Having just spent a few hours behind the wheel, transversing a number of different states within the USA, I have made a few observations that I would like to share:
- All roadside rest areas are NOT created equal. Some are definitely better than others. Some are to be enjoyed. Others are to be avoided at all costs. During my recent travels, I visited rest areas at both ends of the spectrum.
- The rest areas of Indiana, or at least those along I-80, are generally to be avoided. I’ve certainly been to worse, but that’s not really a ringing endorsement of the quality of those along the Indiana stretch of I-80.
- Ohio: a tale of two halves. Eastern Ohio: Fantasticly clean, vibrant, airy, flooded with natural light with a bountiful array of different restaurants and cafes. Really enjoyed those. Western Ohio: Um … avoid. Avoid, avoid, avoid.
- Most rest areas allow visitors to stop at the food/toilet area before proceeding to the petrol/gas area. Or they allow a return to that area if you want to fill up the car after you have a break or a bite to eat. The rest area on I-294 at O’Hare, going northbound, however, does NOT allow for this. Nor are there any signs posted indicating this aberration from standard rest area operating procedure. Consider yourself forewarned. (This was not helpful on my recent trip.)
Ok, enough of my observations. What are your own views on roadside rest areas? Got any cool, dodgy or just weird stories to share?
I have nothing to say about rest stops other than the ones in Western Ohio reflect Western Ohio in general.
Sad, eh?
I’m from Ohio. The janitor at a rest stop omn I-75 called the police on me for sleeping in my car. I was at the rest stop a totla of 8 minutes before the police showed up, drug me out of the car forcefully, told me I was lucky I wasn’t going to jail for loitering in a rest area, pointed out a small sign with a bunch of insane rules on it, one of which was “no sleeping allowed”. They searched my car, threatend me with bodily harm and called me a pervert for sleeping in a car.
I swear that was all I was doing, not even laying down.
I live in Florida now.
F@#k you Ohio!
@ Texxs
Hmm … I did not see those signs, but I would have thought a rest area was for resting. Or, perhaps not.
I suppose the authorities that run Ohio don’t want people to camp out in rest areas for days, but still, allowing someone an hour’s rest seems like a good idea. Better than having them fall asleep at the wheel.
By the way, the rest area pictured above did have a ‘Truckers Lounge’. I wandered into it, to check it out. It seemed to have shower/washroom facilities, so it might also have sleeping quarters. Thought I’d share that with you to maybe help you avoid future arrests on your travels through your home state.
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