Where can I stop for food, gas on US 395 in Washington state? Check out our guide

Whether you’re driving just a few towns over or across Washington state, road trips are a classic summer travel experience.

Riding by car is only comfortable so long.

At some point, you’ll need to stop, stretch, fill up on gas, get food or drinks or find a bathroom — especially if you’re traveling with children.

Rest stops can offer handy solutions.

Managed by the Washington State Department of Transportation, rest stops in the Evergreen State are located along major highways to offer travelers a safe location to stop.

Many of the rest areas are also part of the state agency’s free coffee program, intended to decrease drowsy drivers.

“Safety rest areas, including WSDOT’s, serve a vital safety purpose of preventing drowsy driving by giving drivers a place to stop, rest and stretch their legs,” Barbara LaBoe with WSDOT Communications told McClatchy Media in 2024.

Where are WSDOT rest stops in Washington state?

According to LaBoe, WSDOT rest areas service 24 million users each year.

This map pinpoints each of WSDOT’s rest stops.

Some are multidirectional, while the rest have separate locations for drivers in either direction.

Some of these locations have seasonal schedules. Always check your route and rest stops online before hitting the road.

How are rest stop locations chosen in Washington?

Despite the many travel routes in Washington, some highways and interstates have little to no available rest areas.

So how are rest stop locations determined?

There are multiple factors at play, according to information from LaBoe.

Rest stop locations were all determined between 1967 and 2011. Modern funding does not allow for new rest stop construction, just upkeep and maintenance, LaBoe said.

Additionally, location decisions have always followed the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ Guide for the Development of New Rest Areas.

Its guidelines include:

• Service locations with effective stopping opportunities every 60 miles on state routes and interstates
• Safety benefit analyses, based on average annual traffic volume, collision data and associated costs
• Effectiveness of location based on additional information on the area
• Feasibility analysis on whether the location could handle the traffic volume

Given these guidelines, WSDOT may pass up on building rest areas in other locations, including larger urban areas with multiple stopping points along the route, less popular scenic byways, camping areas with accommodations through other departments.

Where is US 395 route in Washington state?

US Route 395 is a West Coast highway that connects the inland regions of Washington state, Oregon and California, with some crossover into Nevada.

The route crosses into the Canadian border at Laurier.

The Washington section of the route heads southeast toward Colville and connects with Interstate 90 around Spokane. It breaks off around Ritzville, continuing southwest toward Connell and through Tri-Cities.

The 395 then connects with Interstate 82 through the Washington-Oregon border near Plymouth, breaking off again near Umatilla, Oregon.

Although the Washington state section of US 395 is nearly 300 miles long, there are only two WSDOT rest stops along the way.

Both are in the second half of the highway, meaning travelers in northern Washington have to wait for the Sprague area before encountering a state-run rest area.

Where should I stop for gas, food along 395?

What happens if you’re driving in an area without many rest stops? What if you passed the only one you could’ve used for a significant stretch, and need to find an alternate option?

McClatchy Media has a guide to Washington state routes with long stretches between rest stops, offering potential stops for gas, food, stretching or bathrooms.

Here are a few recommended stopping points:

Canadian border at Laurier to Colville

• Barstow General Store: 25290 US 395
• Colville Fuels Noisy Waters: 34291 State Route 20
• Sandy’s Drive Inn: 1045 US 395
• Ronnie D’s Drive In: 505 North Lincoln St.

Colville to Mead

• The Old Schoolhouse Trading Post: 1372 North St.
• SpoKo Fuel: 2509 US 395
• Loon Lake Grocery and Gas: 3937 Gardenspot Road
• Wisconsinburger: 916 South Hatch Street

Mead to Lind

• Sprague Lake Rest Area, eastbound and westbound
• Ming Wah Restaurant: 1618 West Third Ave.
• Love’s Travel Stop: 1370 North Highway 261
• Viking Drive-Inn: 209 East Fourth St.
• Mi Jalisco Mexican Restaurant: 1604 Smittys Blvd.

Lind to Washington-Oregon border near Plymouth

• Hatton Coulee Rest Area
• Connell Gas and Food Mart: 641 South Columbia Ave.
• Pizza Station: 238 North Columbia Ave.
• Papa Ray’s: 245 North Columbia Ave.
• Roadrunner Restaurant and Lounge: 2125 East Hillsboro St.

This article contains information from a previous story originally published in August 2024.