What truck stops to avoid?

Back in the day this was the place to stop at heading north to pick up produce. Man, I've been doing this to long I guess.

I was out that way last fall and the place was a huge let down.

 

I like a lot of those truck stops and never had a problem at any of them.

 

Maybe he means I-35 and the J in Altoona, but that's an ok safe place.
If someone tried to rob me in a corn state all I'd have to do is say "Really?" and they'd slunker away.

 

Flying J in Pickering Ontario is a hole and 95% of the Huskys are dirty poorly managed dives.

 

Im sorry to hear that. It's pretty rough sometimes there.

I cannot imagine the hellhole it must have become now what with the increase in violence across Baltimore.

Jersey City off 15C would be one not to go to.
Memphis, any truckstop. (Particularly flying J, if you made a mistake and backed up trying to exit the tire gaurds will destroy your tires. If they still have it there. To prevent people from shortcutting into there that way)

Atlanta Bankhead, west side loop. Parasites and Predators are unbelievable. I have even watched truckers get arrested on Cops Reloaded for drug purchasing across the street in that old ruined gas station.
Any truckstop near Birmingham. I don't know of any. But if you are not black B-Ham is not your place. Has been since the late 60's civil rights riots. (So much for equality...)

Old 76 on top of Mt Eagle. Very poor salad bar, prone to food poisoning due to infections. Now this was a very long time ago, I don't know if it's still there.
Johnny's near Allentown. Poor food. I hope they imroved but I doubt it. Allentown was beginning to Boom when I last passed through.

Gary Indiana. There is nothing good about that place. In fact I collected a couple of bullet holes up there in town, there is a old, old truckstop deep inside Gary downtown proper (A cookie for anyone who is old enough to remember that independant...) Im not talking about the one on the interstate, Im talking about IN town. I remember the place but totally forgot the particulars, location and name.

Duncannon PA just off US 15 near the river. It is not a BAD stop, but I cheerfully slam them because they failed to fix a proper spagetti plate. Anyone with that bad of a cook does not deserve your business. I think that one is a texaco.

Buckhorn up near Milesburg PA. I think they are overpriced. More interested in your money than anything else. But it was a place to halt and park without being bothered by the law so.. *Shrugs.

A TA just inside the Delaware Memorial Bridge Crossing in Jersey. It's a rather small place but parasites aboundeth there. It would have been better if it was not so infested.

Cherokee in SC prior to Georgia. After the original Owners sold out to the Arabics who were not interesed in improving the place, but filled it with Jacks or better and Draw Poker gambling machines in the back. That was the core of their business after that year. I hope the Carolinas managed to somehow outlaw those machines by now. It's a form of crack cocaine for those pre-disposed to gambling addiction.

TA Ashland. You would want the old 76 which was north of 295 on 95 across the river north of Richmond. That 76 was a better place in terms of food, happier people and such.

Opal VA after they replaced with a fast food joint. The older truckstop left some good memories but I failed to see that they were one of the first of a future wave of replacing truckstops with fast food model and no place to sit and do paperwork properly.

The 76 in N. Bradford CT. This one I relucantly put on the list because of the constant battle to get a dollar off you for parking. And the food is so so. They could and should do better, but I don't think anyone who has to endure life and work up there near NYC with 50 million grumpies forgetabout it. A close second will be the secondi brothers down the road. You really needed to be careful up there at night in particularly.

Calumet 76 in Chicago downtown off 55. The last time I passed through I was ambushed by two who tried to over throw me rapidly. One ran into the tire thumper and the other had hot coffee first and then some more tire thumper. I put some knots on one and made the other gag on at least one tooth. I got banged up through and it was difficult to get clear of Chicago that day on that shifting arm from wrist to elbow. I took some bad hits on it. One of them had a right fist that could drop Tyson any time. *yeesh. I know Im pretty small for my time and can take hits but that was one place I aint going back. It was fast and violent. No law involved either, thank god.

There is a couple more but I don't recall enough of them to try and write here.

 

Not sure why anything in Barstow is on that list. Sure people ask you for change, but there is always parking at one of the 3 big truck stops and if not there's a dirt lot across from TA. Not to mention there's like 2 bars, a couple hotels, a Chipotle, Shbway, McDonald's, Country Pride, like fifteen other places to eat. I loved Barstow in the winter months. Such a great transition after driving through the Rockies down 70 and 15 through Colorado and Utah... cold as balls and then suddenly 70 degrees and desert. Even did a 34 there rather than Jarupa Valley at the terminal or the pay parking at the TA there(or our Fontana terminal up the street).

Not often that I'd endorse a truck stop over a rest area. Also the Loves north of Las Vegas by Nellis Air Force Base is usually a good stop... and the Pilot in Primm NV has a decent casino next door, and all kinds of #### to do if you're down for a 34.

Really that whole stretch except for Vegas is alright. Vegas is alright if you actually wanna hang out in Vegas. I stayed there for a couple of days to see a UFC fight and recover from all the beers I drank

 

And it's beer friendly lol

 

Gotta be a peelot then. It's on the north side of 80. It has an Asian massage place in it..

 

That TA in Atlanta closed years ago. You do have to pay at the Petro though.

 

Oh your thinking of the old wings travel plaza at exit 40 and you are right! Change comes hard for us old people lol...my bad .