Have you ever planned to take a roadtrip and wondered where you would shower?
I had read suggestions online about showering at truck stops. On my ‘Roadtrip 2017 – Exploring The West‘, I spent a few random nights sleeping in the parking lot of truck stops, and decided to check out this option.
I had spent the night at the Love’s Travel Stop at SR 261 and IS-90 in Ritzville, Washington. When I woke up the next morning, I went in to the counter closest to the door where the professional drivers come in from the truck lot. Truck stops will usually have a counter near the front door for regular customers, and then one by the side or rear door closest to the truck parking lot. This part of the store is easy to spot because it generally has CB radios, accessories, log books, and other items needed by the professional drivers. Not having any experience, I went up to the counter and asked how I could get a shower, and what they cost.
The Price & What You Get:
The fee for a shower was $12.00. I found that this is the normal price wherever you go. Some people may think that’s expensive, but let’s look at what I got for my $12.00:
I had a place to park and didn’t have to pay for a motel or a place to camp. I parked off to the side where I wasn’t bothered.
The store is open 24 hours in case I get hungry, thirsty, need to stretch, or have to use a restroom.
There is a restaurant on site.
WiFi access.
The shower was nicer than the ones I had used at campgrounds and motels during my trip.
The shower was in a private bathroom, and an attendant cleans it after every use.
The shower had soap and shampoo dispensers, and they even provide clean towels.
You’re not going to find a motel for under $50.00 a night. The cheapest campsite I found on this trip was $17.00 a night, and did not include water or electric. So to me, the $12.00 was a good deal. Especially after seeing how nice the shower facility was.
The Private Bathroom / Shower:
Key to private shower room
The blue towels and wash cloth were provided
I keep a change of clothes and my shower supplies in a small backpack to make it easier going to and from the shower
Everything was nicely tiled, and there was a chair to sit in while changing
They laid out a towel to step on coming out of the shower
I brought my own soap and shampoo, but they also have soap and shampoo dispensers in the shower if you need it.
Aside from the rust stain beneath the handle in the shower, the shower and room itself was spotless.
Conclusion:
Would I use a truck stop shower again? Heck ya.
Actually, the large truck stops have reinvented themselves as ‘Travel Centers’ or ‘Travel Stops’. They don’t like to be referred to as ‘truck stops’ because they try to cater to everyone traveling the highways. In addition to offering showers, they also have laundry facilities and WiFi. Traveling with a camper / RV and need to dump your tank? Many of them have dump stations as well, and welcome RV’s needing a place to park for the night.
If you visit their websites, you can search for locations, get fuel prices, and a list of the services / amenities that each location offers. You can even download their app, because everyone has an app these days.
Love’s describes itself as:
Founded in 1964 and headquartered in Oklahoma City, Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores has more than 430 locations in 41 states, providing professional truck drivers and motorists with 24-hour access to clean and safe places to purchase gasoline, diesel fuel, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), travel items, electronics, snacks and more, as well as a wide variety of restaurant offerings. However, in 2017, the Love’s Family of Companies offers more services and options to Customers than ever before.
Love’s Truck Tire Care offers heavy-duty tire care, including TirePass, light mechanical services and roadside assistance. Love’s Hospitality offers a growing network of hotels and storage rental locations, and Love’s Financial offers freight bill factoring and back-office support to professional drivers.
Visit: loves.com
Pilot & Flying J
The other two large travel centers are Pilot and Flying J. They use to be separate companies, but Pilot purchased Flying J in 2009 to save it from bankruptcy. If you see a Pilot and a Flying J in the same area, it’s the same company. Pilot Flying J describes itself as:
Pilot Flying J is the largest operator of travel centers in North America with more than 750 locations in 43 states and six Canadian provinces. Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, the company employs more than 26,000 people. CEO Jimmy Haslam has embraced technology and moved Pilot Flying J in new directions, leading the company’s growth from 1.1 billion fuel gallons sold in 1996 to more than 7 billion sold annually today. Pilot Flying J serves more than 1.3 million guests a day and is committed to connecting people and places with comfort, care and a smile at every stop.
We’re Committed to Providing the Best Facilities on the Interstate. When traveling long distances, we understand it’s the little things that matter most. That’s why we aim to make your restroom and shower experience amazing.
At your next interstate exit, treat yourself to the comforts of new Italian tile, state-of-the-art LED lighting, low water consumption toilets and eco-friendly dryers at many of our locations.
We strive to make the restroom and shower experience as comfortable as possible for all of our guests when traveling. Our showers and restrooms are a welcome and needed place to refresh, relax and recharge after long hours on the road. Our appreciation for drivers is the driving force behind our recent decision to invest $100 million into restroom and shower upgrades – improvements that will impact the more than 650 locations nationwide.
Visit: pilotflyingj.com
Recommendations:
Reviews – You would be surprised at how many people review these travel stops on Google. I generally use Google Maps to find locations near me, and read reviews if I’m trying to choose between locations. It’s not uncommon to see photos posted with peoples reviews, and many of the reviews deal with cleanliness and food quality.
Towels / Soap / Shampoo – I’ve read mixed opinions about the cleanliness of the towels provided by travel stops. When I paid for a shower, the attendant maintaining them had just brought in a basket of fresh clean towels, so I used theirs. You may want to bring your own. I also used my own body wash and shampoo, but I even do that when I visit relatives.
Parking – Just because it’s a travel center, doesn’t mean you can spend the night in your car. I pulled in to a Love’s to see if I could find a place to park, and found that there were ‘1 Hour Customer Parking – No Loitering’ signs along the parking lot. If you’re to tired to continue down the road, and really need a place to sleep, go inside and ask for permission.
When you park, find a spot away from the building so you don’t have people waking you up getting in and out of their vehicles. Also make sure that it’s not going to be in the way of truck traffic, or near the area for fuel deliveries.
I hope this helps someone out. If you have anything to share, please feel free to use the ‘Contact Us’ button.
Links:
Roadtrip 2017 – Exploring The West – Main Page