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Rest area
A rest area is a public facility located next to a large thoroughfare such as a motorway, 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, fuel stations, public toilets, water fountains, restaurants, and dump and fill stations for 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.
The availability, standards and upkeep of facilities at a stop vary by jurisdiction. Service stations have parking areas allotted for cars and trucks, articulated trucks, as well as buses and 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 restaurants), fuel stations, hotels, 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 maps and advertising for local tourist attractions, along with public toilets. However, depending on the location or standards of the area, some stops have rows of 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 fountains, vending machines, pay telephones, 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. 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 motels and nearby tourist attractions.
Privatised commercial services may take the form of a truck stop complete with a filling station, arcade video games, 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 ATMs, office cubicles, and Wi-Fi.
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.[failed verification]
In Malaysia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, rest areas have prayer rooms (musola / masjid) for Muslims travelling more than 90 kilometres (56 mi) (2 marhalah; 1 marhalah ≈ 45 kilometres (28 mi)). In Iran it is called esterāhatgāh (Persian: استراحتگاه), meaning 'rest area'.
Rest area
A rest area is a public facility located next to a large thoroughfare such as a motorway, 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, fuel stations, public toilets, water fountains, restaurants, and dump and fill stations for 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.
The availability, standards and upkeep of facilities at a stop vary by jurisdiction. Service stations have parking areas allotted for cars and trucks, articulated trucks, as well as buses and 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 restaurants), fuel stations, hotels, 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 maps and advertising for local tourist attractions, along with public toilets. However, depending on the location or standards of the area, some stops have rows of 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 fountains, vending machines, pay telephones, 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. 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 motels and nearby tourist attractions.
Privatised commercial services may take the form of a truck stop complete with a filling station, arcade video games, 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 ATMs, office cubicles, and Wi-Fi.
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.[failed verification]
In Malaysia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, rest areas have prayer rooms (musola / masjid) for Muslims travelling more than 90 kilometres (56 mi) (2 marhalah; 1 marhalah ≈ 45 kilometres (28 mi)). In Iran it is called esterāhatgāh (Persian: استراحتگاه), meaning 'rest area'.
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