Fuel Up & Wind Down - 3 Famous Rest Stops

Once roads were more developed, people needed a place to rest. There are few things more distressing than sitting for hours and realizing that you have nowhere to stretch your legs, refill a water bottle, or go to the bathroom. Enter the natural start of rest areas. Over time, better and nicer rest areas proved to be more welcoming to travelers and tourists. Though in the beginning, this just meant regularly cleaned and stocked bathrooms or a trash-free rest area, this eventually developed into rest stops that became tourist destinations all on their own, relying on entertainment, novel experiences, and kitsch to bring in folks rather than just fuel stop accommodations. Others depend on offering the best and most options a fuel stop can deliver. Either way, rest stops have evolved from a little area to pull over and park into so much more. Keep reading to learn about where rest stops come from, what they've evolved into, and what makes these three worth the stop!

Of course, as one of the locations of the first stopping sites, Connecticut has turned its rest areas into full-on plazas. In total, they boast 23 CT Service Plazas along I-95, RT-15, and I-395 within the state. All are open 24/7 and include commercial businesses for shopping and dining, clean restrooms, pet walking areas, places to refuel, electric vehicle charging stations, and more. The plazas along I-95 even offer free WiFi. Originally, these plazas were constructed along a tolled highway, but when the toll was removed in 1988, the plazas stayed and evolved. Though they started out as just places to stop, rest, and refuel, they now offer Dunkin' Donuts, Subway, convenience stores, and have been renovated to have modern interiors while maintaining the original brick-and-stone facades. The Merritt Parkway plazas (along RT-15) are right alongside the highway, meaning drivers don't even have to exit in order to refuel. Connecticut has turned its rest stops into mini-convenience centers, offering anything the weary traveler may need, in the most efficient way possible.

With people traveling longer stretches than they'd been able to prior, they needed spots to stop and rest. Originally, drivers created their own "stopping sites" — places where there was a point of interest or just happened to be enough room for a car to pull over. Stopping sites were eventually called "roadside parks" and were first documented in Connecticut in 1928 and Michigan in 1929. States then took it upon themselves to tend to these roadside parks, making them a part of roadside development and beautification. When the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 started funding for the Interstate Highway System, rest areas were also expected. Ohio, Wisconsin, and Oregon were the first states to open rest areas. Then, in 1962, John Steinbeck wrote Travels with Charley In Search of America, documenting highway travel in such a way that developers made the addition of safety rest areas to the Interstate System a priority.

Since long stretches of interstate meant travelers wouldn't have access to commercial businesses along the way, safety rest areas were developed to provide what they wouldn't have access to: parking, bathrooms, and picnic tables. Developers realized that this could also be a way to "add some humanity back to interstate travel." By the end of the 1960s, rest areas were commonplace. States had a responsibility to provide travelers with these because they were a public asset. As modern life developed, so have rest areas, with them now including play areas for children, shaded areas with picnic tables, tourist information, running water, and sometimes more. In fact, when states realized that their rest areas were their own public ambassadors, they also realized a means to reflect their quality of government and citizenry. So it's no surprise that some states have developed rest areas or fuel stops that have become their own tourist destinations.

Not all famous rest stops are about direct efficiency or fulfilling basic needs, however. South of the Border has become a bit of a legend unto itself. Though it started as a little beer stand in 1949 by Alan Schafer, it transformed into a Drive-in when he added a 10-seat grill, and later a "Motor Inn" with the addition of 20 motel rooms, before turning into the full-fledged attraction that South of the Border and its mascot, Pedro, have become. Now, truckers can refuel at Pedro's Truck Stop on I-95 in Dillon, South Carolina, for supplies, showers, and a truckers' lounge or enjoy the large covered picnic area next door. Motel guests can enjoy the "Pleasure Dome," which offers an indoor pool, sauna, locker rooms with showers, and an outdoor pool. Camp Pedro has a 100-full-hookup-site campground, which also has showers and laundry facilities. What started as just the halfway point for folks traveling from Florida to New York is now the epitome of camp and kitsch. There's the Sombrero Observation Tower that rises 200 feet in the air, Pedroland Park which offers rides and entertainment for children, and the Reptile Lagoon, which is the largest indoor reptile display in the US. That's not all, though. Of course, there's still a convenience store, a restaurant, and things you'd expect, but there's also a barber shop, its own post office, and an outdoor go-kart track. If the attractions aren't enough to make someone stop, the décor and architecture — from the Jetsons-style starburst chandelier to the geodesic dome pool to the countless colorful animal statues — will leave an unforgettable impression. Maybe you aren't into riding to the top of a giant sombrero or checking out some big lizards — you can at least agree that South of the Border is not something you'd see every day.

Finally, our last "rest stop" is another that focuses on prioritizing the best accommodations: Wyoming's Little America. The first Little America was built along the Lincoln Highway, America's first road, with two fuel pumps, a 24-seat café, and 12 guest rooms in 1952. Today, this location has 140 guest rooms and expanded gas pumps for truckers and travelers, having been the largest filling station for a number of years. Little America itself has also taken on a new meaning and is its own "census-designated place" in Sweetwater County, and was named after the motel that had been seen as a haven due to its remote location. Though having a population of only 68 according to the 2010 census, Little America has thrived thanks to its location and offerings, now becoming a chain of travel centers.

Called "America's iconic rest stop," Little America offers 16 fueling islands, a convenience store, clean restrooms on I-80, and fresh favorites from their Hot Grill & Deli. The convenience store is open 24 hours a day, stocked with items that any traveler "might have forgotten to pack," but also locally-crafted collectibles and artisanal wares. The truck centers go above and beyond by giving local recommendations for repairs and services. They also have their own hotel and RV Park. Little America continues to grow and the public is welcome to join the grand opening of a brand new center and celebrate 90 years of hospitality on May 17th, this Saturday, with a family-friendly drive-in movie night and fireworks show! The next day kicks off with a ceremony at 10:30 AM with a ribbon cutting, followed by giveaways, a live DJ, a classic car show, face painters, bounce house, and more.

Make your road trips about the journey as well as the destination. Whether it's about satisfying traveling needs efficiently in Connecticut, witnessing the quirkiness of South Carolina, or taking a break for a freshly grilled feast and local wares in Wyoming, every state has its own twist on the rest stop. If you're traveling for long stretches, feel free to take a break, unwind, and experience something new. And remember: Interstate Signways made the signs that marked the way.