You may not give truck stops a second glance — they’re merely a quick trip on the way to a larger destination. But as one of our trucking company’s employees shares his favorite truck stops, it may make you rethink these locations!

Iowa 80 Truckstop

I used to live near the Iowa 80 Truckstop. It is truly a sight to be seen. Touted as the “World’s Largest Truck Stop,” the Iowa 80 is located in Walcott, Iowa.

It opened in 1964 and has added expansions over the years to make it what it is today. The owner sourced ideas from truck drivers and regular drivers alike and added amenities that those individuals said would make their lives easier.

There are quite a few unique features of the Iowa 80. It has a movie theater, numerous chain restaurants, a truck wash, a pet wash, a dentist, a chiropractor, and a Department of Transportation physician. This isn’t your typical truck stop!

I-70 Petro Oasis

I love the Petro Oasis in Colby, Kansas on I-70 near the Kansas/Colorado border. Something about their goofy fake palm trees make me feel welcome even on a blustery winter day.

They have fewer of the fancy amenities of the Iowa 80, but the restrooms are always clean. And the Qdoba and Starbucks offer a nice change from the fast food chains you’re used to on the road.

You can get healthy choices at the I-70 Petro Oasis, plus there is fresh fruit and other healthy snacks for the road. There is a great array of unique locally made gifts as well as the usual truck stop offering. The truck stop features a playground and a dog park, too. The Petro Oasis has a great rating on Yelp, with 4.5/5 stars.

I-72 Love’s

My latest truck stop discovery is the Love’s in South Jacksonville, Illinois. I stumbled upon it on one of my many trips to the Dot mothership in Mount Sterling.

The travel stop is on I-72. It is always clean and has a healthy fresh food section with hard boiled eggs and fruit ready to eat on-the-go. I never stop long enough to enjoy the on-site IHOP Express, but it’s definitely a unique offering.

The Love’s also offers 69 tractor-trailer parking spaces and private showers for truck drivers in need of a break.

See you on the road!

What truck stop is always on your route? We love hearing feedback from Dot drivers and readers.