This is a very nice rest stop. The bathrooms are very clean. They have a coloring paper and free…read morecrayons for the kids. The vending machines have variety. They also have ice cream!! The view from outside also very beautiful.

Typical small, no-frills rear stop along this highway. There is about 4 vending machines, weather…read morestation and a counter of Illinois brochures.

This was a very good stop, easy on and off the highways always a plus…read more The restrooms although dated were clean. Vending is inside. A weird factor is a rear foot bridge that goes to a broken down picnic table. Don't let the kids play back there. The biggest plus are the nice grounds, picnic tables and even a playground. I would stop here again.

After the coffee kicked in, it was time for a stop along I-64. This rest area is nicely shaded…read morethough the trees are still bare this time of year. Restrooms were clean and there is plenty of room for a walk around to stretch. This one is nicer than most. [Review 573 of 2024 - 190 in Illinois - 21604 overall]

Signs say it is open but got to it and said open for parking. All restrooms closed! Next closest…read morearea to use restroom is about 20 miles away.

Clean, well stocked restrooms. Pleasant vending area and…read moreseating nearby. Pleasantly landscaped grounds. Well lit areas in the evening. Several police phones nearby. Handicapped ramp on the front. Recycling area for trash in the front. Large truck parking area. Maybe 15 trucks.

I have a coffee habit that is pretty tame these days, but still a little bit stunning to…read morenon-Seattleites. This habit lead me to this rest stop. For a bathroom break? Yes. So both Randy S. and I hit the head as they say (they are indoors in a very clean and lovely building) and ventured out. Randy wanted some diet pop. He got it out of the vending machine. We were about to run. Then I saw it. A Cafforia (http://www.automaticproducts.com/HTML/products/cafforia_main.html). Oh, I love these hot coffee vending machines that make hot chocolate and so forth. The swimming pool I went to when I was a kid had one of these and I was absolutely fascinated by it. So, I definitely had to indulge. But then came the question... what should I have? So many choices? To be accurate, the Cafforia comes with a multitude of products you can get for yourself, 13 in all. Everything from Cafe Latte to Expresso (I love that they spell it with an X). So, I narrowed my choices to something milky and sweet, because one never knows about the coffee in these things and it's best to have a buffer between you and potential burnt bitterness... I was either going to get: 1) Cafe Mocha - seemed promising, if basic 2) Cafe Vanile - about the same 3) French Vanilla - with which I had a hard time understanding the potential differences from #2 4) English Toffee - this was Randy S.'s choice from the get Okay, so I labored and labored over the decision. Which one to get? It offered to put sugar in the Mocha and Vanile, which I thought was strange, but could point that they aren't too sweet. But on the other hand, I've seen people pour sugar into coffee like they are trying to make fill in a lake, so you never know. Still, the French Vanilla and English Toffee could be sickeningly sweet and then I'd be pissed. Then it hit me: Get all 4! Brilliant idea really. I think they were like a buck a pop, so it's just like buying a latte at Starbucks, so whatever. And, then I'll have a definitive answer... so F it, I bought them all. First out was the English Toffee, Randy S.'s front runner. It was good. Sweet, but not "too sweet" by any means. Actually very yummy. And the coffee wasn't half bad! Especially considering my expectations Next was the Cafe Mocha (which had been my choice), which also wasn't bad. It wasn't very chocolately though, and not very sweet--which I actually view as quite an accomplishment in America, so kudos Cafforia! Next, the Cafe Vanile. Kind of like the Mocha, not too sweet, not too much vanilla. Just kind of a latte with some sugar. Still, given it came out of a machine in Mill Shoals, IL, not half bad. Last was the French Vanilla. I love that they call it French Vanilla, because there's no way that France's vanilla would contain about 300% of the sugar content of ours, but so be it. It was good! Kind of similar to the English Toffee. So, which one to take with me? I had to go English Toffee. Come on. When you get 4 espresso drinks out of a Cafforia in Mill Shoals, IL, and one is English Toffee, you've got to take it. I did. I left the others behind, sadly. What could I do? If I took them I would have had a pulse rate only known to very frightened rats and there is only one cup-holder in the Lexus anyway, so... Anyway, great place... clean, awesome, great Cafforia!

Easy on and off I-64 EB. Nothing fancy but it gets the job done…read more Parking for cars adequate, no trucks that I recall. Restrooms are dated, but clean. Vending was maintained. It's a really beautiful area if your visiting. It's just outside the George Washington National Forest. You would never know by a quick rest stop.

This rest area is off of the west bound side of I64. It was nice and clean inside and had a good…read moreamount of parking for cars but it looked like it would be pretty cramped for trucks pulling trailers. They have several vending options with drinks available as well. Their drinking fountains were covered with trash bags and said out of order... Not sure if that was the case or if its still a small way they are still trying to prevent the spread of the vid. Who knows... It was an inconvenience as I wasn't able to fill my water bottle. They have some informative signs on the wall telling all about the forest and woodlands surrounding the rest area which is pretty cool. They also have a couple picnic tables and benches outside if you are really wanting or needing to make a long pit stop.

This stop worked well, but pretty average. This is my second visit. Cars park nearby the restroom…read morestructure. There is some green space and some picnic tables, but no shelter. Vending is minimal and coffee was out of order. Restrooms were clean and supplied. I did not witness staff around as I typically do. 3.5 rounding down. Things overall seem warm down.

Welcome to Illinois. Since I was driving from "civilized" states, I stopped here to unholster my…read moreconcealed firearm (legal in 35 states including Indiana) and secure it in the vault that I have bolted to the floor. Because Illinois and how's that working out? Anyway, it's a nice rest area with a fantastic 90 degree turn at the entrance that really slows down the traffic. The restroom was clean and well lit. The parking area was clean and level. If I was here in the evening, I would definitely consider staying here as I didn't see any signs limiting how long parking is permitted. [Review 571 of 2024 - 188 in Illinois - 21602 overall]

Probably the cleanest rest area I can ever recall visiting. We stopped here on our way from East…read moreCentral Illinois to Southern Indiana. Outside ADA button did not work for opening the door. Attendant was in the women's restroom cleaning away and the sinks, toilets and floor were VERY clean. 1/5 stars for the trickle (as mentioned in a previous review) of a stream that came from 2 of 3 sinks. Ugh! Be sure to have sanitizer handy for extra germ killing as the water pressure is horrible. Great vending machine options including hot coffee drinks. Change machine available also. Would be nice if this stop had a display with brochures from sites in the area. They only had a few free catalogs in the stands outside. Indoor ADA button did work. Nice pedestrian bridge outside going from the parking lot to some picnic tables. Overall very clean and tidy. Highly recommend stopping. Just don't expect to fully rinse your hands if you're using the women's facilities.

This is a nice rest stop. Lots of trees, picnic tables, and vending machines. The parking lot gets…read morecongested easily with semi parking directly behind regular vehicles. The facilities are clean with large maps and vending machines. Outdoors this is Squirrel heaven and the kids enjoyed watching their playful activities.

Holy moly this is the nicest rest stop I've ever seen. It is amazing esp if you have young ones…read morethat need to spend time out of the car. Behind the building they have a very nice playground. Also fenced area for dogs to run. Inside they have an oversized book aimed at children. The extra large book has sturdy pages. The portrait of Abe on wall will talk to you too. The esthetics of place are amazing. (For a rest area).

Black river welcome center is a rest stop that I stopped in at while on the way back home from…read moreSaint Louis towards Louisville while chaperoning my daughters 8th grade field trip. Spacious area and bigger rest stop which made it accommodating for 25 plus teens and a few parent chaperones. Restrooms was decent sized and. In good order. Grounds had a separate hut for vending machines and they had a cool and unique little playground right outside of the main building entrance. Overall cool little rest stop that served it's purpose and was in good shape and had some good quality amenities.

Welcome to Metropolis, the home of Superman. If you're here during daylight hours and you have a…read morefew minutes of spare time, head into downtown to Superman Square and get a picture with the 30 foot tall Superman. This rest area is an exit off the highway with access from both northbound and southbound. There are a few turns you'll be making to get here and get parked but if you need a rest, this is the best option. It is a big loop and there are plenty of trees. Depending on the time of day and the time of year, you might even find a shady spot to take a snooze before heading back. There is a small playground, a vending area and restrooms that were in decent shape. I did not see any signs prohibiting overnight parking here, so be courteous and try to leave the place better than you found it. [Review 306 of 2025 - 222 in Illinois - 23868 overall]

This Rest Stop was clean and has friendly customer service. There are vending machines for snacks…read moreand drinks. There are plenty of pamphlets at the kiosk on places to visit in Illinois. They also have an attendant to assist if you need it.

One of St. Louis' hidden gems. I say "hidden" because not many people are aware about this…read moreimportant part of St. Louis history, and the location. There are no roads nearby (just a bike trail) and there's no signs on the main roads that lead to it. Plus, it's literally by the Mississippi River. I say "gem" because, well, I can't think of any other word. But it's always fun to explore areas where a whole lot of people aren't aware of. For those that don't know, the Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing and Rest Area/Visitor's Center is located off of the Riverfront Trail. It's seemingly out in the middle of nowhere. You're very much surrounded by a levee wall with graffiti and then the river. You can access the Visitors Center as long as you're on the trail, and the closest road is 0.2 miles north of it (East Prairie Avenue). You have to drive through the industrial part of the city to get there, and there is a small parking lot. Another big thing to keep in mind is, access is limited throughout various parts of the year. From November to March, the Visitor's Center is not open. And during April to October, it is only open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. I wish it was five days a week, but then they have to pay those people. Lastly, it is open mostly during daylight hours (don't know exactly when...). If you are lucky to check it out during open hours, by all means do it! There is always an attendant on duty, and you can go inside and sometimes they will sell snacks and cold drinks for trail riders. Public restrooms are available, though they are Johnny toilets. I wouldn't go as far as calling it a museum, but there is lots of historical information on the walls inside, as well as two historical markers. The back deck is a great view of the Mississippi River, though there is not very much to see on the other side. One last thing: every year, there is a gathering at the Freedom Crossing, which is the Mary Meachum Celebration. Usually, it happens once a year in May. They have historical re-enactments and food/crafts/games. I still have yet to check it out!

The Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing and Rest Area is located along the Mississippi River a few miles…read morenorth of Downtown St. Louis on the Riverfront Trail. You can get there by car, but for me, it's more fun to go by bike on the trail. This landmark is a work in progress and consists of murals painted on the levee wall, historic markers, informative signs, and a building which is sporadically open (usually on nice summer weekend days). The building is used for special events, displays and as a rest stop for trail users. A nice deck also overlooks the river on the back side. The area is also used annually for the Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing Celebration which consists of a historic reenactment, storytelling, music and dance. The real reason to come here though, is to learn a bit about our ugly past. I've become fascinated with the story as I've tried to learn more about what happened, and I'll try to give a brief summary of what I've learned from my visits and read on the internet: This site recognizes the first documented Underground Railroad event in Missouri. In 1855 a group of slaves escaped and tried to cross the river from Missouri into Illinois for freedom. Mary Meachum, who was already a free Africa American woman, assisted and accompanied them in their attempt to escape. Mary was the wife of John Berry Meachum who had bought his own freedom, founded the first free black church in St. Louis, and bought other African Americans out of slavery while teaching them how to read and write. When he died, Mary carried on the movement. She was helping a woman named Ester, her two small children and at least two other people to cross into freedom at this very location. Unfortunately, a police officer was waiting on the Illinois side for them and Mary Meachum was arrested and thrown in jail. Ester was "owned" by Henry Shaw who was a very prominent St. Louisan and best known for founding the Missouri Botanical Garden and being a generous philanthropist. Since Shaw was such a well known business man, the local newspapers covered the story in detail and documented what would have otherwise been a forgotten historic event. Ester was returned to Shaw who in turn sold her to a plantation in Mississippi for $350 minus a $161.62 reward to the bounty hunter. Her children were not sold and probably remained behind. While the newspapers documented the story well, I'm still curious to know what happened to Mary Meachum and Ester and her two children.