We deserve better: WA rest stops are a national embarrassment
Aug 7, 2025, 3:00 PM
I do a lot of road trips.
We Hargers just got back from a trip across New York State, and I have to say, I was actually looking forward to stopping at the rest areas. I know, who says that?
If you haven’t been to one in the Empire State, picture this: you pull off the thruway, and you’re greeted by a huge, clean, well-lit building. There’s an actual food court, hot coffee, sparkling clean restrooms, a fast food restaurant, a convenience store with real snacks, and — get this — gas pumps and electric chargers right out front.
Some stops even have local produce and a playground for the kids. Compare that to what we get in Washington.
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Washington rest stops lack the basics
Here, you’re lucky if the bathroom is open and the dingy lights are working. There’s no food, no gas, and maybe a cup of coffee if a charity is holding a fundraiser.
If you find a working vending machine, congratulations, you’ve won the rest area lottery. And more and more, the ones along I-5 have been shut down due to vandalism, encampments, or just plain old age.
KIRO Newsradio traffic reporter Chris Sullivan previously reported that, for a while now, 87% of our state’s rest stop buildings have been rated “critical” by WSDOT. The agency said it needs up to half a billion dollars over the next 15 years just to bring these basic facilities back up to speed. And right now, that money simply doesn’t exist.
So, what’s the difference between Washington and New York rest stops?
Well, it’s not just about state priorities or management. The biggest hurdle is federal law, written back in the Eisenhower era, which bans commercial services at interstate rest stops, except for vending machines.
That means Washington isn’t allowed to bring in private companies to run these stops, sell gas, or offer any of those amenities you find in New York. Washington’s own laws double down on that ban.
But here’s where it gets interesting. States like New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio — where the highways and rest areas were built before the federal ban — were “grandfathered in.” That’s why they can have those big, shiny rest stops with gas and fast food and even a local cheese stand.
Can politicians end the WA rest stop misery?
We’re in an era where both parties say they want to invest in infrastructure and find bipartisan solutions. This could be one of them. I can see President Trump, love him or hate him, selling Congress on “Big Beautiful Rest Stops,” complete with naming rights and all the branding a rest area can handle.
And Democrats? They might actually go along. More jobs, union labor, accessible EV charging, better facilities, all without raising taxes. It checks a lot of boxes.
If the laws were changed, Washington could lease our rest area sites to private companies. The state could finally afford upgrades and maybe even make a little money on the deal, instead of barely scraping by with basic bathroom upkeep.
Look, I get that a rest stop isn’t as exciting as a new bridge or toll lane. But when you’re on a 300-mile road trip with a full coffee cup and two kids in the backseat, I guarantee you’d notice the difference.
Maybe, just maybe, it’s time we stopped treating our rest areas like an afterthought. Who knows? In a few years, an out-of-state visitor might be able to say, “Those Washington rest stops were great.”
Until then, I’ll pack my own snacks. Just in case.
Charlie Harger is the host of “Seattle’s Morning News” on KIRO Newsradio. You can read more of his stories and commentaries here. Follow Charlie on X and email him here.
