safety.
Texas refers to Safety Break Areas.
Whatever, it's an area for stopping mainly to get up and stretch legs and taking care of Mother Nature ( if it's a full service area) and to walk dogs 🐕.
Quote from: roadman65 on February 23, 2021, 12:00:50 PM
New York calls em Text Stops for safety.
Where's the barfing face smiley?
Quote from: roadman65 on February 23, 2021, 12:00:50 PM
New York calls em Text Stops for safety.
Texas refers to Safety Break Areas.
New York still calls them rest areas and parking areas - the text stop thing is only additional to that. Don't know about Texas though.
Quote from: vdeane on February 23, 2021, 12:57:22 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on February 23, 2021, 12:00:50 PM
New York calls em Text Stops for safety.
Texas refers to Safety Break Areas.
New York still calls them rest areas and parking areas - the text stop thing is only additional to that. Don't know about Texas though.
At one time NYSDOT called the ones on NY 17 a Phone Comfort Station.
Quote from: roadman65 on February 22, 2021, 11:42:48 PM
Quote from: Voyager75 on February 22, 2021, 06:38:12 PM
I know of three former ones in Alabama which have all been shut down and demolished. One on US-280 south of Birmingham at the top of Oak Mountain which is now the entrance to the Highland Lakes subdivision. Another one on US-280 northwest of Auburn at AL-147 and one on US-31 just south of Bay Minette. The last two can still be made out on Google Maps.
US 231 had one between Troy and Montgomery in 2003. Was gone in 2019.
I thought there was another one but I couldn't rack my brain to remember.
Believe this was it:
https://goo.gl/maps/6y8LFVwWzBLSyhmcA
Quote from: Voyager75 on February 23, 2021, 08:07:43 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on February 22, 2021, 11:42:48 PM
Quote from: Voyager75 on February 22, 2021, 06:38:12 PM
I know of three former ones in Alabama which have all been shut down and demolished. One on US-280 south of Birmingham at the top of Oak Mountain which is now the entrance to the Highland Lakes subdivision. Another one on US-280 northwest of Auburn at AL-147 and one on US-31 just south of Bay Minette. The last two can still be made out on Google Maps.
US 231 had one between Troy and Montgomery in 2003. Was gone in 2019.
I thought there was another one but I couldn't rack my brain to remember.
Believe this was it:
https://goo.gl/maps/6y8LFVwWzBLSyhmcA
That's just a non-satellite view of an area.
Is this the GSV? (https://goo.gl/maps/zrXSWtp6ZFwXZ6Gw7)
Quote from: kphoger on February 23, 2021, 12:06:52 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on February 23, 2021, 12:00:50 PM
New York calls em Text Stops for safety.
Where's the barfing face smiley?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/54480415@N08/8503945739/
This is Texas official name for some ( or at least this one) areas.
^
Virginia calls its rest areas "Safety Rest Areas" as well.
https://www.virginiadot.org/travel/map-rest-area.asp
Quote from: roadman65 on February 24, 2021, 11:47:47 AM
Quote from: kphoger on February 23, 2021, 12:06:52 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on February 23, 2021, 12:00:50 PM
New York calls em Text Stops for safety.
Where's the barfing face smiley?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/54480415@N08/8503945739/
This is Texas official name for some ( or at least this one) areas.
It wasn't the 'safety' part I was barfing at. It was the 'text stops' part.
Quote from: cl94 on February 21, 2021, 02:00:49 PM
Vermont has a welcome center along US 2 in Allburg (https://goo.gl/maps/f4xSYQ9CopYCyHkBA). New Hampshire has one along US 3 in Colebrook (https://goo.gl/maps/RNVDd9MtkSqzh3dC6). Maine has one along US 302 in Fryeburg (https://goo.gl/maps/CGreCyjPHhvtbYfE8).
Surprised you didn't include US 4 in Fair Haven, VT, just after crossing from NY.
Quote
Quote from: Rothman on February 21, 2021, 09:25:34 AM
Pretty sure we've had this thread before.
We almost certainly have.
Indeed... (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=14043.0)
Quote from: froggie on February 24, 2021, 12:07:34 PM
Indeed... (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=14043.0)
That thread seems to focus on interstate / freeway rest areas that require an exit to access, this one is centered around rest areas along arterial routes not near any interstates or freeways.
That was its initial focus, but there are a number of examples listed of rest areas on non-Interstates as well as non-freeways.