Freeway rest areas not on the freeway

[robbones]

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?

[SSOWorld]

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.

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.

[cl94]

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.

[cpzilliacus]

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.

[Pete from Boston]

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.

[cpzilliacus]

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.

[GCrites]

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.

[CtrlAltDel]

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 accessible
38.829194,-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 accessible
38.755154,-111.418669
38.855224,-110.908808

[cl94]

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.

[1995hoo]

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.

[cl94]

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.

[GCrites]

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.

[cl94]

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.

[hbelkins]

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.

[Mike_OH]

I can't recall exactly where but there in one for I-75 in Kentucky, somewhere between Lexington and the Tennessee line.

[hbelkins]

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.

[doorknob60]

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

[lepidopteran]

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.

[briantroutman]

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?

[JCinSummerfield]

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.

[Brian556]

I-10 at SR 81, Florida Panhandle.

[Beeper1]

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.

[dgolub]

NY 27 has a rest area in an area where it's not a freeway.

[Roadrunner75]

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.

[ARMOURERERIC]

Buckman Springs rest area, I-8, Exit 51