State welcome centers not near state borders

[cbeach40]

Mexicantown's not all that far from the Ambassador Bridge or the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, thus it is near a state (and national for that matter) border.

That one will be sandwiched between the Ambassador and Gordie Howe Bridges once the latter is built. Seems to me almost ideal in terms of location for a welcome centre.

[Max Rockatansky]

Mexicantown's not all that far from the Ambassador Bridge or the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, thus it is near a state (and national for that matter) border.

That one will be sandwiched between the Ambassador and Gordie Howe Bridges once the latter is built. Seems to me almost ideal in terms of location for a welcome centre.

Isn't that center on Bagley?  That's actually not a bad location in terms of placement from the Ambassador Bridge

[kalvado]

Not truly state welcome centers - but service areas on NYS Thruway have (mostly seasonal) tourist information... rooms, I would call it - with local information, stuff present, etc. Can easily be 100 miles or more from state border.
Apparently they are taking advantage of existing service areas with lots of drivers stopping for meal, restroom or fuel anyway.

[wanderer2575]

Michigan has the following not near a state border:

Clare (US-127 & US-10)
Marquette (US-41 & M-28)
Mackinaw City (off I-75)
Saint Igance (I-75 northbound)

Plus, most recently, one in the Mexicantown area of downtown Detroit.  It's only open weekdays.

Mexicantown's not all that far from the Ambassador Bridge or the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, thus it is near a state (and national for that matter) border.

*smacks head, edits post*

[shadyjay]

Connecticut has a welcome center, signed as such, about 70 miles away from the state line, on I-95 NB in Westbrook just past Exit 65.  The first, official welcome center is at the Darien service plaza at around MM 10, much closer to the state line. 

95NB-Exit66-1mile by Jay Hogan, on Flickr

[bzakharin]

According to the NJ official site (http://www.visitnj.org/new-jersey-information-welcome-centers), thee only thing in NJ that has "welcome center" in its name is the "Ocean View Welcome Center". According to Street View, that location is the Ocean View Service Area (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1833298,-74.7224194,3a,75y,207.19h,92.05t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1saw4V349M3yZyeFnFRWkixg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1). I'm not sure whether it says "welcome center" anywhere on the building since GSV is too blurry there. If that's correct, though, unless you came in by ferry (about 20 miles away), the nearest state crossing is over 65 miles away

[hubcity]

Delaware really can't help having a welcome center near the state line - interestingly, its I-95 welcome center performs that duty for both northbound and southbound drivers, which is likely unique.

[hbelkins]

The I-65 SB in Kentucky is at MM 114 that's 23 miles south of the state line.

Also, I-64's eastbound welcome center is near Simpsonville in Shelby County. And I-64's westbound welcome center is about 20 miles from the West Virginia state line.

I noticed over the weekend that the Sideling Hill building on I-68 is now signed as a Maryland welcome center, which seems unusual since I can't imagine a lot of traffic moves from I-70 eastbound to I-68 westbound.

[dvferyance]

I don't have time to do them all but I am just going to check out the midwest here. In Illinois the one at I-80 WB is at MM 118 that's about 45 miles west of the Indiana state line. The one at I-55 NB is at MM 28 as is the one at I-70 EB. In Iowa the one at I-80 WB is at MM 269 that's 37 miles west of the Illinois state line. This is a strange one because it's not the first rest area in the state there is another one before it at MM 299 which should be the welcome center it's only 7 miles from the state line. In Missouri there is on on I-70 EB at MM 57 I believe there was once one closer but Missouri has been closing rest areas like crazy. In Indiana there is one on I-74 WB at MM 152 about 22 miles from the Ohio state line. In Ohio there is one at I-75 SB at MM 178 about 33 miles south of the Michigan state line. That's all I could find in those states. Found nothing in Minnesota, Wisconsin or Michigan that fit the criteria of this discussion and HB and myself already discussed Kentucky.

[noelbotevera]

Pennsylvania has only one

PA Turnpike: King of Prussia Service Plaza at MM 328.3 and is 31 miles from the NJ State Line.

[Mr_Northside]

I noticed over the weekend that the Sideling Hill building on I-68 is now signed as a Maryland welcome center, which seems unusual since I can't imagine a lot of traffic moves from I-70 eastbound to I-68 westbound.

It could also be utilized (with a decent amount of miles already driven in MD) from I-81 S -> I-68, which probably does get a lot more traffic, at least compared to I-70 EB -> I-68.

[Brandon]

I don't have time to do them all but I am just going to check out the midwest here. In Illinois the one at I-80 WB is at MM 118 that's about 45 miles west of the Indiana state line.

That's a rest area, not a welcome center.  The welcome center/travel information center is at milepost 1 (Lincoln Oasis) on the Tri-State Tollway (I-80/294), about 4 miles west of the Indiana state line.

[dvferyance]

I don't have time to do them all but I am just going to check out the midwest here. In Illinois the one at I-80 WB is at MM 118 that's about 45 miles west of the Indiana state line.

That's a rest area, not a welcome center.  The welcome center/travel information center is at milepost 1 (Lincoln Oasis) on the Tri-State Tollway (I-80/294), about 4 miles west of the Indiana state line.

I have never been to that one but I have been to other Oasis along the tollway like the Lake Forest Oasis. I haven't seen one that has any maps or travel information.

[Brandon]

I don't have time to do them all but I am just going to check out the midwest here. In Illinois the one at I-80 WB is at MM 118 that's about 45 miles west of the Indiana state line.

That's a rest area, not a welcome center.  The welcome center/travel information center is at milepost 1 (Lincoln Oasis) on the Tri-State Tollway (I-80/294), about 4 miles west of the Indiana state line.

I have never been to that one but I have been to other Oasis along the tollway like the Lake Forest Oasis. I haven't seen one that has any maps or travel information.

The travel information area is on the north side of the Lincoln Oasis.  There's a kiosk where you can pick up maps and brochures 24/7.

[dvferyance]

I don't have time to do them all but I am just going to check out the midwest here. In Illinois the one at I-80 WB is at MM 118 that's about 45 miles west of the Indiana state line.

That's a rest area, not a welcome center.  The welcome center/travel information center is at milepost 1 (Lincoln Oasis) on the Tri-State Tollway (I-80/294), about 4 miles west of the Indiana state line.

I have never been to that one but I have been to other Oasis along the tollway like the Lake Forest Oasis. I haven't seen one that has any maps or travel information.

The travel information area is on the north side of the Lincoln Oasis.  There's a kiosk where you can pick up maps and brochures 24/7.

Ok I will have to check it out next time I am passing through there.

[sbeaver44]

I noticed over the weekend that the Sideling Hill building on I-68 is now signed as a Maryland welcome center, which seems unusual since I can't imagine a lot of traffic moves from I-70 eastbound to I-68 westbound.

It could also be utilized (with a decent amount of miles already driven in MD) from I-81 S -> I-68, which probably does get a lot more traffic, at least compared to I-70 EB -> I-68.

According to the state's website, there are also Welcome Centers located between Hagerstown and Frederick on I-70.

So, they reopened the Sideling Hill buildings?  Can you still walk (sort of) up the stairway along the rock cut on the Westbound side?

[hbelkins]

So, they reopened the Sideling Hill buildings?  Can you still walk (sort of) up the stairway along the rock cut on the Westbound side?

You could last September, when I stopped there, and walked across the pedestrian bridge, but didn't attempt the stairs because my knees don't like climbing staircases.

[Vizier]

According to the Oregon official site (http://industry.traveloregon.com/industry-resources/destination-marketing-resources/oregon-welcome-center-locations-and-visitor-counts/)

All of ours are somewhat close to borders on main highways:

Seaside is 19 miles South of the OR-WA stateline on US 101, though I think it'd make somewhat more sense to be in Astoria.

Portland Int'l Airport is on the border with Washington, and with it being inside the airport, it is in the gateway to many travelers to Oregon's largest airport.

Oregon City is about 20 miles south of the OR-WA stateline on I-205. This welcome center is located near a significant museum, with a focus on the Oregon Trail.

The Brookings location is less than a half mile north of the OR-CA border on US101.

The Klamath Falls one (at Midland) is about 10 miles north of the OR-CA border on US 97.

The Lakeview location is about 15 miles north of the OR-CA border on US 395.

The Umatilla location is less than a mile from the OR-WA border on I-82.

The Ontario location is less than a mile from the OR-ID border on I-84.

The only remotely out of place ones would be Seaside and Oregon City

[slorydn1]

The Tennessee Welcome  Visitor Center on I-26 is at Exit 46, so quite a bit inside Tennessee form North Carolina (not sure on the mileage I wasn't paying attention when I went stopped there back in March):




There must be a gun range really close by, too. It sounded like WWIII had broken out off in the distance.

[cl94]

New York has a pair on I-87 75 miles south of the Quebec border between Exits 29 and 30. 1 in each direction. SB is often the site of a Customs checkpoint that causes a fatal accident each time it is open (slight exaggeration).

[hbelkins]

I was told today that the facility on southbound I-71/I-75 in northern Kentucky is no longer considered to be a welcome center, but just a rest area. I don't know if signage has been changed to reflect that or not.

[exit322]

I was told today that the facility on southbound I-71/I-75 in northern Kentucky is no longer considered to be a welcome center, but just a rest area. I don't know if signage has been changed to reflect that or not.

Was just by there last month, and I believe the signage has been changed.

[Max Rockatansky]

I found one in Wyoming a fairly good jog north of Cheyanne on the US 18/26 intersection.  I thought it was strange that even on a US Highway that it would be that far from the southern or eastern border of the state.

[pianocello]

In Iowa the one at I-80 WB is at MM 269 that's 37 miles west of the Illinois state line. This is a strange one because it's not the first rest area in the state there is another one before it at MM 299 which should be the welcome center it's only 7 miles from the state line.

Yeah, that's only partly true. There's another welcome center just off of US-67 in LeClaire, I'm assuming that's why the Bettendorf rest area isn't considered a welcome center.

[amroad17]

I was told today that the facility on southbound I-71/I-75 in northern Kentucky is no longer considered to be a welcome center, but just a rest area. I don't know if signage has been changed to reflect that or not.

It has been marked as just a rest area for a few months--I believe since February.  Demounted the Welcome Center off the sign.