California's highway rest areas are universally magical, disappointing, sketchy, lovely, and weird…read more We would stop at them occasionally on cross-state trips when I was little, mainly to use the bathroom, but as I grew older and drove long distances myself, I never really understood their value. Why not stop somewhere you could also buy gas and food? But then I got into this habit of doing the San Francisco-to-Los Angeles trip on the 5 in the middle of the night, and rest areas became essential, because many 24/7 gas stations' restrooms magically go out of order in the middle of the night. Since the pandemic, I've been pretty annoyed by how many of the rest areas along the 5 have been simultaneously closed for long periods of time. I understand if they're doing major renovations, but Caltrans should schedule the construction so that at least some of the rest areas are open along the same route. Rest areas on other freeways feel like a bonus, like that random one on the 280. Who uses that one? Why? I know, I know; I already told you why people need rest areas. The Gaviota rest areas along the 101 might be my favorite in the state. Especially this one, the one on the northbound (eastern) side of the freeway. It appears not long after the 101 goes from hugging the south-facing coast to almost due north toward the curvy hilly section on the way to Buellton. And unlike its 5 counterparts, this rest area has a lot of character. It has gorgeous views of the surrounding natural features, and it feels perfect in scale. Is it safe? It's not unsafe, but compared to other rest areas, you might say it is unsafe. For one thing, the parking is a small bank of angled parking spots right off the incoming lane. People are usually coming fast off the 101, so when you're backing out to leave, you need to very careful. Also, the only thing separating these parking spots from the highway is a short stone wall and a lane for semis and buses. That lane is usually occupied, so you're usually physically protected, but when it's unoccupied, it would be very easy for a car to careen through that wall and into the parking spaces. There are also signs that warn about rattlesnakes, but I've never seen one here. Unfortunately, this rest area has been closed on two separate occasions in the last three years for renovations. The second closure was only for a few months, but it was still annoying, as this is a good place for me to use the restroom, stretch my legs, and catch some sleep if I need to now that Pea Soup Andersen's is permanently closed (RIP). The bathrooms are generally pretty clean. Even though you're right next to the freeway, it doesn't feel as loud or obnoxious as you expect it to. They have some tables to sit at and a couple of pet-relief areas. I love looking across the highway at the craggy hills. It reminds me so much of the geography farther north around the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo.

Needed to stop to use the restroom and take a nap and Gaviota saved me! I pulled off the freeway…read moreand I was in the parking lot! Go slow when you exit the freeway because people are walking through the parking lot with their kids. I didn't encounter anyone, but it was scary when the big rig trucks would exit and they're barreling through because they're trying to slow down. This spot is nice, there's plenty of restrooms available and they're clean. Definitely a great rest spot. Stop here even if you don't need to use the restroom it's super convenient and you're back on the road in less than a minute.

I recently reviewed the Gaviota Rest Area's northbound side (…read morehttps://www.yelp.com/biz/gaviota-rest-area-northbound-side-goleta?hrid=ZD_A27xUjI0BfVrxb346sA&utm_campaign=www_review_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct) ). Most of what I wrote about the northbound side is true of the southbound side, although this side (southbound) feels like it has a slightly larger and more varied natural area behind the bathroom buildings. This side also has a much larger pet-relief area. Frankly, I've stopped at the northbound side about four times as often as I've stopped here, mainly because it was my habit--ritual, really--to stop at Pea Soup Andersen's (RIP) for a break on my way from San Francisco to SoCal. Now that the original Pea Soup's is no more, this stop will probably be more useful to me. Also like its northbound cousin, this stop was closed for years for renovations. It also seems generally to be closed more often than the northbound side, for some reason. When I visited last week, I noticed that they've removed the payphones. I guess that's to be expected these days, but if a person really were desperate and they had lost their phone, it seems like a remote rest area of all places should have a way to make a phone call. The men's bathroom is usually very clean. The parking setup is similar to the northbound side, so be careful when pulling in and out. It is also slightly safer, though, because there seems to be a longer lead-in before the parking stalls begin than on the other side.

Beautiful clean open rest area on the way to Santa Barbara! Watch for signs on the way telling…read morewhether it is open!

They have clean bathrooms that are open 24/7, vending machines with cold drinks & snacks and it's…read morewell maintained. Side note: My wife lost her shoe somewhere in the parking lot. We looked all over and couldn't find it. I asked a maintenance crew if they had seen it and was lucky enough to talk to "Cage", the supervisor. He immediately told me they had picked it up and it was somewhere in one of their trash bags. Cage and his crew ended up going through about 12 bags of garbage when they finally found it! A big thank you to Cage and his BART crew!!!

Finally a rest stop that's open on I -5. For some reason most of the rest stops have been closed…read moreheading south on I -5. We really needed a spot to let our dogs out to do their business. This was not the greatest location. No grass,only weeds and foxtails. Really didn't want my dogs wandering in the weeds. Had them pee in the parking lot on my tire. Was not happy with that. I know the state is running out of money,but at least knock down the weeds,it's a fire hazard

I made a stop here after a long drive and wasn't expecting to stay for long. They had the porta…read morepotties and the "sink" outside the building. You can walk around the building to view the Pyramid Lake. I went in the Visitor Center to see what they had, and I was blown away by the interactive displays about water resources and the such. I was in there for almost an hour, and if I had time, I would have stayed little longer. It would actually be a fun place for kids.

They get a extra star for having a bathroom…read more If you have animals DO NOT come here. They have signs saying no animals others than service animals. But no other signs. I Took my dog in the dirt area to the right of the building for my dog to go potty, literally has a walkway...I cleaned it up also. Someone came out yelling that I cant go in that area. There were NO signs nor was it blocked off saying for people to not go there. Then a lady came running out yelling that there are rattlesnakes out there and they dont have any services if anyone gets bit. So we left. Maybe block the walkway and put signs out and say on your site that you are NOT pet friendly and not to come if you have animals...

Lived in CA my whole life and never found a rest stop with free RV dump station and wash out hose…read more Bathrooms were very clean, working vending machines with cold drink options and plenty of trailer and truck parking. As rest stops go, this is a great option for travelers.

About halfway through the Tejon Pass, this rest area was a welcome break. Aside from the fantastic…read moreviews of the mountains here, there was parking in the shade, decently clean rest rooms and a FREE RV sanitary dump site with flush water. Parking for cars is along the loop in the back which is a plus for the folks who aren't used to the all night idling of trucks. Dump site is at the exit and accessible from both car and truck parking areas. Be aware that many of the California rest areas are closed so plan ahead for disappointment. Boron to the east on SR-58 was closed when I was passing through. [Review 21028 overall - 544 in California - 2013 of 2023.]

Stopped here on my drive to Abilene, TX. The sinks and toilets had bugs in them and there was a…read morehuge wasp nest over the door. NASTY! Also had a hard time finding a parking spot. There was many undesirable-looking truckers there and one kept begging me for money and cigars. The blacktop was like a human Frying pan and the picnic tables were broken and covered in wasp nests. Hit my head on a tree branch and almost tripped on a broken sidewalk. It is a Discusting Hellhole dump that is more like a dump than a rest stop.

Check the photos*, for a photo can save a thousand words and if you can hold it, wait till you get…read moreto Blythe 15 miles down the 10. Or, if you don't mind the noxious smell of cooking urine and feces, you might also enjoy the empty view of dirty truck-driver blacktop baking under the hot desert sun and consider the flying sewage insects an aeronautical freebie air show. FWIW, picnic tables, phone and handicapped access, best used upwind...if you can find a breeze. *attempts to photograph one of the broken toilets resulted in a terminal malfunction. I can't say whether it was the camera or me gagging but I never got the shot. Just picture "Eww". P.S., I held it.

My opinion of Beverly Hills is a little jaded. Yes, you understand it's going to be expensive. But…read moreparking is difficult, the people are sometimes snooty and their library just sucks. But this bathroom is one of the more lovely things that the city has done. Maybe they got tired of homeless people peeing in their park or maybe some well-connected dog walker got tired of holding it until he got home. However it worked, it's delightful, for somebody who does a lot of work in the field to know that there's a place open well into the night that you can pull into when you're desperately doing the pee-pee dance. It's clean and well-maintained and because it's in Beverly Hills of course it has its own address! A delightfully generous, sensible feature in a town sometimes not known for its generosity or good sense.

Restrooms are very clean never seen a public restroom this clean and didn't have any bad odorread more

I was very impressed this place is adorable And dog…read morefriendly clean Above beyond Even have breakfast I recommend

Holiday Inn Express in Carpinteria is not a bad place to stay. It's not the Ritz Carlton. But what…read moreis it, is a comfortable, clean, and safe hotel that is reasonably priced for the area. It's near the freeway, downtown Carpinteria, beachs, and a suburban shopping plaza with a grocery store ( eateries, Starbucks, fast food). Pros: + Complimentary breakfast. This was quite a spread and the egg and protein hot items rotates. Eggs one day could be a cheesy omelette patty and the next scrambled. The protein was bacon strip, pork sausage or turkey sausage patty. They had a pancake machine, very simple to use, just press a button. There were cinnamon rolls, bagels, bread slices, muffins, three cereal offerings, yogurt, and fruit (bananas, oranges). Coffee, tea, juices, milk, and even had almond milk. The women working the breakfast were amazing. Cheerful and helpful, adding to a great start to the day. They were taking care to refill hot food trays and tidying the area. + Outdoor swimming pool and hot tub. + Fitness center. + Free WiFi. + Free lending library in the lobby. + Complimentary 24/7 coffee and tea station in the lobby. Other: - They leave a printout of your receipt on the floor outside your door the early morning before checkout. I'm not a fan of this practice. Because we all know, people are noisy. I asked mine to be left at the desk. - The sole elevator is super small. Barely large enough for the bellhop cart and one person. - One of the two washing machines, in the guests laundry facility, was broken during our visit. - Not enough USB ports, for my liking, in the room. - The room's mini fridge temp was on the fritz. It froze my items even on a low setting. - Microwave was not cleaned. Still had the previous guests cheesy blob in it. Yikes.

Had to cancel due to family illness! :(oh no! Cannot wait to reschedule…read more Looks amazing and great price and location!

Lovely spot to stay at with your dog. We had gone to the dog…read morebeach and didn't know that the ocean was loaded with tar and oil. Our Border Collie was filthy and the owner of the Beach House Inn, Pam, did everything she could to help us. Baby oil, dishwashing liquid, hose, paper towels. Who does that? Pam and Linda, that's who! Highly recommend this little pocket of heaven.

What a beacon in the night this place was!!!!! This was not your typical situation.... Some friends…read moreand I were on a casual run from San Francisco to Las Vegas (like on foot!). We were coming up on our second night of running through the night. Learning that Love's had SHOWERS was like finding an oasis in the desert! Well, that's what Love's is right? My group arrived at Love's around 2am. I was the last runner and eager to rinse off all the grime from the last 40 hours. We were greeted with such friendly service. Even though there was a wait for the showers at 2am, the attendants were really friendly and curious why a bunch of women in running clothes were wanting to shower in the middle of the night. We nearly blew their mind when we told them we had run there from San Francisco. The showers were really clean and so were the towels. The whole process was really simple and everyone was able to get their showers in before we continued on. Love's also had a great selection of souvenirs and snacks. I'll probably never be in this situation ever again but Love's was probably my favorite thing from that day! Many thanks to Love's for existing and being our oasis in the night!

It could be that the travel stop was busy but the bathrooms weren't as clean as I've seen in other…read moreLove's stops across the country. Everything else was functional though, and the cashiers were friendly enough.