Top Truck Stops to Visit While On the Road
Travelling down America’s highways as a trucker can be both exhilarating and exhausting. While HOS regulations require long-haul truckers to rest for a certain amount of time before resuming their drive, many settle for the bare minimum in terms of resting areas. Road shoulders, near exits, in desolate parking lots, and near abandoned buildings; all of these places are unsafe for anyone to sleep in, let alone truckers carrying valuable cargo ripe for taking.
Truckers need places with all the amenities, supplies, and food options they could ever want. Luckily, there are many interesting and fun truck stops and travel centers throughout the US to visit while traveling on the job.
We researched the most prominent, fascinating, and downright convenient truck stops that truckers will enjoy. Whether they’re just filling up fuel tanks or taking HOS-mandated rest, these places serve truckers of all kinds.
In no particular order, here is our list of the 6 of the top truck stops to visit while on the road:
South of the Border (Hamer, South Carolina)
As you drive down I-95 in the Carolinas, similar colorful billboards may catch your eye. They are counting down the miles until you reach a unique destination: South of the Border.
Located just after the border between North and South Carolina in the town of Hamer, this tourist trap is popular with travelers and truckers alike due to its fun Mexican-inspired décor. There are also interesting attractions, such as an RV campsite, motor inns, restaurants, expansive gift shops, and the largest indoor reptile exhibit in the country.
For truckers specifically, Pedro’s Truck Stop (also known as Porky’s) is an excellent place for truckers who have just crossed the border and need to relax. The truck stop offers diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) fueling, supplies, showers, a lounge, an ATM, and more. The stop doubles as a motocross gear store as well, supplying gear and racing fuel for avid motocross riders.
Pedro’s is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The rest of South of the Border’s attractions and restaurants have varying hours of operation.
Russell’s Travel Center (Glenrio, New Mexico)
Another unique truck stop is Russell’s Travel Center, located on the border between Texas and New Mexico along I-40 and near the historic Route 66.
The travel center glorifies the golden age of Route 66, with old signage and memorabilia from the mid-20th century (including a lot of Marilyn Monroe) adorning the walls.
The travel center includes many retro-styled amenities, including 175 truck parking spaces, a grocery store, a 50’s 50s-style café, a vintage gas station with DEF and diesel fueling, showers, a chapel, and an antique car museum. Russell’s is a charming spot for truckers who want a little taste of Americana while still getting all the amenities they need to keep driving.
Russell’s is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. TravelCenters of America currently owns the travel center, while the museum is independently owned.
Big Apple Travel Center (Joplin, Missouri)
Sometimes, when looking for a truck stop, you don’t need flashy décor or a variety of amenities; sometimes, you just need a clean, simple place to recharge. Big Apple Travel Center is this for drivers coming off I-44 in Missouri.
The location is prime; the travel center is near the 4-way intersection of four state borders: Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Kansas. But more than that, the Big Apple is a comfortable place to park and rest.
There are CAT scales, DEF and electric fueling stations, private showers, a dog park, a convenience store, and an Indian restaurant (Rasoi) that’s open 24 hours a day and serves some of the best meat and vegetarian dishes in the region.
Big Apple Travel Center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (including Rasoi!). Three more locations are set to open in Missouri and Washington State.
Dysart’s Restaurant and Truck Stop (Hermon, Maine)
Many truck stops are owned and operated by major corporations, such as TravelCenters of America. However, the more unique truck stops are owned by families, who have not only created a place for truckers and visitors to unwind, but also created a community hotspot.
Such is the case with Dysart’s Restaurant & Truck Stop, located off of I-95 in the middle of Maine. The main draw is the restaurant, where home-cooked-style meals and desserts are made. There is also a bakery where you can get freshly made pies and bread to eat in-store and on the go. It’s a warm place that everyone loves. SNL even did a skit based on one of Dysert’s commercials!
The truck stop also has many other amenities specifically for truckers, including a full-service gas and diesel fuel station, private showers, a trucker’s lounge, free Wi-Fi, an automated truck and camper wash, and a travel shop. The entire town of Hermon, in fact, has many other services for truckers, including hotels, truck centers, dump stations, and more!
Dysert’s Truck Stop is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, though the restaurant is open from 6 am to 8 pm. There are several Dysert locations throughout the state, though the Hermon location is the only one that is a full truck stop.
Jubitz Truck Stop (Portland, Oregon)
When most non-industry people imagine truck stops in their mind, they imagine places as down-to-earth and practical as the truckers who frequent them. However, Jubitz Truck Center strives to be something foreign to the trucking industry: classy.
Jubitz has a convenient location for a truck stop: right off of I-5, near the Portland International Airport in the heart of the Pacific Northwest. The 26-acre flagship location has about 300 truck parking spots, including reserved and bobtail unit parking.
Amenities at their truck stop include a 24-hour truck scale and convenience store, a deli, clean shower rooms and jacuzzi tubs, a driver’s lounge, a dog wash, and a truck service center for maintenance and repairs.
Next door to the truck stop, the Jubitz Marketplace offers the comforts and luxury that truckers may not always get on the road. Highlights include the Portlander Inn, several restaurants, a digital movie theater, a barber shop, a laundromat, and a showroom sponsored by the Pacific Northwest Truck Museum. The Marketplace guarantees truckers a world-class experience!
Jubitz Truck Stop is open 24 hours, with the other amenities and attractions having varying hours.
Iowa 80 (Walcott, Iowa)
We saved the best for last! Iowa 80, located along I-80, is the world’s largest truck stop. This is no exaggeration or marketing stunt; the truck stop spans an area of 220 acres, making it three times larger than the average truck stop. Receiving about 5,000 visitors daily, Iowa 80 has over a whopping 900 truck parking spaces, 15 diesel fuel pumps, and a dedicated pump for dispensing bulk diesel exhaust fluid.
But that’s only the tip of the iceberg. There are so many amenities, restaurants, and attractions at Iowa 80 that listing them all could take up an entire article by itself. To summarize, the truck stop has:
– Nine restaurants
– Gift shop
– A large convenience store
– The Truck Showroom and museum
– A truck service center
– A 24-hour private shower room
– The trucker’s lounge
– Laundry facilities
– The car and truck wash (and a pet wash right next to it!)
– A movie theater
– Workout room
– Barber shop
– Chiropractor
– Dentist
– …and so much more!
Truckers and tourists alike have called Iowa 80 the “Trucker’s Disneyland,” and it shows. With so many amenities dedicated to truckers, the truck stop has truly earned its status as a trucking landmark and a must-see for any driver just passing through or staying overnight.
Iowa 80 is open 24 hours a day. Some of the truck stop’s amenities are open at varying hours.
Each of these truck stops offers something unique, whether it’s the nostalgic Americana of Russell’s Travel Center or the sheer scale and variety found at Iowa 80. Trucking isn’t just about getting from point A to point B; it’s also about the journey in between. Finding reliable, safe, and comfortable places to rest is essential for truckers who spend countless hours behind the wheel, and these locations provide far more than just necessities.
The next time you’re planning your route, consider stopping at one of these exceptional travel centers. Whether you’re looking for home-cooked comfort at Dysart’s, upscale amenities at Jubitz, or vibrant character at South of the Border, these truck stops will ensure your break from the road is enjoyable, refreshing, and memorable.
After all, truckers deserve rest stops that feel a bit like home, or even better.
