View source for Rest area

{{Short description|Public area, usually adjacent to limited-access highway, used for rest from travel}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Redirect-multi|3|Rest stop|Resto|Lay-by|other uses|Rest stop (disambiguation)|and|Resto (disambiguation)|the form of installment purchase|Layaway}}
[[File:Bundesautobahn 24 - Linumer Bruch Nord.JPG|thumb|upright=1.35|Aerial photograph of the ''Linumer Bruch Nord'' rest area at the [[Bundesautobahn 24|A 24]] motorway in Germany]]
[[File:Autohof Nordheide - Rade - Hamburg Süd.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|Fuel dispensers at an [[Truck stop|autohof]] near a German [[autobahn]] in [[Lower Saxony]]. Autohöfe, just like rest areas, provide travellers a place to refuel, as well as eat, and rest.|alt=]]

A '''rest area''' is a public facility located next to a large thoroughfare such as a [[motorway]], [[Limited-access road|expressway]], or [[highway]], at which drivers and passengers can rest, eat, or refuel without exiting onto secondary roads.  Other names include [[motorway service area]] (UK), '''services''' (UK),  '''travel plaza''', '''rest stop''', '''service area''', '''rest and service area''' ('''RSA'''), '''resto''',  '''service plaza''', '''lay-by''', and '''service centre'''. Facilities may include park-like areas, [[filling station|fuel station]]s, [[public toilet]]s, water fountains, restaurants, and [[Holding tank dump station|dump and fill station]]s for [[Caravan (trailer)|caravans]] and motorhomes.

A rest area with limited to no public facilities is a lay-by,  scenic area, or scenic overlook.  Along some highways and roads are services known as wayside parks, roadside parks, or picnic areas.

== Overview ==
The availability, standards and upkeep of facilities at a stop vary by jurisdiction. Service stations have [[parking]] areas allotted for [[car]]s and [[truck]]s, articulated trucks, as well as [[bus]]es and [[Caravan (trailer)|caravans]].

Most rest areas tend to be located in more remote or [[rural]] areas, where there are likely no [[fast food]] eateries (let alone any full-service [[restaurant]]s), fuel stations, hotels, [[Campsite|campgrounds]] or other roadside services nearby. The locations of these remote rest areas are usually marked by signs on the freeway or motorway; for example, a sign may read, "Next Rest Area 64 miles", "Next Services 48 miles" or "Next Rest Stop 10 km".  However, some rest areas are located close to or in cities, to serve motorists passing through that municipality without them having to exit onto secondary roads. In line with freeways/motorways being fully controlled-access, most rest areas allow general access by freeway entry/exit only and do not connect to adjacent roads, even those located in cities. Some of these urban rest areas may have restricted access to surface streets, during construction, and on an ongoing basis for staff, suppliers deliveries, and waste disposal.

Driving information is usually available at these locations, such as posted [[map]]s and advertising for local tourist attractions, along with [[public toilet]]s. However, depending on the location or standards of the area, some stops have rows of [[Chemical toilet|portable toilets]] ("porta-potties") available rather than a more permanent structure or restroom building. Some rest areas have visitor information kiosks, or even counters with staff on duty in order to promote local tourism. There may also be [[drinking fountain]]s, [[vending machine]]s, pay [[telephone]]s, a [[fuel station]], [[Automobile repair shop]], a restaurant/[[food court]], and a [[convenience store]] at rest areas. Some rest areas provide free coffee for long-distance drivers, paid-for by donations from other travelers (and-or donations from local businesses, civic groups, churches, etc.). Many service stations have [[Wi-Fi]] access, bookshops and newsstands.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.roadtripamerica.com/dashboarding/Wi-Fi-On-The-Highway.htm |title=Wi-Fi on the Highway: Rest Stops Go High-Tech |author=Reed, Aaron |date=January 18, 2008 |website= Road Trip America |access-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref> Many scenic rest areas have [[picnic]] areas. Service areas tend to have traveller information in the form of so-called "exit guides", which often contain very basic maps and advertisements for local [[motel]]s and nearby [[tourist attraction]]s.

Privatised commercial services may take the form of a [[truck stop]] complete with a [[filling station]], [[arcade video game]]s, and even a children's recreation area or playground, as well as [[shower]] and [[laundry]] facilities, nearby fast food eateries(s), or their own [[cafeteria]] or food court, all under one roof, immediately adjacent to the motorway. Some offer business and financial services, such as [[automatic teller machine|ATM]]s,  office [[cubicle]]s, and Wi-Fi.

=== Safety issues ===
Some rest areas have the reputations of being unsafe with regard to crime, especially at night, since they are usually situated in remote or rural areas and inherently attract transient individuals.  California's current policy is to maintain existing public rest areas but no longer build new ones, due to the cost and difficulty of keeping them safe, although many California rest stops now feature [[highway patrol]] quarters.<ref name="findlaw1">Cal. Streets and Highways Code Sections 225.5 [http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cacodes/shc/218-226.5.html] and 731 [http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cacodes/shc/720-734.html].</ref>{{failed verification|date=May 2022}}

== Asia ==
[[File:Honshu Shikoku contact bridge.jpg|thumb|Honshū-Shikoku contact bridge, a rest station at [[Great Naruto Bridge]] in Japan]]{{More citations needed|section|date=August 2021}}
In [[Malaysia]], [[Indonesia]], [[Iran]], [[Saudi Arabia]], and [[Turkey]], rest areas have [[Surau|prayer room]]s (''musola / masjid'') for [[Muslims]] travelling more than {{convert|90|km}} (2 ''marhalah''; 1 ''marhalah'' ≈ {{convert|45|km}}).<!-- this sentence needs lang tags -->
In Iran it is called {{Lang|fa-latn|esterāhatgāh}} ({{Langx|fa|استراحتگاه|rtl=yes}}), meaning {{Gloss|rest area}}.

In Thailand and Vietnam, bus travel is common; long-distance bus rides typically include stops at rest areas designed for bus passengers. These rest stops typically have a small restaurant as well as a small store for buying food. Some have proper restrooms and even souvenir shops.

=== Japan ===
{{Main|Roadside station}}
[[File:Michi-no-Eki KAWAGE.jpg|thumb|[[Roadside station]] Tsu Kawage in [[Tsu, Mie|Tsu]], [[Mie Prefecture]]]]
In [[Japan]], there are two grades of rest areas on [[Expressways of Japan|Japan's tolled expressways]]. These are part of the expressway system, allowing a person to stop without exiting the expressway, as exiting and reentering the tollway would lead to a higher overall toll for the trip. They are modeled and named after the motorway service stations in the United Kingdom.{{Citation needed|date=August 2025}}

The larger type of rest area is called a [[Motorway service area|service area]], abbreviated ''SA''. SAs are usually very large facilities with parking for hundreds of cars and many buses—offering toilets, smoking areas, convenience stores, pet relief areas, restaurants, regional souvenir shops, a filling station, and sometimes even tourist attractions, such as a ferris wheel or a view of a famous location. They are usually spaced about one hour apart on the system, and often a planned stop for tour buses. Two service areas also have a motel.  The other grade of rest stop is a parking area", or a PA. PAs are much smaller, and spaced roughly 20 minutes apart on the system. Besides a small parking lot, toilets and drink vending machines are the only consistent amenities offered, while some larger parking areas have small shops, local goods, and occasionally a filling station—but are much smaller than their larger service area counterparts.<ref>{{Citation|title=What Driving in Japan is Like| date=October 30, 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwefnt23D98 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/zwefnt23D98 |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=August 5, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Since the 1990s, many Japanese towns have also established [[roadside station]]s along highway and trunk routes. In addition to the conventional aspects of service areas, most also provide shops and restaurants dedicated to local culture and local produce, and a number of them also feature information centers, community halls, leisure facilities including hot springs and parks, and other features unique to individual stations. There are now over a thousand across Japan.<ref>[https://www.japan.travel/en/guide/michi-no-eki/ Michi-no-Eki — Japan's roadside stations - Discover more about Japan's diverse roadside stations]</ref>

In the past, there were ''[[shukuba]]'' ([[stage station]]s) which served as resting places for people travelling along traditional routes by horse or foot before modern transportation was introduced to Japan.

=== Malaysia ===
In Malaysia, an [[bridge restaurant|overhead bridge restaurant]] (OBR), or overhead restaurant, is a special rest area with restaurants above the expressway. Unlike typical laybys and RSAs, which are only accessible in one-way direction only, an overhead restaurant is accessible from both directions of the expressway.

=== Philippines ===
In the Philippines, barring certain exceptions, rest areas typically occupy large land areas with restaurants and retail space on top of filling stations. There are 10 service stations in the [[North Luzon Expressway]], nine service stations in the [[South Luzon Expressway]], three service stations in both [[STAR Tollway]] and [[Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway|SCTEX]], and a Caltex service station in [[Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway]].

=== North Korea ===
{{Main|List of highway rest areas in North Korea}}

=== South Korea ===
In South Korea, a rest area usually includes a park and [[fast casual restaurant]]s that sell regional specialties. Korean rest areas are usually very large and clean. Cellphone charging is free and Wi-Fi is available at every rest area.

=== Taiwan ===
In Taiwan, rest areas are maintained by the [[Freeway Bureau]] and the [[Directorate General of Highways]]. There are 16 rest areas along four important freeways:  Freeways Number 1 ([[National Freeway 1|Sun Yat-sen Freeway]]), 3 ([[National Freeway 3|Formosa Freeway]]),  5 ([[National Freeway 5|Chiang Wei-shui Memorial Freeway]]), 6 ([[National Freeway 6|Shuishalian Freeway]]) and one expressway ([[Provincial Highway 61 (Taiwan)|West Coast Expressway]]).

=== Thailand ===
[[File:Bangpakong 1 Service Area - Motorway 7.jpg|thumb|Service Area on [[Motorway 7 (Thailand)|Motorway 7]]]]
In Thailand, rest areas are considered part of the [[Thai highway network|national highway]], especially on intercity highways (motorways), which are under the supervision of the Department of Highways.

For standard rest areas in the areas of motorways and concession highways, they are divided into three types: 
*Service Centers, accommodation on large highways, with an area of approximately 50 rai{{Clarify|reason=this measurement should be converted|date=August 2025}} or more
*Service Area, medium-sized highway accommodation, with an area of about 20 rai{{Clarify|reason=this measurement should be converted|date=August 2025}} or more.
*Rest Stop, a small highway accommodation, with an area of approximately 5 acres{{Clarify|reason=5 acres?|date=August 2025}} or more.

There are four rest areas on motorways on [[Motorway 7 (Thailand)|Motorway 7]] and Motorway 9 and there are plans to open for service in total 18 rest areas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ที่พักริมทาง (Rest Area) บนโครงข่ายทางหลวงพิเศษระหว่างเมือง – Intercity Motorway Projects |url=http://www.doh-motorway.com/master-plan/rest-area-plan/ |access-date=2023-04-02 |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Europe ==
In some countries, such as Spain, rest areas are uncommon, as motorists are directed to establishments that serve both the traveling public and the local population. In other areas, access to a rest area is impossible other than from a motorway. The Dutch rest area, ''De Lucht'',<sup>[[:nl:Verzorgingsplaats De Lucht (A2)|(nl)]]</sup> is fairly typical of many European rest areas,<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.voa.gov.uk/corporate/Publications/Manuals/RatingManual/RatingManualVolume5/sect710/b-rat-man-vol5-s710.html
|title = Section 710 : Motorway Service Areas/Major Road Service Areas
|publisher = Valuation Ovvice Agency
|access-date = July 12, 2013
|quote = MSAs must ... not ... allow rear access to the site to be used other than by MSA staff, delivery vehicles, and the emergency services
|archive-date = November 27, 2013
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131127171418/http://www.voa.gov.uk/corporate/Publications/Manuals/RatingManual/RatingManualVolume5/sect710/b-rat-man-vol5-s710.html
|url-status = dead
}}</ref> in that it has no access roads—other than from the motorway, itself.

=== Austria and Germany ===
[[File:Bad Fischau Raststaette.JPG|thumb|left|Raststätte [[Bad Fischau-Brunn|Bad Fischau]] at the [[Süd Autobahn]] in [[Austria]]]]

''{{lang|de|Raststätte}}'' ([[:de:Autobahnraststätte]]) is the name for service areas on the German and Austrian [[Autobahn]]. They often include a fuel station, public phones, restaurants, restrooms, parking and, occasionally, a hotel or a motel. If the service area is off the motorway, it is named {{Lang|de|Rasthof}} or ''{{lang|de|Autohof}}''.

Smaller parking areas, mostly known as a ''{{lang|de|Rastplatz}}'' ([[:de:Rastplatz]]), are more frequent, but they have only picnic tables, and sometimes, toilets (signposted).

=== Finland ===
[[File:Lahnajärvi restaurant.jpg|thumb|[[Lahnajärvi]]'s rest area in [[Salo, Finland]]]]
Rest areas are constructed and maintained by the Finnish government, while the local municipality provides area maps and sanitary services. If there are commercial services, the shop inherits the responsibility for cleanliness and upkeep of the area. Rest areas are designed mostly for long-distance drivers. The recommendation in Finland is that there should be a rest area each {{convert|20|km|abbr=in}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://alk.tiehallinto.fi/thohje/pdf2/pysakoimis_ja_levahdysalueet.pdf |title=Pysäköimis- ja levähdysalueet |access-date=May 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120124632/http://alk.tiehallinto.fi/thohje/pdf2/pysakoimis_ja_levahdysalueet.pdf |archive-date=January 20, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== France ===
[[File:Aire d'autoroute - station essence.png|thumb|upright=0.75|left|French rest area signage used on [[controlled-access highway]]s]]

In France, both full-service rest areas and picnic sites are provided on the [[Autoroutes of France|autoroute]] network,{{citation needed|date=September 2024}} and regulations dictate there to be one such area every {{convert|20|km|mi|1|lk=on|abbr=in}}.<ref name="Abelard aires intro">{{cite web|url=http://www.abelard.org/france/motorway-aires1.php|title=motorway aires, an introduction / France zone at abelard.org|access-date=January 25, 2010}}</ref> Both types may also be found on national (N-class) highways, although less frequently than on autoroutes.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}} They are known as ''{{lang|fr|aires}}'',<ref name="Abelard Garonne notes">{{cite web|url=http://www.abelard.org/france/motorway-aires15-garonne.php#en1|title=motorway aires – aire de Garonne, A62 / France zone at abelard.org|access-date=January 25, 2010}}</ref> or ''{{lang|fr|aire de service}}'' and ''{{lang|fr|aire de pique-nique}}'', respectively; ''{{lang|fr|aire de repos}}'' ("rest area")<ref name="Abelard Garonne notes"/> usually refers to a picnic stop. These areas are not usually stated on approach signs, but are rather distinguished by the symbols used. A name is usually given, generally that of a nearby town or village, such as "{{lang|fr|aire de Garonne}}". {{clear}}

=== United Kingdom and Ireland ===
{{Main|Motorway service area}}
[[File:Cherwell Valley Services Sign.jpg|thumb|Signage for services provided at [[Cherwell Valley services]], UK. Most motorway services accommodate restaurants, fast food outlets, and coffee shops.]]

The term ''rest area'' is not generally used in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The most common term is ''services'', an abbreviation of ''motorway service areas'' (MSA) or ''motorway service stations''.  As with the rest of the world, these are places where drivers can leave a motorway to refuel, rest, or get refreshments. Most service stations accommodate fast food outlets, restaurants, coffee shops, general goods, stationary and book shops and mini supermarkets. Some service stations also incorporate hotels.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sixty years of motorways |url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/mar/24/what-a-journey-sixty-years-of-motorway-service-stations | work = The Guardian | first1 = Sam | last1 = Wollaston | date = 24 March 2019| access-date = 17 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=WH SMITH moto |url=https://moto-way.com/brands/whsmith/}}</ref>

Services may also be present on non-motorway roads, as well; many [[A-roads]] have services, possibly only providing a petrol station and, in some cases, a restaurant or café.

The majority of service areas within Ireland are operated by [[Circle K]] or [[Applegreen]], and contain fuel stations, truck stops, shops and fast food outlets, such as [[McDonald's|McDonalds]], [[Burger King]], [[Subway (restaurant)|Subway]] or Chopstix; they differ, from the United Kingdom for example, in that only one service station contains a hotel (the M7 services in [[Portlaoise]], [[County Laois]]).

====Lay-bys====
[[File:Lay-by on the A35 - geograph.org.uk - 379192.jpg|thumb|Signage for a larger lay-by with some facilities near [[Dorchester, Dorset|Dorchester]], UK]]
The term ''lay-by'' is used in the UK and Ireland to describe a roadside parking or rest area for drivers. Equivalent terms in the United States are ''turnout'' or ''pullout''.

Lay-bys can vary in size, from a simple parking bay alongside the carriageway (sufficient for one or two cars only) to substantial areas that are separated from the carriageway by verges, which can accommodate dozens of vehicles.
Lay-bys are to be found on the side of most rural UK roads, except [[motorway]]s that are not on sections of [[smart motorway]]s (but for emergencies only) where the [[hard shoulder]] is missing. They are marked by a rectangular blue sign bearing a white letter P, and there should also be advance warning of lay-bys to give drivers time to slow down safely.<ref>Lay-by and advance warning of lay-by signage from the [http://www.drivingschoolireland.com/signs-information.html Irish highway code].</ref><ref>Advance signage of lay-bys instructions in [http://www.standardsforhighways.co.uk/dmrb/vol6/section3/td6907.pdf Standards for Highways] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203135812/http://www.standardsforhighways.co.uk/dmrb/vol6/section3/td6907.pdf |date=February 3, 2011 }}, sections 4.8 and 4.9, from the [[Highways Agency]].</ref><!-- also distinguish between Highways Agency practice and legal requirements for local roads. -->

== North America ==
=== Canada ===
[[File:CambridgeONroute2.JPG|thumb|A service centre in [[Cambridge, Ontario]]]]
[[File:L Etape.jpg|thumb|A service centre in [[Québec]]]]
In Canada, roadside services are known as service centres in most provinces. In some instances, where there are no retail facilities, they may be known as rest areas or text stops ({{Lang|fr-ca|halte-texto}} in French). Most service centres are concentrated along [[Ontario]]'s [[400-series highways|400-series highway]] and [[Quebec]]'s [[Autoroute (Quebec)|Autoroute]] networks, while rest areas are found along the highway networks of all provinces, and the [[Trans-Canada Highway]].

In [[New Brunswick]], the only rest areas are roadside parks with picnic tables and washrooms operated as a part of the [[provincial park]] system. However, many have closed due to cutbacks. Occasionally, [[litter barrels]] are also found along the side of the road.

The [[Canadian Prairies|Prairie provinces]] of [[Saskatchewan]] and [[Manitoba]] have rest stops located along the Trans-Canada Highway ([[Highway 1 (Saskatchewan)|Highway 1]]). However, these stops are simply places to rest, or go to the washroom; they are not built to the standard rest area found on the 400-series highways in Ontario, or the [[Interstate Highways]] of the United States.

====Alberta====
[[Alberta Transportation]] operates seven provincial rest areas or safety rest areas.<ref name=2011ABRoadMap>{{cite map |publisher=Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation |title=Alberta Official Road Map |edition=2011 <!--|access-date=March 23, 2011-->}}</ref><ref name=ABSafetyRestAreas>{{cite web |url=http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/Content/docType233/Production/SRAImplementationFramework2004.pdf |title=Safety Rest Area Implementation Network |publisher=Alberta Transportation |date=March 31, 2004 |access-date=March 23, 2011}}</ref> These include:<ref name=2011ABRoadMap/>
{{col div}}
*[[Alberta Highway 1|Highway 1]] ([[Trans-Canada Highway]]) westbound between [[Brooks, Alberta|Brooks]] and [[Bassano, Alberta|Bassano]];
*Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway) eastbound between [[Tilley, Alberta|Tilley]] and [[Suffield, Alberta|Suffield]];
*[[Alberta Highway 2|Highway 2]] (Queen Elizabeth II Highway) southbound between [[Crossfield, Alberta|Crossfield]] and [[Airdrie, Alberta|Airdrie]];
*Highway 2 (Queen Elizabeth II Highway) northbound near [[Alberta Highway 13|Highway 13]] west of [[Wetaskiwin]];
*[[Alberta Highway 16|Highway 16]] ([[Yellowhead Highway]]) eastbound and westbound between [[Edson, Alberta|Edson]] and [[Carrot Creek, Alberta|Carrot Creek]];
*[[Alberta Highway 43|Highway 43]] accessible from both directions south of [[Valleyview, Alberta|Valleyview]]; and
*[[Alberta Highway 63|Highway 63]] accessible both ways between [[Atmore, Alberta|Atmore]] and [[Breynat, Alberta|Breynat]].
{{col div end}}
Alberta Transportation also designates partnership rest areas or highway service rest areas that are privately owned and operated highway user facilities. These facilities are located on Highway 1 at [[Dead Man's Flats, Alberta|Dead Man's Flats]], Highway 2 at [[Red Deer, Alberta|Red Deer]] (Gasoline Alley), [[Alberta Highway 9|Highway 9]] near [[Hanna, Alberta|Hanna]], Highway 16 at [[Niton Junction, Alberta|Niton Junction]] and at [[Innisfree, Alberta|Innisfree]], and Highway 43 at [[Rochfort Bridge, Alberta|Rochfort Bridge]].<ref name=2011ABRoadMap/><ref name=ABSafetyRestAreas/>

====British Columbia====
British Columbia has many services centres on its provincial roads, particularly along the [[Yellowhead Highway]]/[[British Columbia Highway 16|Highway 16]], the [[Coquihalla Highway]]/[[Highway 5 (British Columbia)|Highway 5]], and on [[British Columbia Highway 97C|Highway 97C]], the first service centres built in the province. One notable curiosity is a service centre built along [[British Columbia Highway 118|Highway 118]]: it is a minor road connecting two towns to the Yellowhead Highway (Hwy. 16).

====Ontario====
{{Further|Ontario Highway 400#Services|Ontario Highway 401#Services}}
Ontario has a modern and well-developed network of service centres, most being branded as [[ONroute]], located along [[Ontario Highway 401|Highway 401]] along the [[Quebec City-Windsor Corridor]], as well as the segment of [[Ontario Highway 400|Highway 400]] south of [[Barrie, Ontario|Barrie]]. Other shorter and/or less trafficked [[400-series highways]] (including the northern sections of Highway 400), do not have even basic rest areas along them at all, though gas stations and fast food restaurants are located close to interchanges with these freeways.

[[File:ON route Service Center on Hwy 401 East near Kingston - panoramio.jpg|thumb|left|An [[ONroute]] service centre in [[Kingston, Ontario|Kingston]], Ontario. The province has a number of ONroute service centres along its highway network.]]

[[File:CambridgeONroute4.JPG|thumb|Interior of an ONroute in [[Cambridge, Ontario|Cambridge]], which accommodates several fast food restaurant outlets, typical of Ontario service centres.]]
The original service centres for [[Ontario Highway 401#Service centres|Highway 401]] were mostly built around 1962. The service centres in Ontario were originally of a generic, cafeteria-style nature. They contain [[filling station]]s, washrooms, picnic areas, and [[vending machine]]s. During the late 1980s the service centres were taken over by Scott's Hospitality, a major publicly traded Canadian restaurant operator, who leased them out to major oil companies and fast food restaurant chains, with a single gasoline distributor and sole restaurant for most locations, with some centres also receiving limited renovations in the early 1990s to extend their service life by a couple decades.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thekingshighway.ca/PHOTOS/Hwy401photos15.htm | title=Ontario Highway 401 Photographs - Page 15 - History of Ontario's Kings Highways }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thekingshighway.ca/PHOTOS/Hwy401photos18.htm | title=Ontario Highway 401 Photographs - Page 18 - History of Ontario's Kings Highways }}</ref> In 1991, a service centre was placed in [[Mississauga]] to cater to eastbound traffic entering the west of the [[Greater Toronto Area]]; this location was branded as Info Centre, promoting Toronto tourism, and served until its closure on September 30, 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.thekingshighway.ca/PHOTOS/Hwy401photos21.htm |title=Ontario Highway 401 Photographs – Page 21 – History of Ontario's Kings Highways |publisher=Thekingshighway.ca |access-date=July 16, 2009}}</ref> The rest areas on Highway 401 at Ingersoll and Newcastle (both serving only the westbound carriageway) and the Highway 400 rest area in Maple (Vaughan) (serving southbound traffic only) were completely rebuilt to a shared design in the late 1990s, and remain in service today with minor modifications. In 2010–11, all the remaining older service centres were replaced by a common design operated by [[HMSHost]] subsidiary Host Kilmer under the [[ONroute]] banner, which features a selection of fast food providers akin to a [[food court]]. 

In line with the 400-series Highways being fully controlled-access, all of these service centres allow general access by freeway entry/exit only and do not connect to adjacent roads, even those located in cities. Some of these urban service centres may have restricted access to surface streets, during construction, and on an ongoing basis for staff, suppliers deliveries, and waste disposal. The only exception was the Cookstown service centre, which was directly connected to [[Ontario Highway 89|Highway 89]] (a surface street) as well as the Highway 400 freeway since the centre was located at their interchange. The Cookstown service centre closed on February 1, 2013 in order to accommodate reconfiguration of the interchange ramps, being replaced by a new service centre (Innisfil ONRoute) on Highway 400 north of Fourth Line which opened in June 2015.<ref name="BarrieSS">{{cite web
 |title        = Ontario's New ONroute Highway Service Centres: Construction Schedule
 |author       = Ministry of Transportation of Ontario
 |publisher    = Government of Ontario
 |date         = September 7, 2011
|url          = http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/traveller/service-centres/construction-schedule.shtml
 |access-date   = December 27, 2011
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110706145445/http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/traveller/service-centres/construction-schedule.shtml
 |archive-date = July 6, 2011
|url-status     = dead
 |df           = mdy-all
}}</ref> 

Outside of the ONRoute locations there are 211 rest areas along provincial highways.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://511on.ca/list/restareas?start=0&length=25&order%5Bi%5D=1&order%5Bdir%5D=asc | title=Ontario 511 }}</ref> Most are basic stops (picnic area) with restrooms for most locations and parking for most vehicles (commercial trucks may not be serviced at small areas). Most are seasonal operated from mid May to mid November.

Reese's Corner at the intersection of [[Highway 21 (Ontario)|Highway 21]] and [[Highway 7 (Ontario)|Highway 7]] is often considered a service centre. Although Highway 7 was bypassed by the freeway [[Ontario Highway 402|Highway 402]] in the late 1970s, Reese's Corner still receives much traffic as it is only a short distance from the interchange of Highway 402 and Highway 21 (Exit 25). Lastly, [[Weigh station|truck inspection stations]] (which are more frequent than service centres) can be used by travellers for bathroom breaks, although this is not encouraged.

Two off-highway service campuses at Exit 74 along the [[Queen Elizabeth Way]] in [[Grimsby, Ontario|Grimsby]] are unofficial rest areas for travelling motorists. Two smaller such facilities (Seguin Trail Road south of Parry Sound and Port Severn Road in Port Severn) also exist on the less-busy section Highway 400 north of the last official on-highway service centre.

====Quebec====
In Quebec, rest areas are known as ''{{lang|fr|haltes routières}}'' and service areas as ''{{lang|fr|aires de services}}''. Rest rooms and picnic areas are located along the autoroutes and many of the provincial [[List of Quebec provincial highways|highways]]. Some of the rest areas have vending machines and/or canteens. Some truck and isolated rest areas have no services or they have been removed due to facilities having deteriorated beyond repair. Beginning in 2019, the province began to modernize some rest areas to provide needs for families and truckers.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://plq.org/en/press-release/modernization-rest-stops-service-areas/ | title=Modernization of Rest Stops and Service Areas }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rvforum.net/threads/need-help-crossing-quebec.11929/ | title=Need help crossing Quebec | date=July 2, 2007 }}</ref>

There are about 10 service areas (on Highways 10, 15, 20, 40, 55, 117, and 175);<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.quebec511.gouv.qc.ca/|title=Québec 511|website=www.quebec511.gouv.qc.ca|access-date=March 31, 2018}}</ref> with some of these rest areas have restrooms, filling stations and restaurants/vending machines.

=== United States ===
[[File:Rest Areas in the United States.webp|thumb|right|Rest areas in the United States]]
[[File:Southern Nevada highway rest area.jpg|thumb|right|Southern Nevada highway rest area on [[U.S. Route 95]]]]
[[File:Florida I95nb Rest Area 20331 1 mile.jpg|thumb|right|A rest area sign on [[Interstate 95]] in [[Florida]]. The sign also makes note of the existence of secure overnight parking and vending machines in the rest area.]]

In the United States, rest areas are typically non-commercial facilities that provide, at a minimum, parking and restrooms. In the United States, there are 1,840 rest areas<ref>{{cite news |url=https://iamforeverlost.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925024854/http://www.iamforeverlost.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 25, 2013 |title=Rest Areas Near Me |publisher=iamforeverlost.com |date=September 21, 2022 |access-date=September 21, 2022 }}</ref> along interstate routes. Some may have information kiosks, vending machines, and picnic areas, but little else, while some have "dump" facilities, where [[recreational vehicle]]s may empty their sewage holding tanks. They are typically maintained and funded by the [[Department of transportation|departments of transportation]] of the [[state government]]s. For example, rest areas in [[California]] are maintained by [[Caltrans]]. In 2008, state governments began to close some rest areas as a result of the [[Great Recession]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.consumerreports.org/money/2010/06/travel_road_trips_rest_stops_closure_safety_drivers.html |title=Coping with roadside rest area shutdowns |publisher=Consumer Reports |date=June 29, 2010 |access-date=July 25, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100704005835/http://blogs.consumerreports.org/money/2010/06/travel_road_trips_rest_stops_closure_safety_drivers.html |archive-date=July 4, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/investigates/closing-rest-stops-07212010 |title=Closing rest stops |publisher=Myfoxtampabay.com |date=July 21, 2010 |access-date=July 25, 2010}}</ref>

Some places, such as [[California]], have laws that explicitly prohibit private retailers from occupying rest stops.<ref name="findlaw1"/> A federal statute passed by Congress also prohibits states from allowing private businesses to occupy rest areas along [[interstate highway]]s. The relevant clause of 23 [[United States Code|U.S.C.]] § 111 states:
<blockquote>
The State will not permit automotive service stations or other commercial establishments for serving motor vehicle users to be constructed or located on the [[rights-of-way]] of the Interstate System.
</blockquote>
[[File:No soliciting rest area sign.jpg|thumb|"No [[soliciting]]" sign in a rest area in [[California]]. Some states, like California, prohibit private retailers from occupying rest areas.]]
The original reason for this clause was to protect innumerable small towns whose survival depended upon providing roadside services such as gasoline, food, and lodging. Because of it, private truck stops and travel plazas have blossomed into a $171&nbsp;billion industry in the United States.<ref>Gordon Dickson, "Government Work Zone," ''Fort Worth Star-Telegram'', August 4, 2003, sec. Metro, p. 3.</ref>  The clause was immediately followed by an exception for facilities constructed prior to January 1, 1960, many of which continue to exist, as explained further below.

Therefore, the standard practice is that private businesses must buy up [[real property|land]] near existing [[interchange (road)|exit]]s and build their own facilities to serve travelers.  Such facilities often have tall signs that can be seen from several miles away (so that travelers have adequate time to make a decision).  In turn, it is somewhat harder to visit such private facilities, because one has to first exit the freeway and navigate through several intersections to reach a desired business's parking lot, rather than exit directly into a rest area's parking lot.  Public rest areas are usually (but not always) positioned so as not to compete with private businesses.

[[Logo sign|Special blue signs]] indicating gas, food, lodging, camping and roadside attractions near an exit can be found on most freeways in the United States. Beginning in the mid-1970s, private businesses have been permitted to display their logos or trademarks on these signs by paying a transportation department (or a subcontractor to a transportation department) a small fee.  Until the release of the 2000 edition of the [[Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices]], these signs were allowed only on the rural sections of highways.  The 2000 MUTCD added provisions for allowing these signs on highways in urban areas as long as adequate sign spacing can be maintained, however, some states (such as California and New York) continue to restrict these signs to rural areas only.  These signs are allowed on urban freeways in 15 states,{{specify|reason=Which states?|date=May 2021}} with [[Arizona]] being the most recent state (as of 2013) to repeal the restriction of these signs to only rural highways.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}
[[File:Angola Travel Plaza-06.jpg|thumb|A rest area featuring several private fast food chains in [[Angola, New York]]]] 
Attempts to remove the federal ban on privatized rest areas have been generally unsuccessful, due to resistance from existing businesses that have already made enormous capital investments in their existing locations.<ref>Thomas Corsi, Robert Windle, A. Michael Knemeyer, "Evaluating the Potential Impact of Interstate Highway Rights-of-Way Commercialization on Economic Activity at Interchanges," ''Transportation Journal'', vol. 39, no. 2 (Winter 1999): 16-25.</ref>

For example, in 2003, [[United States Congress|Congress's]] federal highway funding reauthorization bill contained a clause allowing states to start experimenting with privatized rest areas on Interstate highways.  The clause was fiercely resisted by the [[National Association of Truck Stop Owners]] (NATSO), which argued that allowing such rest areas would shift revenue to state governments (in the form of lease payments) that would have gone to local governments (in the form of property and sales taxes).<ref>Anonymous, "NATSO denounces pro-commercialization in highway bill,"  ''National Petroleum News'' 95, no. 5, (May 2003): 9. [http://www.travelplaza.org/article_b.php3?show=351&dept=2]{{Dead link|date=August 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>  NATSO also argued that by destroying private commercial truck stops, the bill would result in an epidemic of drowsy truck drivers, since such stops provide about 90% of the parking spaces used by American truck drivers while in transit.

==== Service areas ====
[[File:Chittenango Rest Area I-90 New York.jpg|thumb|A travel plaza along [[Interstate 90]] in [[Chittenango, New York]]]]

Prior to the creation of the [[Interstate Highway System]], many states east of the [[Rocky Mountains]] had already started building and operating their own long-distance intercity [[toll road]]s (turnpikes). To help recover construction costs, most turnpike operators leased concession space at rest areas to private businesses. In addition, the use of this sort of service area allows drivers to stop for food and fuel without passing through additional tollbooths and thereby incurring a higher toll.

[[Pennsylvania]], which opened the first such highway in 1940 with the mainline [[Pennsylvania Turnpike]], was the model for many subsequent areas. Instead of operating the service areas themselves, the [[Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission]] opted to lease them out to Standard Oil of Pennsylvania (which was acquired shortly afterward by the modern-day [[Exxon]]), which in turn operated a [[Filling station]] with a [[Automobile repair shop|garage]] and [[Howard Johnson's]] franchises as a [[restaurant]] offering. The turnpike leases the filling station space to [[Sunoco]] (which operates [[7-Eleven]] [[convenience store]]s instead of garages at the sites) and, as of 2021, the rest of the service area space to [[Applegreen]].<ref name=ptcservice>{{cite web|title=Service Plazas|publisher=Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission|url=https://www.paturnpike.com/traveling/service-plazas|access-date=November 26, 2021}}</ref>

In the summer of 2021, Iris Buyer LLC (an Applegreen company) announced that they were acquiring all travel plazas by HMSHost. The deal reached an agreement at the end of July 2021 officially transferring ownership. The New York State Thruway Service Areas (which will be owned by another company by Applegreen) was not affected by this transition due to the fact that Host's contract was expired.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 31, 2021 |title=HMSHost to divest US motorways business to Blackstone-led group |url=https://www.moodiedavittreport.com/hmshost-to-divest-us-motorways-business-to-blackstone-led-group/ |access-date=August 7, 2022 |website=The Moodie Davitt Report |language=en-GB}}</ref> As of July 2022, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia have service areas that are operated or have stake by Applegreen.

Some turnpikes, such as [[Florida's Turnpike]], were never integrated into the Interstate system and never became subject to the federal ban on private businesses.  On turnpikes that did become Interstates, all privatized rest areas in operation prior to January 1, 1960, were [[Grandfather clause|allowed to continue operating]].  Such facilities are often called ''service areas'' by the public and in [[road atlas]]es, but each state varies:

{{col div}}
* Connecticut, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia – service plaza<ref name=masspikeserviceplazas /><ref>
{{cite web|website=ct.gov|url=http://www.ct.gov/governorrell/cwp/view.asp?A=3675&Q=451088 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121212104320/http://www.ct.gov/governorrell/cwp/view.asp?A=3675&Q=451088 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 12, 2012 |title=Governor Rell Announces Concession Agreement To Transform Highway Service Plazas}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.floridasturnpike.com/tools_serviceplazas.cfm
 |title       = Florida's Turnpike – The Less Stressway &#124; Traveler Information &#124; Service Plazas
 |website= Floridasturnpike.com
 |access-date  = July 16, 2009
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20091126000643/http://www.floridasturnpike.com/tools_serviceplazas.cfm
 |archive-date = November 26, 2009
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web |url=http://maineturnpike.com/traveler_services/service_plazas.php |website=MaineTurnpike.com|title=Welcome to the Maine Turnpike Authority |access-date=February 8, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513035719/http://www.maineturnpike.com/traveler_services/service_plazas.php |archive-date=May 13, 2012 }}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.ohioturnpike.org/travelers/service_plaza/
 |title       = Ohio Turnpike Commission – Service Plaza
 |website= Ohioturnpike.org
 |access-date  = July 16, 2009
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20121006064433/http://ohioturnpike.org/travelers/service_plaza/
 |archive-date = October 6, 2012
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.paturnpike.com/geninfo/srvcplaza/svcplazas.aspx
 |title       = The Pennsylvania Turnpike – About the PTC
 |website= Paturnpike.com
 |access-date  = July 16, 2009
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20090307100353/http://www.paturnpike.com/geninfo/srvcplaza/svcplazas.aspx
 |archive-date = March 7, 2009
}}
</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.transportation.wv.gov/turnpike/Pages/WVParkwaysTravelPlazas.aspx |title=West Virginia Turnpike Travel Plazas |access-date=January 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140412082302/http://www.transportation.wv.gov/turnpike/Pages/WVParkwaysTravelPlazas.aspx |website=transportation.wv.gov|archive-date=April 12, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, and Oklahoma – service area<ref>[http://ksturnpike.com/services.html Kansas Turnpike Authority<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080210023816/http://ksturnpike.com/services.html |date=February 10, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.i95mdtravelplazas.com/the-maryland-house/12-the-maryland-house|title=i95md Travel Plazas -|website=i95md Travel Plazas|access-date=March 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307000952/http://i95mdtravelplazas.com/the-maryland-house/12-the-maryland-house|archive-date=March 7, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Illinois – [[Illinois Tollway oasis|oasis]]
* Indiana and New York – travel plaza<ref>[http://www.in.gov/dot/div/tollroad/TollRoadInfo.pdf ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060827030728/http://www.in.gov/dot/div/tollroad/TollRoadInfo.pdf |date=August 27, 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nysthruway.gov/travelplazas/index.html |title=New York State Thruway Authority: Traveler Information: Travel Plazas |website=Nysthruway.gov |access-date=July 16, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100305204509/http://www.nysthruway.gov/travelplazas/index.html |archive-date=March 5, 2010 }}</ref>
* New Jersey – service area or service plaza<ref name=autogenerated2 />
{{col div end}}
Some states, such as [[Ohio]], allow nonprofit organizations to run a concession trailer in a rest area.{{citation needed|date=November 2018}}

Started in 2015(ish), The New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway Service Areas started advertising and selling products from Popcorn for The People. It is a non-profit organization which creates employment for people with disabilities, specifically autism.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us {{!}} Popcorn for the People® |url=https://www.popcornforthepeople.com/pages/about |access-date=August 7, 2022 |website=Popcorn for the People |language=en}}</ref>

==== Text stops ====
In 2013, the state of New York launched "It Can Wait", a program for encouraging drivers to pause at rest stops and parking areas along state roads to [[Texting|text]] (thereby avoiding [[texting while driving]]), by designating all such areas "text stops". The practice involves placing road signs which indicate the nearest "texting zone" at which to legally stop and use mobile devices such as [[smartphone]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.governor.ny.gov/press/09232013-governor-unveils-texting-zones|title = Governor Cuomo Unveils 'Texting Zones' Along NYS Thruway and Highways for Drivers to Pull Over and Use Their Cell Phones|website = Office of the Governor of New York|author = Press release|date = September 23, 2013|access-date = September 26, 2013|archive-date = July 5, 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140705133101/http://www.governor.ny.gov/press/09232013-governor-unveils-texting-zones|url-status = dead}}</ref>

==== Welcome centers ====
{{Main|Welcome centers in the United States}}

[[File:West Virginia Welcome Center Princeton I-77 US-460.jpg|thumb|A [[Welcome centers in the United States|state welcome center]] in [[West Virginia]]. State welcome centers are often located near state or municipal borders in the United States.]]

A rest area often located near state or municipal borders in the United States is sometimes called a [[Visitor center|welcome center]].  Welcome centers tend to be larger than regular rest areas, and are staffed at peak travel times with one or more employees who advise travelers as to their options.  Some welcome centers contain a small [[museum]] or at least a basic information kiosk about the state.  Because air travel has made it possible to enter and leave many states without crossing the state line at ground level, some states, like California, have official welcome centers inside major cities far from their state borders.  In some states (such as Massachusetts), these rest areas are called tourist information centers<ref name=masspikeserviceplazas>{{cite web
| url=http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/highway/TrafficTravelResources/TravelServicePlazasTouristInformationCenter.aspx
| title=Travel Service Plazas & Tourist Information Centers – Traffic & Travel Resources – Highway Division
| website=Massachusetts Department of Transportation
| access-date=September 16, 2011
| archive-date=June 28, 2017
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628051447/http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/highway/TrafficTravelResources/TravelServicePlazasTouristInformationCenter.aspx
| url-status=dead
}}</ref> and in others (such as New Jersey), [[visitor center]]s.<ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite web|url=http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/our-roadways.html|title=NJTA – Service Area Listing |website=State.nj.us |access-date=July 16, 2009| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071213221232/http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/nj-vcenter-serv.htm| archive-date = December 13, 2007}}</ref>

====Other types====
Rest areas without modern restrooms are called waysides.  These locations have parking spaces for trucks and cars, or for [[semi-trailer truck]]s only. Some have [[portable toilet]]s and [[waste container]]s. In Missouri these locations are called roadside parks or roadside tables.

The most basic parking areas have no facilities of any kind; they consist solely of a paved shoulder on the side of the highway where travelers can rest for a short time.  A scenic area is similar to a parking area, but it is provided to the traveler in a place of natural beauty.  These are also called [[scenic overlook]]s.

== Oceania ==
===Australia===
[[File:Wentworth terrain.jpg|thumb|Roadside 'rest area' {{convert|20|km}} north of [[Wentworth, New South Wales]]]]

Rest areas in Australia are a common feature of the [[highways in Australia|road network]] in rural areas. They are the responsibility of a variety of authorities, such as a state transport or main roads bureau, or a local government's works department. Facilities and standards vary widely and unpredictably: a well-appointed rest area will have bins to deposit small items of litter, a picnic table with seating, a cold water tap (sometimes fed by a [[rainwater tank]]), barbecue fireplace (sometimes gas or electric), toilets, and – less commonly – showers. Other rest areas, especially in more remote locations, may lack some or even all of these facilities: in [[South Australia]], a rest area may be no more than a cleared section besides the road with a sign indicating its purpose. Rest areas in Australia do not provide [[filling station|service stations]] or restaurants (such facilities would be called [[roadhouse (premises)|roadhouse]]s or [[truck stop]]s), although there may be [[caravan (towed trailer)|caravans]], often run by [[charitable organization|charities]], providing refreshments to travellers.

Comfort and hygiene are important considerations for the responsible authorities, as such remote sites can be very expensive to clean and maintain, and vandalism is common. Also, Australia's dependence on road transport by heavy vehicles can lead to competition between the amenity needs of recreational travelers and those of the drivers of heavy vehicles—so much so that on arterial routes it is common to see rest areas specifically signed to segregate the two user groups entirely. Thus rest areas generally do not allow overnight occupation. In [[Queensland]], however, well-maintained rest areas sometimes explicitly invite travelers to stay overnight, as a road safety measure, but this is rare elsewhere.

== See also ==
* [[Aid station]]
* [[Caravanserai]]
* [[Diner]]
* [[Truck stop]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links and further reading ==
{{Wiktionary|rest area|lay-by}}
*{{Commons category inline|Rest areas}}

<!--note that a rest area with commercial facilities is an Autobahnraststätte, while an Autobahnparkplatz is a rest area without commercial facilities; the Interwiki-Linking is difficult when this distinction is not made in English-->

{{Authority control}}

{{Toilets|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Rest areas| ]]
[[Category:Road infrastructure]]
[[Category:Safety]]