Rest Areas.. What's not to like?

Some of the pull through angled parking is brutal.

 

Especially when jack hole sidles up along the approach curb making it impossible for trucks to turn in to spots that open. And another jack hole parks in the full and bypass lane. Then the ones who pull up 7 feet too far. I avoid rest areas if at all possible except for daytime 30s, especially for 10’s where I may need to depart well before others

But much of the same crap can happen at truck stops too.

 

All rest areas should be privatised with vendors.

 

I imagine any privatized rest area (especially near cities) would be pay to park after 30min unless a law forbade it.

They might even try to charge for bathroom use like a lot of Germany did way back when I was young. (still does?)
They would say its to "cover operational expenses."

 

A porter would be worth it.

 

have you ever slept in vanhorn tx old tiger truck stop. no lights, no people, no cell phone signal.

 

They're a lot quieter and a lot nicer to look at than a truck stop. Some of them are so far out in the boonies that you don't have cell or wifi reception. There is one in the I-70 heading to Denver from Utah that sits on the edge of a huge canyon. You walk to the edge and swear you're at the Grand Canyon. Oregon and Washington have some beautiful rest stops. There is one in central Oregon that borders a river. I threw a line in last year and caught a huge trout.

 

Some of those pull in spots are #### near impossible without driving up on the sidewalk.

 

Between truck stops and rest areas I think truck stops are a bit safer even though most rest areas are fine. Problem with some rest areas is you have a variety of drug users sleeping in their cars at times and some are just looking for the right opportunity to steal etc although its still rare.
A few months ago I was at poorly lit rest area in Texas. Just as I was dozing off I heard a car ride by, had my windows cracked because it was a cool night. A few minutes later I heard someone pull on my drivers side door handle, thank God it was locked I h
got up and looked out the windows but never saw anyone.. ..but I got something for them anyway. Overall I stay at both, it's still safer out here than I thought it would be..just have to stay aware of your surroundings.