The Best and Worst Truck Stops!

[countryhorseman]

Ok all! This should be fun and interesting topic. Let's get a perspective on some of the best and worst truck stop/travel plaza's/fuel stops around the country.

Try to specify the name, location and reason for voting such.

Since I have not been long haul for awhile, I am having to dig deep in the memory banks for this.

One of my favorite stops, is up on I-40, just west of Albuquerque, NM, Exit 126 if I remember correctly. The Sky City Casino and Travel Plaza - loads of parking, clean showers, friendly atmosphere, good food. and the free $5.00 when you show your CDL at the customer service desk in the Casino.

Worst, Everett, WA - Everett Fuel Stop, it was not on I-5, but a secondary road parelling it. Crappy parking lot, Nasty, and I mean nasty showers, a 19" TV with only local channels for entertainment, and it stunk (there was a fish plant or something nearby). Although the little restaurant next door served up a hearty breakfast. I got stuck there after running out of hours, extended trip into Canada, and could not make it legally to the TA/Seattle East Truck Stop.

I have more, will post after this gets going. Later

Louis

[countryhorseman]

Once this gets rolling, we will create a Poll on the best and worst.

[marcel27208]

worst--- The T/A and the truck stop directly next to it(across from the wilco) on I-81 in hershey(i think) PA.. im sure some of you know why :wink: T/A Jessup, basically most T/A's


best..... about 2 hours east of el paso texas NICE NICE truck stop, but dont park facing the east or you will regret it in the A.M!!!

[brian griffin]

The best so far, in my book, is still the New Baltimore OH petro. Really good, large and clean showers; They're not like what you're used to.

The worst? Probably any T/A. Although amarillo is ok.

[Jackrabbit379]

How's it going, Lewis Friend?

[Fredog]

Ok all! This should be fun and interesting topic. Let's get a perspective on some of the best and worst truck stop/travel plaza's/fuel stops around the country.

Try to specify the name, location and reason for voting such.

Since I have not been long haul for awhile, I am having to dig deep in the memory banks for this.

One of my favorite stops, is up on I-40, just west of Albuquerque, NM, Exit 126 if I remember correctly. The Sky City Casino and Travel Plaza - loads of parking, clean showers, friendly atmosphere, good food. and the free $5.00 when you show your CDL at the customer service desk in the Casino.

Worst, Everett, WA - Everett Fuel Stop, it was not on I-5, but a secondary road parelling it. Crappy parking lot, Nasty, and I mean nasty showers, a 19" TV with only local channels for entertainment, and it stunk (there was a fish plant or something nearby). Although the little restaurant next door served up a hearty breakfast. I got stuck there after running out of hours, extended trip into Canada, and could not make it legally to the TA/Seattle East Truck Stop.

I have more, will post after this gets going. Later

Louis

The Union 76 in Denton Texas was the worst I ever went to, that was probably 20 years ago but nothing has surpassed it yet.

[DaveP]

The worst? Probably any T/A.

I stopped an EXCEPTIONAL TA in Albert Lea, MN a couple weeks ago off I-35 (exit 11 or 13?)

[Malaki86]

The best so far, in my book, is still the New Baltimore OH petro. Really good, large and clean showers; They're not like what you're used to.

The worst? Probably any T/A. Although amarillo is ok.

Top of the list with the bad T/A's would be (in no particular order):

Jessup, MD
Baltimore, MD
Atlanta, GA

I really don't have any favorites. There's ones that I try to stop at when I'm going past that I know I can get right in/right out with no problems, and an occasional meal.

[Roadhog]

Best.....Iowa 80 TA in Wolcott, IA.
Worst...Pilot in Salinas, CA. (but I could condemn many more)
...........(Plainville Truck Stop in Plainville, MA. comes to mind as well as many others)

[countryhorseman]

worst--- The T/A and the truck stop directly next to it(across from the wilco) on I-81 in hershey(i think) PA.. im sure some of you know why :wink: T/A Jessup, basically most T/A's


best..... about 2 hours east of el paso texas NICE NICE truck stop, but dont park facing the east or you will regret it in the A.M!!!

I forgot about that dump in Hershey, what a nighmare! Wasn't there a small Loves or Pilot on the North bound side of the highway, parked about 6 trucks, that was not too bad.

[golfhobo]

I like the Petro in Milan, NM. Best water pressure in the shower I've found! Nearly knocked me down!

Worst? Man, that's a tough one. Where do I start? I LIKE many (but not all) T/A's, but the one east of Meridian, MS (exit 160) is probably the worst! (oops, forgot about Jessup!)

BTW.... Sky City is at exit 102.

2 hours east of El Paso?? You mean the Plateau at exit 159?? I've gotten sick everytime I've eaten there!

Or do you mean the TIGER at #87.... and you just have a REALLY slow truck??

[countryhorseman]

On the subject of T/A's, the twins in Ontario, CA - do not think I ever stopped there once where I was not woke up less than 3 times a night by the resident lot-lizards. and Ugghhllyyyyy. Eww! :!:

[PhuzzyGnu]

Good: Rhodes Travel Center on I-55 in Cape Girardeau, MO. TA at the 583 on I-10 outside of San Antonio. The little place in Fredonia, Kansas. Etc.

So bad the thought of it makes me itch: The Shell truck stop at McCarty (old 90) and Mesa in Houston. I've never stayed there but I've pulled in late night/early morning to get a drink or something- I swear some of the NASTIEST lot lizards you will ever see frequent the place, and they scatter like roaches as your headlights pierce the night in the unlit lot. < shudder >.

-p.

[Drew10]

Jessep probably tops the worst list or near the top (Hard to believe even T/A keeps their name on that one). Gary and Lake Station Ind. although they are both rather average T/A's I figure anywhere they need armed security its probably not worth staying for extended periods.

Almost any Pilot, these are not truckstops, they dont even look like them. They are 4wheeler travel centers. Pilots, "get in give us your money and leave".

Portage Wi Petro, very nice, easy parking, nice place to spend some time.

Ill probably add more as I think about it...

[fireman932003]

I realy don't have a favorite but I would say the worst is right here in Evansville called Busler's. That place is a pure DUMP! If I had to pick a favorite truck stop it would have to be I-80 travel plaza in Iowa.

[TK THE TRUCKER]

The TA in downtown Nashville is, well, not to my liking. There's a long list of crap truckstops as well as a long list of good ones. As long as I could find one with a parking spot I was rather happy. The TA in Lake Station Indiana, the parking lot turns in to, well, a lake. Go to bed not raining, rain all night, then wake up in the morning with foot deep water around your truck, even better when it's cold out and your truck is frozen in it. Never happened to me but after one time there I knew where not to park

[marcel27208]

On the subject of T/A's, the twins in Ontario, CA - do not think I ever stopped there once where I was not woke up less than 3 times a night by the resident lot-lizards. and Ugghhllyyyyy. Eww! :!:

if we had a list of truck stops with ugly lot lizards i think this would be at the top!!!! ughhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :x

[PackRatTDI]

The worst that I experienced was the Gary, IN T/A. I talked with a guy who worked for a cable company in Indiana and they had to have a state police escort to disconnect illegal hookups in the neighborhood not far from the T/A because the local residents WOULD get violent if the cops weren't there.

[LennyD]

Best:

Baker City, OR truck corral
Sky City, NM
KC, MO Ameristar Casino (not really a truckstop, but plenty of parking and Arthur Bryants BBQ)
Iowa 80

Worst:

Gary, IN TA
Fontana, CA truck town
Lincoln, NE Shoemakers
All the little dumps within 75 miles of Seattle
Swift Terminals (9/10 are worse than the worst truck stops)

[Jackrabbit379]

One of the worst ones come to mind, is the Drivers Truck Stop on I-35 north of Ft Worth. I think, the Ft worth PD has an office there. :P