Question:
Recently, running across Iowa, I heard a driver ask where the next truckstop was. The answers he got were only for 5 stops in the whole state across I=80.
Since he'd said he was tired, I directed him to one just 10 miles ahead of him.
Across Iowa on I=80, there are 27 truckstops. In addition there are 9? rest areas (one not developed, i.e. no facilities), 5 McDonalds with truck parking, 2 casinos with truck parking, and one restaurant with truck parking, that I know of.
All of these t/s's are listed in my truckstop directory. The others can be found in one of the exit directories that list available amenities.
You hear a lot about how hard it is to find a parking space.
In my years of running up and down the road, I have never, outside of the New England States, had any difficulty in finding a LEGAL place to park when it came time to stop.
2 reasons.
1. I don't wait until I'm dead on my feet to start looking. You should know your limitations, and be looking before you hit the wall.
2. I've always had a directory, and used it in areas I'm unfamilar with.
If you plan your stops, have a directory of available stops, and DO NOT RUN YOURSELF INTO THE GROUND, you should always be able to find a parking spot.
May not be the Mega, Game Room, quarter taking stop, but if you're just going to sleep, what do you need the big ones for?
Humans require a brain--too bad use is optional

Answer:

BE SAFE & HAPPY TRUCKING
SMYLE!


Answer:
Which "truckstop directory" would be the best one to purchase? I have seen a handful. Which one has the best reputation for the most reliable information?

Answer:
Where do you get a truck stop directory and how much do they usual cost?
If you don’t mind my asking.

Answer:
of them and would say my favorite is the National Truck Stop Directory/The Truckers Friend. About $12 at about any truck stop.It'll give you each state and it's main roads and show where the T/S's are located by town. How many parking spots,paved or not,scales,showers,fee or free,restrooms,food,on and on. As good an investment as a laminated Atlas.
Character: Doin the right thing when nobody's lookin..JC Watts

Answer:
National Truckstop Directory is the one I use. About $9 to $12 as KJ stated.
Also handy is one called The Exit Guide. Can be a little confusing to read, but lists all Interstate exits, and whats available on them.
Off Interstate highways,the NTD has served me best, but if you do much off big road you'll find that some, such as Total, Cenex, Co-ops, etc, aren't mentioned. However many times you can get a free directory from them showing all their locations.
Humans require a brain--too bad use is optional

Answer:
As a newbie, I found this to be another source of info....

Answer:
of Truckstop locations is the handy dandy "trip-pack" directory. It will not give you all the amenities available,but it will give you a location AND its a small book that you can glance at while rolling(ever seen that guy with his/her atlas/truckstop guide layed out across the steering wheel while driving down the road)
CD
If you think education is hard......try ignorance recovering dweller..........oilfield trash division

Answer:
(ever seen that guy with his/her atlas/truckstop guide layed out across the steering wheel while driving down the road)
HEY! I resemble that remark occasionally.
*******************************
"Got the bird dog on...
Dodgin' the scales...
80 miles an hour and a step outta jail..." From "Rollin' Home, Pirates of the Mississippi)
*******************************
"I've always been different with one foot over the line.
Winding up somewhere, one step ahead or behind.
It ain't been so easy, but I guess I shouldn't complain.
I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane." (from Waylon Jennings)
**************************
Member: Happy Dweller Society
Owner Operator Division


Answer:
Tuesday morning, I stopped at the Kwik Trip in Tomah WI for a few minutes. While up at the counter paying for the stuff I bought, a couple asked the clerk when the 2004 edition of the Truck Stop Directory will be on the shelves. The clerk didn't know.
I looked over and seen that they still had the 2002 version on the shelves next to the 2003 editions!
Truckstops open and go out of business every day. Keep up with the newest edition and your problems finding a truckstop should be slim to none.
*******************************
"Got the bird dog on...
Dodgin' the scales...
80 miles an hour and a step outta jail..." From "Rollin' Home, Pirates of the Mississippi)
*******************************
"I've always been different with one foot over the line.
Winding up somewhere, one step ahead or behind.
It ain't been so easy, but I guess I shouldn't complain.
I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane." (from Waylon Jennings)
**************************
Member: Happy Dweller Society
Owner Operator Division


Answer:
I got mine from www.truckstops.com for 11.95. it saved my bacon a few times, and it really helps with trip planning.
Ike
"The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it."
Albert Einstein

Answer:
It can't help ya in New England, where there AIN'T NO FRICKIN' TRUCKSTOPS!
Oink! Oink! Oink! Grunt! Grunt!
Answer:
Texaco has a free guide to their food marts that have truck parking, also, and a lot of them aren't listed in the big guides, either. Many have showers and plenty are much cleaner than the big TS chains, some aren't. Get as many different guides as you can, and after a while you'll eventually get to where you don't have to use them most of the time; you'll already have been there and know where you are going to end up. It's just kind of intimidating at first to some people, but the Wild Wild West and the Big Frontier died out in the mid 1800's, so don't worry about it. There's plenty of parking out there. Even in new England, you'll begin to find little places here and there, and in any case, it ain't that big and most people can get in and out of there the same day they went in, so whoopty do. I know of more places to park in New Jersey than there is in Wyoming; the Philedelphia Metro area has tons of parking, though you wouldn't know it to listen to the Yahoos on the CB. Chicago? Bah, more places to park than you'll ever use. Ditto LA, ditto Atlanta, Gary, Detroit, etc. etc.
___________________________
Humans are amazing creatures. "With all the things you can train them to do, I've been considering getting one."-StoneyJay Gould
__________________________
This post coming to you live, from Jesus Land !!!

Answer:
Fatty, There is so 1 in Rhode Island. I know, I payed to park there. I-95 exit 5b.
Ike
"The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it."
Albert Einstein

Answer:
Originally posted by Hoss:
(ever seen that guy with his/her atlas/truckstop guide layed out across the steering wheel while driving down the road)
HEY! I resemble that remark occasionally.
*******************************
_"Got the bird dog on...
Dodgin' the scales...
80 miles an hour and a step outta jail..."_ _From "Rollin' Home, Pirates of the Mississippi)_
*******************************
_"I've always been different with one foot over the line.
Winding up somewhere, one step ahead or behind.
It ain't been so easy, but I guess I shouldn't complain.
I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane."_ _(from Waylon Jennings)_
_**************************_
Member: __Happy Dweller Society__
_Owner Operator Division_
Use the FORCE, LUKE, FEEL the road, see the 4-wheelers in your mind! BUMP!
MrClark
"What, me worry?" -A.E.N.—Groucho Marx 1890-1977