Rest Areas-USA Discussion

This affects the W K Parkway and W H Natcher Parkway sections of both "Rest Areas with Restrooms" and "Rest Areas Combined" POIS as follows:

-86.809229 37.385092 KY,W H NATCHER PKWY,NB,SERVICE PLAZA, MM43 [RR,,VM,,HF]|Gas, Food
-86.811711 37.388488 KY,W H NATCHER PKWY,SB,SERVICE PLAZA, MM43 [RR,,VM,,HF]|Gas, Food
-86.831827 37.373088 KY,W KY PKWY,EB,SERVICE PLAZA LEFT EXIT, MM76.5 [RR,,VM,,HF]|Gas, Food
-86.823899 37.378766 KY,W KY PKWY,WB,SERVICE PLAZA LEFT EXIT, MM76.5 [RR,,VM,,HF]|Gas, Food

As of 9 March this service plaza has apparently reopened after a delay of roughly a month (https://www.facebook.com/Paducahdrone/videos/942748959221012... and other multiple reports at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Beaver-Dam-Rest-Stop/16551291...)

Services: Gas, Food (Godfather's Pizza, Huck's), RR, VM, HF, Travel Store

Thanks, I will remove the statement "closed for renovation" for the Beaver Dam Service Plaza.

It is FUN maintaining this file and all of the files I maintain. I just have to keep telling myself this.

I think sometimes people forget that all the POI files other than the camera files are maintained by volunteers.

Thank you for sharing your most valuable resource, your time.

~Angela

Let me second that, Mahoney! I use the Rest Area files and I really appreciate that.

The Rest Areas POI are the most important and used POI on my GPS.

Thank you!!!!

Your work on this (and the volunteer work on the other POIs) is really appreciated--I'm just glad I can give back to help now and again.

I just saw an article regarding the service plazas on this turnpike. The Antlers Service Plaza (mm 17) and the Eufala Service Plaza (mm 92) have been closed. They have been replaced by the McAlester Service Plaza (mm 66). Unless anyone knows different, I will be making the necessary changes to the file and NO, this is not an April fools joke.

This information is very helpful.

Just a note for those members that are traveling I-77 in North Carolina. A new Rest Area has opened at MM 58 and is located in the median serving both NB and SB travelers. That's the good news. The bad news is that they are CLOSING 4 REST AREAS along this stretch of I-77 (NB,MM39, SB,MM39, SB,MM63 and NB,MM 72). Be prepared, you may have to stand in line to use the facilities. The new rest area has 6 restrooms including 2 for families. Not sure how many were available at the 4 deleted rest areas, but I bet it was more than 6.

You can see the following article regarding the above.

https://www.truckersnews.com/new-rest-area-opens-on-i-77-in-...

Normally when you see the direction of travel for a specific line item (rest area), you will see either SB or NB on EB or WB. This is the case when ONE or more highways provide access and these are listed as having the same direction of travel. However in a few cases where more that ONE highway provides access, these highway may not be listed as having the same direction of travel.
This is the case of the Haywood County rest areas in NC. These rest areas are located on highways US23 and US74. US 23 is a north/south highway, whereas US 74 is a east/west highway. The following is the info in column C:

EXAMPLE:

NC,US-23/74,NB/EB,HAYWOOD COUNTY REST AREA

The first highway number in this case US23, you are traveling NB (the first direction listed)and the second highway number US74, you are traveling EB (the second direction listed)

Is a post here or an email to Mahoney best method to note corrections?

But you can post also.

Either way is acceptable. However, I am more likely to respond quicker if you send me a email. I try and look thru my emails on a daily basis. Not that often with the posting.
Do you presently have any inputs/corrections?

I can't tell you how much this poi file has become so helpful! Thanks for your hard work.

I use this file a lot.

These rest areas show RR(VT), but should show as RR, as they have flush toilets.
UT,I-80,EB,SALT FLATS REST AREA, MM10
UT,I-80,WB,SALT FLATS REST AREA, MM10
UT,I-80,EB,GRASSY MOUNTAIN REST AREA, MM54
UT,I-80,WB,GRASSY MOUNTAIN REST AREA, MM54
Thank you for this file.

Thanks for the update. I will make the correction to both Rest Area files

Thank you for maintaining the file. This has proven very useful on many a cross-country road trip.

ARKANSAS rest area changes:

White River rest area I-40 WB, MM199. Reported as open by user Janet.

ARIZONA rest area changes:

Sacaton rest areas on I-10 EB and WB MM182 have reopened. (ADOT)
Canoa Ranch rest areas on I-19 NB and SB MM55 are currently closed for rehabilitation.
Painted Cliffs rest area on I-40 EB and WB MM358 is closed for rehabilitation.

OHIO rest area changes:

Guernsey rest area on I-77 SB in Ohio will temporarily close around 7/15/19 for approximately 4 weeks for a paving project.
File will NOT be changed to reflect this.

Ohio.gov web page shows Preble Welcome Center I-70 EB MM3 is open. File will be changed to reflect this.
Preble rest area I-70 WB MM3 is not listed on this web page. Does anyone know the latest status of this rest area?

Submitted by maddog67:
Warren County rest areas I-71 NB and SB MM34 have reopened.

WISCONSIN rest area changes:

The Theresa and Lomira rest areas have been listed as being located on US-41. This section of hwy is now listed as an
Interstate. File has been changed to reflect I-41.

I have added the Grant County rest area 106. This rest area serves US-61/151 both NB and SB and also
serves SR-11 WB. Three sets of coordinates are listed.

THE ABOVE WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE NEXT UPDATE.

Like a lot of people have already said for themselves, I owe a big vote of thanks to mahoney for all of the work that he continues to put into this file. The subject may seem mundane compared to that of many other POI files, but this file can be a really, really useful resource.

My thanks again for maintaining the Rest Areas file.

- Tom -

I really like this file, because, while the built in Stops are there, they don't put an Icon on the map like the POI file does. When you are zoomed out traveling at speed, it's easy to take a quick glance to see if there are any blue dots showing.

As the old Smokey Robinson hit says … "I second that emotion." Mahoney is an incredible asset to this forum and its members. Thanks Mahoney … hope you are enjoying this Independence Day!

Thanks to maddog67 this rest area is closed and the closure will probably be permanent. This is reflected in the latest file update of 6/30/2019. According to maddog67, the next rest area WB is approx 13 miles west at Exit 141,Centerville,Indiana.

I am taking this opportunity to say thanks to the very kind comments regarding this file. I really appreciate them.

I attempt to keep this file updated as often as I can with the use of the various websites, but many times they are outdated. In most cases, I find that the most "up to date" status comes from members/users of the file. Please continue with the inputs regarding any changes/corrections/status to the rest areas.

Changes to the Illinois Interstate Rest Areas per
http://www.idot.illinois.gov/travel-information/roadway-info...

I-24 has been listed as SB/NB, should be EB/WB
Fort Massac Welcome Center is now open

I-39 Willow Creek Rest Areas (both NB and SB) are now closed.

I-55 Homestead Rest Areas (both NB and SB) are now open.

I-55 Funks Grove Rest Area (both NB and SB direction) is now open.

I-57 Trail of Tears Rest Areas (both NB and SB) are now open.

I-64 Goshen Road Rest Area EB is now open.

I-70 Silver Lake Rest Area WB is closed.

I-70 National Trail Rest Area (both EB and WB) are closed.

I-70 Cumberland Road Rest Area WB is now open

These two rest areas on I-19 have now been reopened.

Dave Cantor submitted the following 2 changes:

-71.848234,41.418473,"CT,I-95,SB,NORTH STONINGTON REST AREA,
MM108.4","[RR(Restricted Hours),PT,,,HF]|RR only open 8am-4pm"

This rest area is now open 7x24 and also should be labelled as
Welcome Center.

-71.667861,41.559126,"RI,I-95,SB,CLOSED TURNOUT, MM10.8","[NO
FACILITIES],,,,|"

This turnout is now open. NO FACILITIES

I'm sorry that I haven't responded sooner. I just noticed your input.
I will make the change to the file and thanks.

These files are better than the built-in data that comes with the mapping. If I need a rest area, these are the goto files.

Thanks!!!

I like this file so much, I not only use them with my Garmin but I also load them to my car's nav system...... it seems more complete and current.

The Morgan county and the Columbia county rest areas will not reopen until at least 10/4/2019

What car do you have that allows uploading POI Factory files to the built-in GPS system?

- Tom -

The on board nav system in my Cadillac XT5 reads directly the POI csv file(s) from a USB key and saves it. Then it is available for destinations and/or waypoints for route creation ......

davecantor noted that this Rest Area is Open, however, the Tourist Info Center is closed. The rest rooms are Porta-potties.
Also no VM.

The latest file update (this morning) includes the Kingsport Welcome Center which is located on TN, I-26, MM5, serves both EB and WB travelers.

As seems to be the norm in most cases, I have not found any way to load external POI files such as those from POI Factory into the GPS of my 2015 Ford Flex. If anyone discovers a way to do this, I would appreciate it if you post the details of your magic trick.

- Tom -

LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON THE I-90 REST AREA IN MINNESOTA, MM275. I BELIEVE THAT IT'S NAME IS DRESBACH.
GOOGLE EARTH SHOWS MAJOR CONSTRUCTION IN THIS AREA.
QUESTIONS:
STATUS-OPEN OR UNDER CONSTRUCTION
STATUS-ACCESSIBLE FROM EB AND WB-YES OR NO
STATUS-ACCESSIBLE FROM US-61-YES OR NO AND IS IT ACCESSIBLE FROM EITHER NB AND SB TRAVEL

COORDINATES IF POSSIBLE

THANKS IN ADVANCE

I use the file traveling between California and Colorado.

The rest area poi is one of the most useful files on this site. Many thanks to all who contribute and maintain this poi file.

12/22/2019;
I contacted Minnesota tourism and the ONLY access to this Rest Area is WB on I-90. I will make the necessary changes to the file with the next file update.

LISTING OF CHANGES:

1.UPDATED THE OPEN/CLOSE STATUS OF THE GA INTERSTATE REST AREAS.
2.UPDATED THE OPEN/CLOSE STATUS OF THE CA REST AREAS.
3.ADDED NEW REST AREAS IN OR, LOCATED ON STATE HIGHWAYS.
4.ADDED NEW REST AREAS IN AZ, LOCATED ON STATE HIGHWAYS.
5.UPDATED ALL OF THE REST AREAS IN MN.
6.ONE REST AREA IN AK HAS BEEN IN THE FILE PREVIOUSLY. ADDITIONAL REST AREAS WERE ADDED.
7.GENERAL CLEANUP OF FILE.

The Rest Area file is the most useful. Still need to take my stand-alone Garmin 650 when traveling as the in-dash TomTom navigation in our car is useless for finding upcoming rest areas.

The coordinates in the file are correct. However, the file has the listing in WI as the following:

WI,US-2,WB,MICHIGAN WELCOME CENTER-LEFT EXIT,WEST EDGE OF IRONWOOD
WI,US-2,EB,MICHIGAN WELCOME CENTER,WEST EDGE OF IRONWOOD

this has been moved to the listing under MI as follows:

MI,US-2,WB,MICHIGAN WELCOME CENTER-LEFT EXIT,WEST EDGE OF IRONWOOD
MI,US-2,EB,MICHIGAN WELCOME CENTER,WEST EDGE OF IRONWOOD

The rest Area files have been downloaded more than 229,000 times!

People really like to know, "how much longer?!".

Thanks for your time and energy you put in to keeping this file updated, Mahoney!

~Angela

I find the rest areas POI very helpful. Always nice to know that there is 1 coming up soon and not having to pull off into a gas station. Thank you for this file

I find the in-dash nav systems very frustrating, and the comment above is a good example of why this continues to be the case. I load the POI Factory Rest Area file into my stand-alone TomTom GPS and it works extremely well, but the in-dash version will not let you load the same file.

- Tom -

Does your file have rest areas in British Columbia? Here is a map from the Province of BC listing all official rest areas:
https://www.th.gov.bc.ca/restareas/?zoom=5&loc=-126.600000%2...

No, it doesn't. The file includes the rest areas in 49 states in the US.

Thanks for the information