Rest Stop Locations for the United States Mainland
One of the most welcome sights for a bleary-eyed traveler is an interstate rest stop.
Photo by pearlbear@flickr CC-BY 2.0
When you’re driving between some desolate locations and you don’t have the time or cash for lodging, a rest stop can feel like an oasis. Whether it’s to take a quick nap or grab a soda from a vending machine or to empty a bursting-at-the-seems bladder, these state-run respites from the road can help break up a long drive.
American rest stops run the gamut from high-tech information centers to rickety outposts.
I’ve visited a well-maintained rest stop in Nebraska that has a general store and provides Doppler radar on closed-circuit television to keep motorists current on weather changes.
The stops near Lake Tahoe are so gorgeous and scenic, you’d like to live there permanently. The Wagonhound, Wyoming rest stop near Elk Mountain is one of the windiest and most rugged places I’ve ever been.
I’ve also visited a filthy and nearly abandoned one in Nevada that is so spooky at night I’d rather take my chances with the coyotes. It resembles a row of ghost town outhouses with creaking doors that the desert winds knock to and fro. The lamp posts give off a sickly greenish glow much like Tolkien described Minas Morgul. It was kind of cool in a strange way.
But for the most part, you’ll find them excellent places to take photos, walk the dog or shoot the breeze with fellow distance drivers and truckers. Most states take pride in them, so please remember to do your part to keep them tidy.
When you’re on your road trip, it’s handy to know their locations. So, I’ve compiled a list of links for all the rest stops in the mainland United States.
Alabama Arizona Arkansas California Colorado
Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Idaho
Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky
Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan
Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska
Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York
North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon
Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee