There's a ton of places I could say... but I don't have my battered, torn-pages "Next Exit" book with me.
As for regular places like Cracker Barrel and TGI Fridays... and the chain resturants... they're pretty much the same every where you go. Same interior, same uniforms, and usually the same menu's - with maybe just a handful of regional dishes on the menu.
Waffle Houses are always good, and most of them have truck parking within an easy walk of them = within a mile or less.
You can see your food being cooked, and have a jukebox handy for some good tunes. The staff is almost always friendly too, along with the service being good.
The Petro's and the J's are what I like... because nearly all of them have tons of room, plenty of showers, and plenty of stuff to do at them.
I like the Golden Corral's a bit better than Shoney's, because their buffet's are set up easier to navigate thru.
Ryan's Buffet is good too.
Iowa 80 Truck Stop out there on Iowa... I'm anxious to get back up there since the opening of their new improved Chrome Shop.... ahhhh.
ok, it was a Bob moment. I'm done.
Iowa 80's food didn't impress me much, but their gift shop and other things they had there very much impressed me. Little America out there in Wyoming was also very impressive... it's a town and a truckstop all in one - they actually have their own garbage truck, fire truck and post office right there at the Little America Truck Stop! How cool is that! Not to mention plenty of parking.
Out on I-20 in TX there's a few good BBQ places - Soul Man's is one that comes to mind. The Bob Evan's in Nashville, TN - by Opryland is nice - much different than the rest of them - and Super Friendly, on more than 1 or 2 occasions, it has straight truck and van parking by McDonalds across the street. You could park an 18 wheeler behind Cooters by Earnest Tubbs Record Shop (good deals there for music at Earnest Tubbs) and walk to Bob Evans. There's a ton of hotels and motels there too. Speaking of Music City... OpryMills Mall, by the Opryland Hotel is worth a stop - it's Huge! OpryLand Hotel is huge too - they have their own greenhouses for their gardens there around the corner from the hotel! it makes a Home Depot garden center look like a 1st graders milk box plant.
Pompano Beach/Deerfield Beach, FL area (about 30+ min. south of West Palm Beach, FL) about 15 min. east of 95 by the intercoastal waterway, there's a seafood place that also serves "surf and Turf"... called "The Cove" - atleast that's what it used to be called - truck parking at the nearby shopping center - overnite?... but it's worth a stop! Been a few years since I been down there but it was always nice. Gator Joe's in Central FL is off the beaten path, very busy in summer time on Lake Weir (by Ocala), no truck parking nearby, but if you can catch a taxi out there it's worth it.
BBQ at Ben's BBQ in Laurens, SC is awesome... exit 9 off I-385, 10 minutes into Laurens, it's on the west side of the big road - same side as the wal-mart dc... just 10 minutes past it. Plenty of truck parking there too, with other food choices available and a Wal-Mart store just 5 minutes south. Overnite parking is fine at either Wal-mart area or at Bens BBQ.
I-10 down in Las Crusas, NM just south of the interstate is a neat town called La Mesilla, it's a historic town - Not recommended for 18-wheelers, but cargo vans and straight trucks will love it. Parking is questionable in some spots. The town is less literally 10 minutes south of the big road... ask at the T/S on the CB or inside before you head in there... I could have the town name wrong... Could be Mesquite... it's cool though, tons of little shops and SW stuff, and Mexican food and cows skulls for your rig.
Go on a Friday or Saturday, when everybody is open.
Portland, Maine is neat.
Kennebunk and Kennebunk port are cool towns too, completely different towns... like Palm Beach and West Palm Beach.
San Antonio and Austin, TX are worth exploring as well as downtown Boston.
Niagara-on-the-lake, just up the river about 15 minutes from Niagara Falls, in Canada is worth the stop - you'll enjoy the scenery on the way there too. Niagara-on-the-lake is not meant to be visited by 18-wheelers, but others should enjoy it easily. Corning, NY has the Corning Glass co. where they make Corning cookware that women all over the world know and love. Corning sells their factory defects in their gift shop... no lie.
if in NYC, Moondance Diner is worth a stop by China Town, at 6th Ave. and Canal St. Also in NYC is Chelsea Diner by the Post Office - literally across the street from it actually on 33rd I believe. Cargo Vans could park here easily (usually after 8 or 9pm) for a good bite to eat.
Washington D.C.= eat at Union Station, it's cheaper down on the lower level where all the food vendors are. You may or may not be able to park nearby and/or in it's garage. No 18 wheeler is allowed (easily and friendly) into the immediate DC area.
Cargo Vans are a different story.
There's the DC fish market that's worth a visit if you're into seafood, right around the corner from the Jefferson Monument and Holocaust Musuem, right on the river.
Fresh (and sometimes alive) seafood ready to eat there!
That's it for right now for me.
Hope this helps somebody.
BigBusBob
