The Best and Worst Truck Stops!
 

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

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

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!!! :lol:

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.

How's it going, Lewis Friend?

Re: The Best and Worst Truck Stops!
 

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.

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

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.

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)

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.

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?? :lol:

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! :!:

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.

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...

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.

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 :) :)

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

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.

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)

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

For best I would have to say the Bosselmanss "Pilot" in Grand Island NE. That is where I plan to stop when I am in the area.

For Worst I think my vote would go to the TA in Limon, CO. It needs some floor tiles, about 1 in 5 floor tiles are actually present and glued down.

I got stuck for a day and a half at the Bosslemans during a winter storm. Got to like the place very much. :)

Best IMO- most flying J's(Sullivan,MO-great staff;border of FL and GA on 75 I think ex 2 on GA side, and okc j and outside Omaha westside my favs) usally because more private stalls, free coffee, fairly clean, the hot deli at counter, the shower system and pretty good quailty parking lots*exceptions apply, indy most in UT and WY* the worst- all East coast t/s's (especially maybrook NY TA, binghamton NY TA, bordertown NJ petro, all CT truckstops) don't forget original west coast flying j's and the one in KC

B I N G O - we have a winner! :lol:

Best~ Any Bosselmans, TA in Walcott Iowa, Most Flying J's and I can't think of the name of it, but it's at exit 45 on I-80 in Pa. Nothing fancy and not alot of truck parking, but it's some of the best food you can find, and the apple pie can't be beat!

Worst ~ Walt Whitman(i've heard it's closed, haven't had the pleasure to be in that area lately), TA in Binghamton, NY, TA in Walton Ky (I just hate their showers) and any Werner Terminal except Omaha, which of course has to be perfect just for show since it is the home terminal.

That must have been a while back. Never had any problems when I've stayed there.

The Flying J's in Rawlins and Rock Springs Wy are absolute dumps. Flying J has really gone down in quality the last few years. The newer ones in the east are not too bad but the ones out west are becoming worse all the time.

best fly -j lowell in exit 240 i-65 & fly -j whitland in exit 95 off i-65 the worst... most t/a's

The worst parking I've run into is the TA at Wytheville, VA. The slots are so narrow the lady LEO I talked to said they were out there every night for a "back into" accident.

flying J in KC is pretty brutal, smell of piss everywhere, everything is damn tight, and the layout is terrible. When I was there it was a constant lineup all the way to the offramp for fuel.

flying J in black river falls, WI is pretty nice.

Hmmmmmm....Do Pilot's and Love's really qualify as TruckStops? I think they are simply fuel points.

Best over all Truck stop for me? The HOUSE. Plenty of free parking, no lizards to interrupt the sleep, A/C is clean and smoke free, the bed is queen size, with crisp clean sheets...and shower is free!!!

On the road however...Jubitz TS, Portland OR is great.
Truck Inn @ Exit 48 in Fernley NV is not much to look at, but the showers are awesome with very friendly staff, plenty of free parking and the restaruant at the casino is great. Good food, reasonably priced.
The Petro in Santa Nella CA has always been good to me.
Little America WY..... awesome chicken!!
7-Feathers in Canyonville OR..always great food and clean showers. Parking gets full quick though.
GarlicFarm in Gilroy CA is pretty decent. Plenty of restaruants within walking distance.

ANY truckstop in the LA basin is...NASTY.

Something for your viewing pleasure.

http://www.etrucker.com/apps/news/article.asp?id=60673


And...Is Petro headed down hill??

http://www.etrucker.com/apps/news/article.asp?id=60418