Why RVers Love Rest Stops

For the first year or so of our RVing adventure, we utilized truck stops for most of our travel needs while on the way to our favorite RV Resorts and Campgrounds. We ate and slept in these noisy, stinky places, and soon enough, we tired of it.

Then we tried a rest stop. Since then, we’ve only slept in a handful of truck stops, and even then, only when we had to. Instead, we seek out rest stops for overnight stays in states that allow it, and we will sometimes even look for one as a daytime stop.

Why do we prefer rest stops? Here are the top 5 reasons RVers love rest stops.

#1: Large Parking

Parking in a regular parking lot is difficult with a motorhome or travel trailer. The large size of your rig can even make it completely impossible. While some truck stops help solve this problem by offering RV-specific parking, not all do, and this often means parking in the back with the semis. Unfortunately, this practice can be irritating to truck drivers who need those spots, and the spots are less than ideal for RVers who would probably prefer someplace more peaceful anyway.

Rest stops, on the other hand, offer large pull-through parking spaces. These spots are for anyone who needs one, and many are labeled as being for trucks as well as RVs, meaning nobody can get upset when an RV uses one.

Related Read: RV Parking- You Can’t Park Your RV There!

#2: Quiet Sleep Spot

Besides being easier to get in and out of, rest stop parking tends to be much quieter and more peaceful than a truck stop. There are fewer people in and out, fewer loud truck engines running, and fewer bright lights. Obviously, this can make sleeping much easier, and in turn, it will improve your travel the next day.

#3: Clean Restrooms

It’s funny, not many people think “clean” when they think of rest stop restrooms. However, we have yet to visit a rest stop with gross toilets and sinks. Some have needed to be updated, but we’ve found that overall, rest stops are clean. This is something we can’t say about the majority of truck stops or gas stations.

Related Read: Why Shower in Bathhouses Instead of the RV

#4: Place to Play

Whether you have kids who need to run, own a pet who needs to play, or you yourself just want a pleasant walk, rest stops are a good bet. Most have green spaces, all of them have plenty of sidewalks, and some even have designated pet runs. My youngest siblings and son once spent a solid hour rolling down hills together at a rest stop in Alabama.

Related Read: RV Travel with Pets

#5: Picnic Tables

Finally, we love that all rest stops have picnic tables. Often we will stop, cook a meal on our propane stove, and enjoy it outside around a picnic table. This is a nice break from fast food restaurants and it certainly helps us save money. Additionally, it’s a great way to get some fresh air before piling back into the truck.

Clearly, rest stops are appreciated by my family. While we do still utilize truck stops for gas, we will continue to make a point of stopping at rest stops whenever possible. What about you?