I am going to do my best to add my top 5, this is my opinion , as they say ever driver has his/her company they like or dont like, as well as truck stops they like or dont like, here are my somewhat top 5 as I say there are so many of them with there own stories, hey when we ( the wife and I) stopped we not only stopped for sleep we stopped for fun and adventure, thats what lifes about right.

1.The TA in Sparks NV...casino right behind the place
2. Flying J and Pilot in Loredo TX.....All the truckers got togeather over the weekend and had a Cookout in the back lot of the Pilot.
3. Troutdale OR,,,,spent the weened there ofr superbowl when the colts won that year, TA has its own bar inside. and one of the best breakfast joints next door to it.
4. I would have to say truck Stop in Youngstown OH, the one with the stripmall inside it with all the decent cloths and vendors.
5. Iowa 80, with the two trucks inside the place and all the nice restraunts.
6. ok this one is a lucky one RENO NV it was a little place you did not have to buy fuel or anything....nice showers like at home.....

Wow a trucker can be a critic for truckstops as well. either it be a franchise or a mom and pop place we've seen quite a few places. as well as some of the nastier ones we been to as well....TA Gary Ind, Pilot in Memphis TN, TA in downtown NAshville (across the st from the titans Stadium), we had no chioce for these as we were out of hours and shut down.

This was one of my favorites and also one of the absolute most clean truckstops from parking lot to restrooms that I have encountered. Real good place to go.

My vote is for the Petro in Wheeler Ridge Ca. Good food and really clean showers. Plenty of parking too.I have never seen that lot full.

I remember going to that Giant in NM as a kid. It really was a nice place.

We all have our favorite individual truckstops that we like to stop at when we're in that neck of the woods; i.e. bosselman's, the Iowa 80, etc.
We also know that there are a fair share of s***holes out there.

Out of the five major truckstop franchises, on average, which one provides the best service?

(cleanest showers, most parking space, best food, best employees, lack of the maze to get to the pump, etc.)

Too hard to answer that one. Usually, Pilot and Flying "J" have the cleanest showers, but, beyond that, it varies a lot. Some areas have tight parking, while others have lots. Some employees are stressed and some are happy-go-lucky. Some seem like the designer was on drugs and make you wonder. I've seen some Loves shoehorned into a half acre, while the neighboring land is empty. Go figure. In recent years, Pilot has opened up new locations and closed down the old, small, not useful, worn out locations. (actually, most seem to turn into USA stations). But, for sure, cleanliness is absolutely the biggest challenge any truckstop has. And I've never seen a truckstop that enforces their red curbs or any violaters that are parked haphazardly.

Keep in mind that none of the above choices can be considered "best on average."

However, if i were to rank best to worst with best only being a relative term compared to worst (sort of like comparing the KKK to the taliban) then:

Usually
1) J's, loves.

2) petro

3) pilot

4) T/A.

Now, i have to admit that on the whole petro tends to have the best buffets followed closely by flying j.

But they all suck.

How about stops on I85 and I95? Any suggestions where to and where NOT TO stop while traveling up and down the eastern shore of the USA? Thanks in advance to all who provide this useful info. Scott

Without a doubt the Iowa 80 is the best all around TS in the USA IMO and I've been to a few other good ones but the 80 is just awesome! Great food! Clean showers! A friggin' Dentist! Chrome galore and other trucker goodies.

The parking is usually plentiful but not always. You sure can't ask for much bigger in the lot anyways. It's just so good that everyone stops there when they're going through the area lol.

You can even check out the trucking museum on site there to kill some time and learn a little. Plus who else has several trucks inside the store including a full sized truck and trailer?

I still recommend the steak sandwich, it's a real winner! Not to mention, they have a great buffet too and I rarely eat buffets at truck stops, so that's sayin somethin!

Now that My freinds is funny.......

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