Not sure if I have the correct area (there is one on both sides of the freeway). Plenty of parking…read moreas well as clean and well stocked restrooms. A large dog area for your dog. There is an actual pay phone which I don't see a lot of any more.

Clean restrooms.. nice rest area very clean and seems safe to rest they have security cameras…read more. very busy place and the workers were working on keeping this place nice for us visitors

This was closed so sad but I am sure it's going to look good when it's done repaving and looking…read moregood

The closest city to this rest area along I-5 is actually Firebaugh. The full name of this place is…read morethe "John Erreca Safety Roadside Rest Area", named after a former Director of Public Works who also served without pay as mayor of the city of Los Banos for 17 years. What? A hard-working public official not in it for the money? You won't find many of those today! There are two separate rest areas here on opposite sides of the highway - it was probably cheaper to do that than build an overpass! This review is for the one on the southbound side; the one on the northbound side is probably identical. The brick and wood buildings are showing their age, but the restrooms are still relatively clean, and there are double restrooms (two for men, two for women)! You'll also find covered picnic tables, a pet area, water fountains, payphones (there are probably only a handful left in California, three of which are here), and vending machines including two that have gourmet coffee. Classy! There are separate parking lots for cars and for bigrigs, and they both accommodate a lot of vehicles, so this place should be able to handle even holiday traffic decently. Which is necessary, since I-5 gets bad during the holidays, and all those people stuck on the road need somewhere to use the bathroom! Double restrooms: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/safety-roadside-rest-area-merced-county?select=6jk1HhL73Zy8XVnpdnnd5w#HYrVaK6i9HttZ0PiWgeICg Covered picnic table: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/safety-roadside-rest-area-merced-county?select=6jk1HhL73Zy8XVnpdnnd5w#y0TcV9kaoyEmPLTXL0cYYA Pet area: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/safety-roadside-rest-area-merced-county?select=6jk1HhL73Zy8XVnpdnnd5w#brM9JunNuYIkdL9RHoOBug Ice cream vending machine: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/safety-roadside-rest-area-merced-county?select=6jk1HhL73Zy8XVnpdnnd5w#Y-emz0HiWNzwEf0y6c4OHg One of the coffee vending machines: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/safety-roadside-rest-area-merced-county?select=6jk1HhL73Zy8XVnpdnnd5w#Z4X4STZqQrNyPmI36PcxjA

*** 2025 review #42 ***…read more CLEAN rest stop on the road! -00- So nice when it's kept in good conditions.

On the day we were driving north it had snowed the day before. No place for the dog to go because…read morethere was so much snow. The sidewalks were clear though and the restroom was clean and stocked.

This rest stop is in Corning located between the bigger towns of Chico and Redding and is situated…read morealong the I-5 freeway. The southbound rest stop is across the freeway and is a popular stopping spot for travelers. There is ample parking, lots of tables throughout, clean restrooms in good conditions (for the most part), and even a pet area. The facilities are pretty clean and look well-maintained. It has plenty of space for big trucks and small cars alike.

Very clean and well kept. The women's bathroom didn't have hand soap and a sink was covered in…read moreplastic but all in all it was clean. Plenty of parking in the trucking area and less people. Nice place to stop with the dogs. We were heading north and the two previous rest stops were closed.

We are over 10 days into a road trip through California and this is the first rest stop that we…read morehave passed in our entire trip that wasn't CLOSED!!! Dozens of rest stops that we have passed. Have had closed signs on them and cones out everywhere... It's terrible. This rest stop has clean restrooms, picnic tables, plenty of parking and a pet area so you can relieve yourself as well as your animals. There are also stocked vending machines if you need a snack. Please please please leave these spaces open for travelers who desperately need them! Rest stops save lives!

I have rude words for Caltrans and their annoying habit of closing rest areas. If they could put up…read morea sign that said "Next rest area closed" so that I wouldn't arrive here tired and ready for a rest, that would be super helpful. Yes, the Lakehead Rest Area (southbound) was closed when I was here. Thankfully, I was ready for disappointment. I was able to see through the trees and the O'Brien Rest Area (northbound) was open with vehicles in there. I drove to the next exit, turned north and was there in 15 minutes. [Review 20962 overall - 492 in California - 1947 of 2023.]

October 12 2023. I was prepared for the Lakehead Rest Area to be closed so when I was driving…read moresouth, I peeked over the side and saw that the O'Brien Rest Area had vehicles in it. Hooray! I continued south to the next exit and looped back, pulling into this northbound rest area only about 15 minutes later. Yes, it feels like about half of the rest areas along I-5 in NorCal are closed. I parked as far down the parking lot as I could as I wanted to be away from the truckers using engine brakes to decelerate into the lot. And so it was a mostly quiet night in my Sprinter van. You can't beat the spot for scenery and the (very low) arm of Lake Shasta to the rear. The rest area also has restrooms (hooray!) and vending machines. There is a sign indicating that parking is limited to 8 hours. I arrived at 6pm and departed at 5am (11 hours) and was not hassled by the CHP. [Review 20963 overall - 493 in California - 1948 of 2023.]

The workers there are rude . No grass every single bathroom was dirty tiny parking lotread more

Trifecta Of Needs Met…read more SITREP Traveling North on I-5 and needed to STOP. But where? Oh. HERE! THE SETUP I was getting irritated with the Sound system in the car. My was trying to call and I didn't have the "hands-free" set up correctly. I had a tupperware of leftover chow mein I wanted to eat. [Oh. AND I had to pee really really bad....] Sometimes the answer just appears before you. WEED REST STOP * Once stopped, I was able to run in and use the rest room. Clean. Stocked full of TP. Nice maps. * There was a nice picnic area I was able to go to and get that impromptu late lunch I was craving as I ran out the door without any other plan for a food stop. https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/weed-rest-area-weed-2?select=fa8bUp-r87-OOHmSABB-1g&reviewid=4Bx2AyFysm_K2mjD7PNaSQ * While eating, I was able to converse with mom about some important details on my trip to Seattle (my eventual destination): tickets to the Space Needle which I purchased while picnicking; picking up some grocery items at Trader Joes before I hit her place, etc.. * And before I drove off from the rest stop, I finally figured out the settings for the rental car's stereo so I didn't feel like I was listening to music in a tin can. THE LOWDOWN A great stop for whenever / whatever you need it for.

There was not any toilet paper to be found in any of the stalls. Good thing I carry extra TP with…read moreme any place I go just in case the paper is gone. I don't want to sound disgusted but this time I was. The floors were a little tad messy but I chalk that up to lazy patrons who could make an effort to pick up the paper off the floor that they drop.

This rest stop is in Corning located between the bigger towns of Chico and Redding and is situated…read morealong the I-5 freeway. The northbound rest stop is across the freeway and is a popular stopping spot for travelers. It's a bigger-than-average rest stop with lots of tables, restrooms in pretty good condition, ample parking, and even a pet area. The facilities are pretty clean and looks well-maintained with a cleaning crew walking around. It has plenty of space for big trucks and small cars alike. The 10 minutes I spent here were pretty good.

Faculties are clean. The parking lots are organized and clean…read more Expect numerous trash bins and recycling bins at this location.

This rest stop is always clean and well maintained. It is easy to get a parking spot and places to…read morelet the dog do his business.

It was a good rest stop. They have a nice pet area to let your puppers do yoga…read more The restrooms are clean and there's plenty of places to sit and eat your snacks. Overall, its just a good place to get your blood flowing while you're on your road trip.

This is the 2nd time we have stayed at this hotel. Love the location and the quietness of the…read morearea. The hotel itself is older but still in great condition. You get a free glass of wine between 4-5pm. Breakfast is included and is perfect to start off the morning. The best part is that all rooms are dog friendly. We stayed in the copper suite and it's gotta be our favorite. Love having a shared balcony we can use. You can always sit out the front balcony too. It is strange at first when they have the keys in an envelope for you at the front desk. But the people we did interact with were all very friendly. We've stayed at Stoney brook and mercantile but we love McCloud Hotel the best.

Loved the historic charm built in 1916, dog-friendly rooms, and a tasty breakfast…read more Service and cleanliness need work though: no greeting at check-in, staff avoiding eye contact, and I found hair in the sink plus trash under the bed.:( Great potential, just needs more warmth and attention to detail!