Places you always stop

[mapman1071]

West: In and Out Burger
NE: White Castle

[jeffandnicole]

A lot of you travelers are always stopping at the Flying J off Exit 2C of I-295 in NJ, as it's the last easy-off, easy-on gas station before leaving NJ.  Gas typically is more expensive in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, so people like to fill up here.  In order to avoid the gas lines, I generally hit up the RV lanes and just fill it up myself. (Interestingly at this station, there are no 'Full Serve' signs whatsoever, and they generally are very willing to let people pump their own gas.)

[hbelkins]

I just took a trip without stopping at any of the places I frequent on trips to the northeast. No stop at the Sheetz at Milton, WV or Weston, WV.

I did stop at the Speedway at Grayson, Ky. on the way home. It's usually a good place to get gas and stop for the facilities on my way home from a northeast trip if I opt to use KY 7 south from I-64 instead of US 23.

and yes that dang Breezewood.

Which means you are contributing to the problem.

Absolutely correct. 

Businesses at Breezewood and its evil and corrupt Pennsylvania Turnpike brethren (Somerset, Bedford, Carlisle, Pocono, Wyoming Valley) should be boycotted by all patrons of the Turnpike.

Breezewood's only convenient if you are traveling on I-70. It's not convenient at all for straight-through traffic on I-76.

Bedford's handy for I-99-to-Turnpike connections, with the Sheetz there.

Various comments about US 30 in Pennsylvania

On my recent trip, I drove north from the Cumberland, Md. area on MD 36/MD 35/PA 96. This runs into PA 31 and then eventually US 30. I opted for US 30 east from the Bedford area to Breezewood, then I took the Turnpike eastward (no stop in Breezewood). This section of US 30 was four lanes and not terribly congested. There has been a lot of construction work done on US 30 to improve it between Bedford and Breezewood. So it was a viable alternative for me, plus it got me off the Turnpike for awhile.

[Compulov]

My fiancee has family in Ohio, so on our trips back to PA, we tend to stop at the Quaker Steak and Lube right off I-70 in that Cabella's Megacomplex near Wheeling, WV. It's really the only chance I get to have it, since until they recently opened one in Brick, NJ, the nearest one was almost 2.5 hours away.

[nwi_navigator_1181]

When we used to make our annual trip to Savannah, TN (my father's hometown) for the family reunion, we always make the same two stops. The first one was the Shell gas station in Greenwood, IN. We considered Indianapolis to be the first milestone in our 580-mile journey, so we chose a stop south of the city and stuck to it.

The second stop is the Shell in Bowling Green, KY. That's our break for gas and food, and the last stop before we hit our destination.

When I drove out on my own, I used a very gas-friendly vehicle, so I'd go to Bowling Green from Gary in one shot. Going home, I'd go to Greenwood from Savannah in one shot.

[mcdonaat]

When headed from Baton Rouge to Monroe, I ALWAYS stop at the natural springs northwest of Sicily Island. I always bring a plastic crate with four empty milk jugs, to store the water. The same could be said going from Monroe to Bernice, along La 2.

Whataburger in Shreveport, on any trip to Texas.

[sbeaver44]

On my recent trip, I drove north from the Cumberland, Md. area on MD 36/MD 35/PA 96. This runs into PA 31 and then eventually US 30. I opted for US 30 east from the Bedford area to Breezewood, then I took the Turnpike eastward (no stop in Breezewood). This section of US 30 was four lanes and not terribly congested. There has been a lot of construction work done on US 30 to improve it between Bedford and Breezewood. So it was a viable alternative for me, plus it got me off the Turnpike for awhile.

Speaking of PA 31, I'm from the Harrisburg area.  Anytime going west I will use 76 to Breezewood, and then 30 to 31.  You can get back on at Donegal, or if you're going to that blasted section of 70 west of New Stanton, follow 31 to 70.  (I have used 30 from Gettysburg, York or Chambersburg to Breezewood, and do take it about 20% of the time)

From Breezewood, 30 is 55 and four lanes except for a 2-mile 45 zone leading up to the light with PA 326 (businesses on either side.)  I have only seen a few police, they tend to hang out 2 miles west of Breezewood right after the Juniata river crossing WB.
31 is alot of 55, except in town Somerset and a few 40/45 zones here and there.  31 is also very pretty.

I've done the Cumberland-36-35-96 option which is nice and follows the CSX/Amtrak tracks.  Depending on your direction of travel (like Harrisburg to Morgantown, got sick of 81) you can use 220 from Bedford to Cumberland as well.  One big long 55 zone.

For places I always stop (from Harrisburg, PA):
North on US 15 to NY - Dandy Mart, Lawrenceville (literally feet before the NY border on former 15)
North on I-81: Sheetz, PA 309 BUS, Wilkes-Barre and/or Shell/Arby's, Exit 100, Pine Grove
Heading on I-78: Wawa, PA 100 @ Schantz Rd, Allentown (Fogelsville?)
Finger Lakes Area: Watkins Glen and also Dandy Mart, NY 414 @ Tichenor Rd, Hector
South on I-81: Sonic, US 50, Winchester and/or Sheetz, Exit 263 (I have to drive all 0.39 miles of VA 292 each time.)
I-68: Pilot @ US 219/Exit 22, Maryland
I-76 Turnpike: Sideling Hill Plaza, MP 172, W and E bound
US 422 to Reading: Wawa, US 422, West Lawn
Towards Washington DC: Washingtonian Center, I-370 at I-270.  (I always take the Red Line from Shady Grove into DC)
Anywhere involving Philly: Harrisburg Amtrak Station 
I-88/I-39/Rochelle, IL: Rochelle Railroad Park
Chicago area: Chicago.  Also Oak Brook Center.

[US71]

When I visit my mom in Springfield, MO , I always stop at Breadsmith and bring home a couple loaves of bread (my dad got me addicted years ago). Also Hy-Vee for their gourmet cheese

If I'm in southern Louisiana, I'm prowling the stores for Cajun Andouille (Savoie's seems to be the best).

I'm always looking for local beers at the liquor store no matter where I stop.

Oh, and the local pizza or bbq joints

[bugo]

-Heavener, OK, at the Finish Line gas station because they have excellent chicken strips
-Sallisaw, OK, because it's halfway between Tulsa and Mena
-The service plaza on the Muskogee Turnpike north (west) of Muskogee.  They have really good frozen Cokes there

[Kacie Jane]

Whenever I'm headed south (i.e. out of state), Kelso WA always summons me off the freeway.  Not always for the same reason though -- could be gas, could be fast food (at a variety of different restaurants), could be supplies at Safeway/Target... whatever it is, I almost always stop in at least one direction.

Smokey Point rest area, too, if I don't feel like holding my bladder for another hour.

[ARMOURERERIC]

Whenever going north of Los Angeles, I prefer the "half star jewel of the Grapevine", the Gorman Travelodge.  From it's attached Sizzler to the adjacent Carl's Junior, the Travelodge have an ecclectic atmosphere that just makes me want to lie down in the parking lot and have some trace my outline in chalk.  My first stay there was in 2003, and the lobby done up in an early 1960's El Cid look, with a sweeping staircase with every 3rd banninster upright being a halberd head, overdone oil paintings of conquistadors all over the place and courteous helpful management stuff all behind 4 inches of bulletproof glass.  Enjoying guest amenities like the big screen TV with no batteries in the remote, blood red shag carpeting and large luxurious bathrooms with big old style bathtubs with all the fixtures missing their hot water handles, and balconies with decks you can put a foot through, the $45/night with the 10th night free is not to be missed.

[brownpelican]

When I was living in Greenwood, SC, whenever I headed home to Louisiana or was coming back, I always stopped at the QuikTrip on Riverside Parkway in Lawrenceville - just off Ga. 316 - to gas up and eat. I LOOOOOOOOVED that store. Then further along the trip, I either stopped in Meridian or Laurel.

Now, whenever I go to Jackson, Miss., if I go up LA 25/MS27/US98/I-55, I always stop in either McComb or Brookhaven to gas up or eat. In McComb, I usually eat at Golden Coral, while it's the Dairy Queen in Brookhaven. Coming home, I get food at the Krystal on Siwell Road off I-55 in Byram. If I was using LA 25/MS27/US98/MS35/US49, I stop at Hardee's in Columbia (and gas up too) or stop in Magee at KFC and hit the buffets.

[vdeane]

During my internship, I usually stopped in Sayre, PA for gas while driving between Rochester, NY and Sidney, NY.  The way NY 17 dips into PA is a very handy way to avoid paying the higher NY gas tax.

[Mark68]

From SoCal to Vegas (or vice versa), I always stop at the Bun Boy in Baker.

From Denver to points west (usually Vegas or SoCal), I always stop at the rest area on I-70 at the San Rafael Swell, especially if it's close to sunset. Good picture taking.

I've moved from Denver to Portland and from Portland back to Denver, and both times, ended up at the Carl's Jr at the truck stop in Burley, ID (near the I-84/I-86 split). Also at the rest area near Meacham, OR at the top of the Blue Mtn Summit.

Back in my younger days, I had a (freeway legal) scooter that I would always take on road trips, and several times went from Orange County to the Round Table Pizza on Main St in Hesperia.

[amh424]

When driving to school in Macomb, IL, I would frequently stop in Rock Falls on I-88 due to their wide selection of fast food choices.

[jas]

My wife and I will always make to stop at every state welcome center/rest area.  So, we've hit just about every welcome center along I-95 from NJ down to FL, including the SC Welcome center just south of Lake Marion in SC, which is at the 100 mile marker.  We always stop at the PA rest area on I-95, just south of the Scudders Falls Bridge, whenever we head out to Allentown, PA.

[ftballfan]

Manistee to Allendale and points south: If I stop, I usually stop at the gas station off Exit 154 on US-31 at Pentwater. It normally has the cheapest gas around and the convenience store is really nice.
Manistee to Cadillac and points east: If I stop, it's usually at the gas station at the corner of M-55 and M-37. It's also a nice station out in the middle of nowhere.

[roadman]

When I make my (mostly) annual trip west to Altoona (PA) for railfanning, my first stop is normally the rest area on I-84 in West Willington (CT) for a bathroom break, to get a large soda from the vending machine, and (if I don't already have one) for a current CT highway map.

Likewise, when I'm heading up to Maine to go browsing in antique shops, my first stop is normally the rest area on I-95 in Kittery for the same reasons - bathroom, soda, and (if I don't already have one) a current ME highway map.

As far as local places go, there's a diner in Palmer, MA (the name escapes me at the moment) that we always stop at when my friends and I are in the area railfanning.

[kennyshark]

For me, no Notre Dame weekend football road trip is complete without a meal at Perkins, on SR 933 just north of the Indiana Toll Road (Exit 77).

[theline]

That Perkins was my favorite when for my daughter and her rommates, when they attended Saint Mary's. It was also the closest restaurant to campus--not a small thing.

[jcarte29]

Couple places come to mind for me...

When I was a kid, and my love for roads was in its infancy, my family would always stop at the Wendy's in Laurenburg, NC on the way to the beach (Winston-Salem-Sunset Beach). That Wendy's has since been torn down, but rebuilt across the street, located on 401/501 Business off of US 74 (what is now By-Pass and Future I-74).

Now that I live near Jacksonville NC, when I travel to and from Winston to visit family and friends I always enjoy the good gas prices and food at Sheetz at Exit 154 off of I-85/40 in Mebane, NC

[Mark68]

Whenever I'm headed south (i.e. out of state), Kelso WA always summons me off the freeway.  Not always for the same reason though -- could be gas, could be fast food (at a variety of different restaurants), could be supplies at Safeway/Target... whatever it is, I almost always stop in at least one direction.

Last Burgerville on the way north to Seattle...or first one on the way south to Portland...

[jeffandnicole]

When traveling west, I seem to always hit the Sidling Hill Service area on the PA Turnpike.  No specific reason other than it's just the right area for a bathroom break, gas and lunch/soda or whatever.

Heading south, I usually try to find one of the southern-most Wawas below Richmond, again for fuel or lunch.

Other than that, I don't usually have any specific stops, although I will try to hit up some of the national chains that aren't in my local area.  Sonny's BBQ (my wife's favorite from her childhood), In-&-Out, Jack in the Box, etc.  Sonic used to be on that list, but there are a few locations in NJ now (which, of course now that they are convenient, I rarely stop at).

[Brandon]

A few for me (and my family):

Bell's Greek Pizza, East Lansing, MI (this might make a good roadgeek meet location for a Capital Area meet)
Rocky Rococo Pan Pizza when in Wisconsin (various locations, but most often by East Towne Mall, Madison)
Sweetwater's Donuts, Battle Creek, MI
Finley's in Michigan's Lower Peninsula (various locations - Kalamazoo, Lansing)

[dfilpus]

Bell's Greek Pizza, East Lansing, MI (this might make a good roadgeek meet location for a Capital Area meet)

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