Clean restroom. Landscaped grounds. Picnic tables. Parking for Tractor-trailers, RV's and autos…read more Water bottle filling station was out of order.

Wednesday morning and the hustle is real. I'm back on the road just tryna make a dollar…read more.. So, this little rest stop is really a 3 or 4 star establishment. 4 stars because it's always pretty clean. 3 stars simply because it's small and doesn't offer a lot. BUT... both Indiana and Ohio decided to work on their rest areas at the same dang time, and apparently, my opinion did not make it into the docket of either state's government. 200 miles with no rest area. Awesome. So, guess what little buddy?? You're getting an upgrade! 5 stars because you are actually open for business. Well, done. (Update: Ohio's welcome center on I-70 is back open after months, but I didn't know this at the start of my trip.) Ok, today's playlistbecause you can learn a lot about a person not only from the type of music they like, but their road trip mix. That's not always the same thing! At least not for me, I listen to some random shiz that pops into my head when I'm on the road. I digress. I started with O.A.R. I am not a big "jam band" person, but I've always liked OAR a lot more than Dave. If you're curious, listen to the XX album. It's basically a greatest hits and has some of my favorite live tracks (Night Shift that leads into Stir It Up with an actual member of The Wailers). That lead me to a theme: songs with strings, horns and/or piano. I love rock with strings! And horns take me back to my love of ska music in the early 2000's. (I refrained from listening to any ska today because that would lead down a different rabbit hole). Led Zeppelin's Kashmir (just a perfect mix of strings and guitar. Led Zeppelin is also my favorite rock band of all time) Some of Metallica's S&M album. I'm not the biggest Metallica fan, but the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra on Nothing Else Matters is perfection! I seriously got goosebumps listening. For horns, I went with Paul Simon's You Can Call Me Al. A goofy little ditty with infectious horns. One of my favorite piano-heavy songs is Feelin' Alright by Joe Cocker. Whenever I hear this song, it makes me want to take up piano, again. At some point in my life, I WILL learn to play that breakdown at the 2:20 mark. Mark my words! Then, my mind went blank! Four decades of music knowledge, and I couldn't think of any other songs that featured strings or horns or piano that I wanted to hear. So, I took a hard left and turned to Dinosaur Jr. and somehow that led to Bush. I really love Bush! (Yep, the band, too) They were one of my favorite late 90's rock bands and Machinehead was my favorite modern rock song for a long time. Alright, that's my 15 cents for today. I need it back so I can get that dollar!

Rest areas in my opinion are places where they don't need to cater to the people who use them, as…read moreeveryone is always on the go and the drivers tend to be a captive audience. This one is pretty good; it has a lot of clean restrooms, some vending machines, a picnic area, and a dog run. It feels pretty safe and well kept. I only stopped by here briefly, but if I need a place for a break for driving, I would stop here again. It serves its function well, and hence I'm giving it five stars.

Whew! $1.75 for all soft drinks, including all flavors of Faygo. They make Faygo in Detroit and a…read more20 oz. is typically 99¢ at any convenience store. I guess with a captive audience ..... they can charge as they please. Anyway, beyond that disappointment, this is still a great rest area.

My final review in Indiana on this trip was this brief stop at the rest area southbound on I-65…read more this rest area is on I-65 between Indianapolis and Louisville and instead of the coffee that kicked in, there was a (single) beer and at least three glasses of water from St. Elmo Steak House https://www.yelp.com/biz/st-elmo-steak-house-indianapolis-3?hrid=mP8N9e1dK0OKBjbrijPbbQ that were making themselves known. Like others in Indiana, it was clean from litter and bathrooms were decent. There are vending machines and picnic tables. Easy access from the interstate with a sweeping turn that would slow people down as they enter. The shape of the center lends itself to shade trees for cars (not so much the truck parking) if you were thinking of a brief siesta before continuing onwards. Back on to the highway was easy with a decently long acceleration ramp allowing a simple merge. [Review 13549 overall, 868 of 2020.]

Very clean restrooms, well stocked vending machines and a very shady picnic area. What else do you…read moreneed in a highway rest area. Southbound on Interstate 65 just before Columbus IN.

I definitely enjoyed my time at this exotic club with very nice staff that makes you feel very…read morewelcomed. Very nice and clean area with nice couches and bar area. They have some very beautiful women who are not only nice but not too pushy at all. About a 10-15 drive outside Bloomington-Normal area.

This is such a large, green space-loving rest area -- perfect for families, kids or pets…read more COVID has made me particularly thankful for rest stops, considering we've been using them more on trips to avoid crowds at restaurant. This stop had clean bathroom facilities, and I liked the covered picnic area in particular. We ended up eating our lunch here before getting back on the road. The covered picnic area also has places to grill out. It was great to just let our son run -- our "get the wiggles out" -- in this green space. We'll definitely stop here again.

Clean - yes. Welcoming - not so much. Unlike other states, there is no attempt to make Indiana…read moresound interesting. There were no state maps available. The vending machines were filthy in the vending area. There was a wall of festival guides and tourists attractions. And a fold out display of Indiana trivia - draws mild interest. The upside - restrooms are super clean. There is a picnic pavilion and green space to walk a dog. The vending area carries both Coke and Pepsi products. Long story short.....a good place to relieve yourself or dog and that's about it.

Reasonably clean rest area shortly over the Indiana border from Ohio. They have a lot of parking…read morefor cars and trucks so unless it is a very unusually busy day, you shouldn't have a problem there. The bathrooms are distinguished by binary genders and there are about 15 stalls for each gender. All the expected "amenties" were there, such as a map, some brochures, etc., and a vending machine which may have been locked up (July 2021). Whatever you need a rest area for, this should work for you.

This rest area sits just miles from the Indianapolis International Airport. It''s a rarity to have…read morea stop in city limits, so I give them that. The entrance, parking lot and exit is jacked up. It's the worse situation I've ever seen. The parking lot, curbs and landscaping are in very rough condition. The rest area sits quite a bit off the highway which is unusual. The Men's room was clean, everything worked and had proper supplies. However the facilities were dated. Overall perfectly acceptable. I'm at a not recommend 2.5 rounding down due to the parking lot.

The truck parking area here is very tight and with slot of these rookie inexperienced drivers…read morepulling out of the parking area are more likely to hit your truck and keep going. Besides that this rest area facility is pretty decent overall with clean restrooms and vending machines. Outdoor picnic tables and an open area where you can walk your dog. Might not be the best but it's a decent one for the area in Indiana.

This rest stop is a great place to stretch your legs and take a quick break on the road. The…read morebathrooms were clean, and there was plenty of parking, even for larger vehicles. It's not flashy, but it's reliable--and in winter, the area looked peaceful and well-kept. There's also a nice bit of green space for walking pets. Loses one star only because amenities are basic and there's not much in the way of food or vending options. Still, a solid stop when traveling through!

I'm thankful for these little rest stops when I have an Amazon run. I saw a little taco joint that…read morelooked amazing. But, alas, when you have 53 feet of a$$ you can't just pull into any parking lot. So, I guess my lunch break is this little rest area and my keto meal replacement shake. Deeelicious! Ok, today's playlist: I started a journey to listen to 1001 albums I must hear before I die (It's a book and there is an online album generator. It's a whole thing. You should check it out.). Today was day 1 on my musical journey. My first critically acclaimed album? The Beatle's seminal work, Abbey Road. After that album, I went back to my current side project of working through all Pixies albums. They were always a band I knew of, but didn't know. So far, I've soaked in Surfer Rosa, Doolittle, Bossanova, and Come on Pilgrim. While my favorite Pixies song continues to be "Where is My Mind" and Kim Deal's vocals on Caribou are infectious, my favorite album is Doolittle at this point in my exploration. Doolittle is a tour de force! (Ok, for the one person who would care about my views on Fight Club:) Side note: Where is my Mind is featured in the closing scene/credits of one of my favorite movies, Fight Club. When I heard this song the other day, I couldn't place it. Sometimes it takes my mind a minute to click. Today(!) I just had a random memory from 3-4 weeks ago when I watched Fight Club for the first time in years and was reminded why I love this movie. The ending song grabbed me and I remember thinking, "Who is this?" So, I looked it up and thought, "Huh, Pixies. That's cool." Four weeks later and I'm diving into their entire catalog. Odd how these strange coincidences keep happening to me, lately. Side note... (of a side note of a side project. We are full-blown Inception at this point!) I love Marla Singer, not just as an amazing character, but if I were Jack (and sometimes, in some ways, I feel I may be), I would have also fallen in love with Marla. A lot of people may have differing options on Marla Singer. Allow me to share mine: I hold Marla in high regard. I have no negative feelings about her at all. She is fascinating and enigmatic. Anything she does or says is because she chooses to do and say them. She doesn't have a lot because she chooses not to. She is way cooler than Jack will ever be, and he isn't anywhere in her league. As a matter of fact, Fight Club is really the journey (attempt) of Jack to reach Marla's level, in his own mind (quite literally!). Let's get this out of the way... yes, Jack. He will always be Jack to me. You may choose to call him the Narrator, but I am Jack's complete indifference to your preference of calling him Narrator. Back to Marla. She is the kind of woman you want to save, but she is doing a fine job of saving herself. Not only does she not need to be saved, she is actually Jack's savior. Fun, cool, knowledgeable, unabashed, educated, gorgeous, loving, caring, patient. She loved Tyler, I mean Jack, and she waited for him. She never gave up on him. Marla Singer. Fight Club, itself, confesses at the beginning that the entire movie is because of her. She may have flaws and a past, but I'd say Marla is perfect.

Traveling across I-70 a couple of times each year, you get to know where each rest area is located…read moreand which ones are best. We stopn at this particular spot almost every trip we take to Denver. Clean, well maintained, plenty of space for parking and/or picnics.

Indiana Welcome Center Rest Area I-70 West…read more Stopped in for a quick travel break and to stretch my legs a bit. Heading west on I-70 mile Marker 143. Spacious inside, very clean, and serves the purpose. More impressive on the inside than out and is slightly dated. Main thing is that it is clean and inviting. Good vending selection and a tourist info center but that was closed for Sunday Travel. Welcome Center|Rest Area Facilities: -Welcome Center -Truck and Passenger Vehicle Parking -73 Car and 156 Truck Spaces -Restrooms -Vending Machines -Picnic Area96 https://www.indianarestareas.com/in-i70-interstate-70-indiana-centerville-welcome-center-westbound-mile-marker-143/

I absent-mindedly neglected to fill up in Lafayette on my way to Indy from Chicago. My fuel light…read morecame on to warn me, but there was no petrol stop for 10 miles. I had to make a split second decision as my light went off to indicate I was out of gas, and rather than put myself in harms way on the shoulder, I coasted into the rest area. It was late on Sunday night and I was racking my brain, when a friend reminded me that I might have roadside assistance through my insurance. Sure enough, I was able to have gas brought to me and gave them the exact location and mile marker, as listed inside the stop. Dated, but warm with a payphone, vending machines and relatively clean bathrooms. Within the hour I was back in business and closer to a gas station than I realized. I'm very thankful to have had the saving grace that was looking out for me that night!

Be advised that OK covers alot of ground between 'icky' and 'very nice', especially when describing…read moreresting areas. The rooms themselves are sufficient for the task at hand and are well suited to those base requirements; accommodations are typical of what is provided by the state free of charge to non-residents. For a modest fee sustenance is available in a separate structure. Picnicking is permitted in designated areas as is the pet exercise and smoking. Extended and overnight parking is allowed but frowned upon, it is generally (and oddly) considered pedestrian.

I've stopped at this service center off I74 several times now, and I want to call out how friendly…read morethe staff. This morning, we were greeted when we entered and thanked when we left. The restrooms were spotless. The store offers an amazing amount of supplies for truckers, campers and travelers. I saw everything from small refrigerators to a complete selection of electronic needs. I saw a typical assortment of convenience store roller food and fresh fruits and other grab and go meals. They carried beer, but I did not see locally crafted beer. There is a small McDonald's and Subways as part of the complex. They have showers for truckers. I can't talk to those, but the area looked clean. Outside, they have even built a fenced-in dog park. The park was small with benches for owners. I've never seen a service station with a dog park. The gas was priced average for the area. Parking and the pumps are easy to access. The traffic flow is pretty good. I'll keep stopping here.

I'm no trucker, but if I was, I wouldn't mind stopping at this Love's Travel Stop. Did you know:…read moreThey have showers here! There are four of them. I didn't take a shower, but I did use the restroom, and the cleanliness level of the restroom was just OK. Could have used a once-through. There are also two fast-food restaurants: McDonald's and Subway. I don't eat at either of these places, but do you know what I do eat? I eat banana pudding, and you can find some here in the grab-and-go refrigerated case inside the convenience store. It was OK (it ain't no Buc-ees banana pudding), but if you're in the mood for banana pudding, this one at Love's will do. You also find all kinds of things for your cars and trucks, cooking items, blankets, clothing, sandals, games, toys and lots of packaged snacks. Get some hot dogs (two for $5) in flavors like regular, smoked cheddar and jalapeño cheddar. Surprisingly, they offered cut fruit in an iced cooler by the cash register. Things like pineapple, grapes and watermelon in cups. I don't know why that surprises me, but I'm glad a gas station thinks it's important to highlight nutritious snacks.