They’re convenient—rest areas are often strategically placed along highways, making them an easy and convenient spot for drivers to pull off and stretch their legs without having to exit onto smaller roads. They’re safe—you can stop, rest, eat, or hit the restroom. Some have picnic tables, vending machines, maybe even pet areas or Wi-Fi. Need to bone up on local history or attractions? Some rest areas have info centers. Heads up: Some rest area closures are in the works.
Two regions have rest area closures in the works—or are already closed
If your travel plans take you through the Midwest or Southwest, you may need to figure around some closures. Four rest areas in these regions are slated for closure for major revamps. Here’s the “lookout list,” at this time.
Wayne County, Indiana
The Centerville Welcome Center on I-70 in Wayne County, Indiana, will close on February 3 for a two-year renovation. It’s part of the Indiana Department of Transportation’s (INDOT) ongoing welcome center and rest area upgrades, which began in 2019.
This renovation will add interactive exhibits, a recreation area, a dog park, and more than 200 parking spots (156 for big rigs). Improvements will also be made to trucker restroom facilities and vending options.
INDOT expects the Centerville rest area to reopen in 2027. In the meantime, it advises travelers to use the Greenfield rest area at mile marker 107 during the closure. Click here for more Indiana rest area information.
Boonville, Missouri
Both east- and west-bound rest area facilities on Interstate 70 at mile marker 104 in Cooper County are already shut down. Both will remain closed for several months, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation. While truck parking will remain open, no facilities will be available.
The state says you can look forward to improved access, remodeled buildings, and additional interior amenities when the upgrades are completed. That’s expected in the spring of 2026, weather permitting.
Signs and barricades will be in place during the closures. Need an alternative? A map of rest areas available in Missouri can be found here. Traffic conditions are also available online.
Torrance County, New Mexico
The New Mexico Department of Transportation is investing $20 million in the Rattlesnake Draw rest areas on both sides of I-40 (mile markers 207 and 208). The rest areas will be closed for 300 days during the project.
In these rest area closures, the existing facilities will be demolished, and two new 2,850-square-foot rest areas will be built. Upgrades will also include improvements to parking, picnic shelters, and the water and sewer systems.
New Mexico has a colorful brochure on its rest areas. Click here to find it. (pdf)
Chamberlin, South Dakota
The South Dakota Department of Transportation is investing more than $300,000 to improve the rest area on Interstate 90 in Chamberlain. Truck parking and access to the Dignity statue will remain available during the closure.
Dignity of Earth and Sky is a 50-foot stainless steel sculpture by South Dakota artist laureate Dale Claude Lamphere, located on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River near Chamberlain. The statue depicts an Indigenous woman in Plains-style dress receiving a star quilt.
The rest area project is expected to be completed by April 2025. You can click here for other South Dakota rest area information.
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We really need a complete guide to rest areas/welcome centers, at least on the Interstate system. I recently stopped at the South Dakota one above and it was super windy so thanks for the flashback.
We have a rest stop here in CA that is usually closed more often than it is open to travelers. The state rebuilt the stop on CA-46 a few years ago & shortly after it opened the state closed it for an extended period. We go by this location many times each year & are often surprised to find it open.
Sadly, it’s the same all over the entire state..
Is there a reason why one can not post comments here while using a VPN? I find that I must turn my VPN off in order to comment.
Hi, Brad. I’ll check with Kim, our IT dude, and he’ll probably reply to your comment. Have a good night. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
I wish that I could just answer this one simply and easily. But the fact is that there are a lot of variables as to what can cause this…
Here’s the basics, to post a comment you must be able to run our site’s JavaScripts in your browser. That means that if you have anything that blocks scripts from running in your browser, from an overactive security setting in a VPN or anti-virus app to using a VPN that has also been used by hackers and limited by our firewalls, you will not be able to comment.
I used to say “Use a VPN!” but now I’m saying “Use a VPN if you’re on open public WiFi” otherwise it’s just another layer of complexity and possible problems.
PA has been doing that for years on the turnpike. Real problem is some of the closed rest areas require you to drive for over an hour to the next one, and hope it’s open.
Maybe porta-potties along the road will help.
Thank you for the advance warnings, Russ and Tina! Have a great day and safe travels!
It is Boonville, MO. No “E” ln the middle of the name.
Oops. Sorry, Terry. Thank you for letting us know. It’s been corrected. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Rattlesnake Draw rest area in NM is closed 90% of the time already, at least every time I pass it. Hopefully, this will fix it