Rest Stops
 

Do rest stops have showers in them???

No. No way! Rest Stops have enough problems they way it is.

No.

Some truck stops do. I guess they are called "travel stops" these days.

Truck stops are called "travel centers" now. Go to one of the large major chains like T/A, Petro, Flying J.

A shower will cost about $5-6, with towels and soap provided. Free if you buy a tank (>80 gallons) of diesel.

Don't know what your route is, but on East Coast (I95) I have seen truck stops with showers only south of Washington, DC to Florida border.

Also not sure purpose of question (other than the obvious need for shower on long trip) but some areas with campgrounds (usually more rural areas with state or federal run campgrounds) have businesses that have pay-showers. Have used these when camping in rustic settings - however these are not likely to be on major routes and have no idea how you would locate them.

Just an aside--there are wet wipes for the body now, really large, in small travel packs. If you're desperate.

gail - There are certainly large truck stops from DC up to Maine along the Eastern seaboard.

From DC up, there's one just north of downtown Baltimore, accessible from both I-95 and I-895. Several in Elkton, MD just before the DE border.

In NJ, one has to stay on I-295 and not the Turnpike to find them. In CT, you'll find them in E. Haven if you stay on I-95. And other ones one I-84 towards Boston if you go that way, etc...

Well, I was a truck driver for several years, so I know where the showers are.

The reason I stated in my above post that rest stops have enough problems the way it is is because of the crime. Here in Minnesota on I-94 we have the most beautiful, expensive, park-like rest stops I have seen anywhere. But two of them have had unsolved murders.

In Texas north of San Antonio there is a rest stop on I-35 which was a total hooker hang out. Sort of like The Best Little Whore House In Texas! No, I didn't experience it. I read about it when I lived in Texas.

That's frightening, jorr! We use rest stops a lot for bathroom breaks and sometimes picinic lunches. I hope the two unsolved murders were at least not in broad daylight!

Come to think of it, wasn't Michael Jordan's father killed at a rest stop?

Fortunately, when we stop, especially along I-55 or I-57 in Illinois, they always seem to be quite busy.

Do not go into any rest area after dark. Just don't. Find an exit with a gas station or convenient store if you need to use the bathroom.

There is a travel center associated with a huge truck stop and Mobile station at EXT. 22 on I-80 in IN. I do know that they have showers there.

There are also showers in lots of the rest stops within or near some of the National Parks. My daughter has used them upon getting camping permits in KY, IL, and TN. Some of these are also accessed to the highway. They are always dicey and of uneven quality. There were ones she would not use just from the appearance of the "things" she found on the ground inside. Groups are always a necessity.

We do a lot of driving trips and I could tell you that all states are NOT equal on this factor. Lights, location, attendants etc. Upon entering Mississippi I was SO surprisd to find a welcome and relief center that had not only the usual but also a lady welcome you with a small glass of juice.

And then there's I-35 going from Wichita to Topeka. About 100 miles. Clean, well lite, fast food restaurants, clean restrooms. Oh, I forgot one thing. Its the only toll portion of I-35 which stretches from The Mexican boarder to nearly the Canadian boarder. I guess you pay extra for the ameneties and safety without the hookers!

Gee, several times I've slept in the bed of my pickup (no cap, open-air) in reststops. I chained the bicycle to the bumper - I was more concerned about its theft than myself. This in PA a few times, NJ once, NY a few times, all in the 1990s.

Some laundromats have showers too.

Back in my college days I hitch hiked many times. I also picked up hitch hikers. I never felt it was a problem. I never do that now. The only exception would be something like a motorist stranded on the road in below 0 temps.

I am skittish in rest areas no matter how nice and clean they appear.
I was in nice one... somewhere, maybe CO... and a lady came right up to me in the bathroom and started really hitting me up for money.
It was the last time I stopped at a rest area that did not also include a visitor center or some vendors. I would prefer to pull off the highway and go to a business, even if it is a few miles out of the way.
I rarely drive to places with long gaps in populated areas. There's generally a McDonald's every 30 minutes or so and I have learned to 'go' when the opportunity is available, even if I do not have to 'go' really bad!
I also know another girl who was threatened in a rest area bathroom in OK in the womens bathroom by a woman asking for money.

And who knows, you might even bump into a well-known British vocalist in one.
Oh, brothel!
Oh, brother!

When driving, I generally use McDonalds for bathroom breaks.

I've never had an issue at rest stops, day or night. So you were panhandled at one? Are you going to avoid ever going to a city as well because of that? And were these unsolved murders actually just tourists that stopped to use the bathroom? I highly doubt that.

To the original poster: you can also usually find good clean showers at rv parks-if you need showers on the road you might bring some sort of rv camp guide.

It's hard for a traveller on the road to know if an upcoming rest area is manned or not, or how safe it is. Many of them are not very well lit at night. And robberies do indeed happen at rest areas sometimes.

Let me tell you this. The trucking company I worked for actually has a rule that says we're not supposed to park overnight at rest areas unless absolutely necessary. Much safer to park at a truck stop overnight. Now, a trucking company thinks rest areas are not safe for their truckers, you can decide whether it's safe for you...

There was a terrible murder at a rest stop near us a couple of years ago....makes me wonder how many rest stop murders are on record...I know I have every antenna and streetsmart rules of the road in my head anytime I'm at one. Sorry no help with the shower dilemna.