Travel Plazas Step Up To Serve Summer Travelers

All-American road trip that includes stops at travel plazas and truckstops presents them with a safe and viable option for a Summer vacation

With Americans projected to take 700 million trips this summer, 97 percent by car, America’s travel plazas and truckstops are stepping up to serve passenger vehicles and RVers seeking a safe Summer vacation.

Travel plazas and truckstops nationwide serve as a prime location for the traveling public, offering fuel (gasoline, diesel and alternative fuels), food (both quick-serve and dine-in options) as well as the ability to accommodate recreational vehicles and buses. The average travel plaza or truckstop also offers amenities such as showers, laundry facilities, overnight parking that is separate from commercial trucks and vehicle repair services. 

Travel plazas and truckstops also serve as home to some of America’s best diners, mercantiles that sell locally sourced foods and products as well as unique industry museums, making them a key stop as the nation embarks on the Great American road trip. 

“Americans are eager to travel this summer, and the all-American road trip that includes stops at travel plazas and truckstops presents them with a safe and viable option for a Summer vacation,” said NATSO President and CEO Lisa Mullings. “Truckstops and travel plazas are designed to meet the needs of the long-distance traveler. As we embark on the July 4 weekend, the travel plazas that crisscross this country and dot the nation’s Interstate highways are ready to meet all of the needs of the traveling public in a safe and efficient manner.” 

The United States is home to more than 5,000 private travel plazas and truckstops, the vast majority of which are located within ¼ mile of an Interstate exit interchange. Travel plaza locations often house travel stores, mercantiles, restaurants, hotels and vehicle repair services. The travel plaza industry serves more than 1 billion people a year throughout the industry.

Delia Moon Meier, Senior Vice President of Iowa 80 and NATSO Chairman of the Board, said, “Travel plazas and truckstops have long been a favorite stop for those traveling by RV.” Iowa 80, for example, has 20 pull-through parking spaces for RVs and travel trailers located near the convenience store and gas islands. The site also is home to the Iowa 80 Trucking Museum, which houses a collection of rare, vintage trucks, making it a vacation destination. 

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