If you’re planning a long trip by car or RV, no doubt there will be frequent stops along the way for food, fuel, and potty time. Thankfully, many of these corporate monkeys have set up an oasis on every major road across the United States and major States. While many may suit your immediate needs, each has its pros and cons. During my time as a professional Truck Driver along the way, I had the opportunity to visit many locations in each of the major chains. Let me help you train yourself to train your way better.
First things first. Just pick up what is known as the “Pocket Truck Guide”. This little booklet lists every major expressway and road in every state and maps all the known truck stops along those roads. Each truck stop shows the exit number where it is located on its own road/expressway. This is a great way to break the bathroom track and rather than go too far before you have anywhere to go. The booklet also lists whether or not the customer has a customer support/management center. It’s a good idea to know if you’re transporting a camper or driving an RV.
About the big stuff.
Amores Travel Center: It sounds harsh to say it but Amores. This is one of the first things I collect that is well-handled among a few chains. It has a very honest love staff that was almost always friendly and accommodating. They maintain a very clean front, well equipped restaurants, equally clean, and wonderfully clean bathrooms. Of all the places I’ve passed, I’ve rarely seen graffiti and graffiti written on bathroom stalls here. If you’re looking for em, watch for the big yellow sign with the red heart.
Food: Chestnut Fried Chicken or Subway are often staples. They have the best coffee and a standard grocery selection. (pop, chips, candy, jerky, soups, breads, dairy)
Imvis: Clean! You get a towel and soap. Rooms with pumps.
Pilot Travel Center: Pilots are pretty nice. He will criticize my second choice. I’ve done some small majors and I haven’t had much in the way of…anything. Especially the cleanliness, but overall it’s pretty good. If you can’t get coffee Lovers, I got a coffee boat. They have your run of the mill grocery and general merchandise. Like Loves and TA, Pilot has a pretty good selection of songs and accessories for long road trips. Some drivers stop at service centers for the vehicle and have tire maintenance. Look for the red sign with “Pilot” in yellow letters. Some of the larger travel centers also have laundry facilities and lounge rooms
Food: Subway, McDonald’s, Arbys, Hardees
Rains: heavy rains. Private stalls with toilets of all my ends I only had one where the shower room dead animal smells to me. When I got there, the manager blamed the McDonald’s trap that was being built. He also returned the purchase of my shower.
Travel Centers of America (TA): My third choice, as many of them are usually well kept and clean. Unfortunately the TA has been around for a while and they are much older. I’ve had my fair share of less than useful staff and just as many dirty tricks. Over flowing garbage cans and baths you want your whole body to be careless when you finish. Their coffee is fine. A bit too strong for my opinion but I think anyone who enjoys Starbucks would get TA coffee. Large blue and red “TA” signs can be picked out. Some of the larger TA stops have service centers and laundry facilities and small movie theaters or arcades. TA is also the home of Aire, which is primarily used by taxi drivers. Through it the heat/air conditions can be blown in such as satellite TV, sports and internet.
Food: Subway, a Burger King or Country Kitchen, which is quite common. The restaurant is found at many of the major TA truck stops. The food is fine, I ate at several of them and I had better at Coney Islands. It won’t kill ya, but it’s not gourmet either. TA also has a small cooler with its brand of ready-to-eat sandwiches and other crazy items. The price is not worth it unless you are in a rush and can’t wait.
Imvis: All right. clean like most showers. Soap sit down, but most of them have sit down restaurants like TA’s called Iron Skillet . I smelled it, but I was never strong enough to eat there.
rain: If they had anything, they left much to be desired. A rare world.
Fleeing J: I admit I’ve only been in a few of these, and my experiences have never been good. I waited a long time for something to be done, a raw stick and sometimes I ate one of the delights. Sick for two days. A very nice standard travel center with laundry, showers, and porches. Personally, I think they achieved too much too quickly and didn’t put enough stock into customer service. I have never stayed in these places, and I only did this if I used the bathroom. The cleanliness of these tourist sites was subpar, so they were the last on my list of places to stop.
Food: Off-brand fast food I can best describe it. to the most
showers: Do not bother
For all travel centers, it is common to charge $10 for a shower, although you can get it for free if you purchase at least 50 gallons of fuel. If you are on I-80 in east Iowa I strongly recommend that you hit the Iowa80 truck stop. Advertised as the largest pain station in America. If you are thinking of eating at fast food you are expecting to spend more on everything. Most places that have a “dollar measure” in your country don’t have it on the road. The price of meals cost more on average and many states have a ‘luxury’ tax on food that can be. as much as 11 cents on the dollar, perhaps higher. Your best bet is to buy a good cooler, hit WalMart and make food for your trip. This saves you a lot of damage.. and stomach aches.
