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.

One of the challenges on road trips is stopping for potty breaks for both humans and dogs…read more Maybe I've read too many murder mysteries, but I always approach a rest stop with a certain amount of trepidation. I am happy to share that this was quite a pleasant surprise. You can walk on the pathway and see the river flowing by. So relaxing. There is a lot of beautiful green grass and the bathrooms were clean. The only negative and it is kind of a big one is dogs are not allowed on the grass. The potty area for dogs is a dry dirt and weed area. I know it would be hard to maintain grass with people at pets urinating on it, but it was a little disappointing, considering the rest of the rest office is so pretty.

This is an excellent rest area and it was fully open when I was here on October 12. Be prepared for…read moremany/most California rest areas along I-5 to be closed or out of service. The rest area is off the highway at an exit and so it is accessible for traffic heading in both directions. It is open, clean and scenic. If it wasn't so early in the day, I would have spent more than 90 minutes here getting a nap before heading onwards. Lots of level parking, clean restrooms and a very good stop. It's my 400th rest area review https://www.yelp.com/collection/OX6aJPeAX_LOydSYhUyuYw! [Review 20956 overall - 486 in California - 1941 of 2023.]

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.]

This welcome center has information organized by Oregon region ... very easy to navigate and I…read morecan't imagine needing anything more. The lady at the desk was very gracious, helping us navigate the center and providing helpful information about the differences between areas of Oregon. I'm so glad we stopped in!

They have an array of books and magazines as well as Oregon posters and photos! I was quite…read moresurprised! I've been to a few welcome centers in the states. Being a prior military service member you see a lot of states. And the welcome centers are a great way to learn what your state has to offer! I loved that they had collectable cards too that have different Oregon attractions! If you're looking for something to do or even passing by! Stop on in!

great location for a rest zone. Getting out of the car and stretching legs is a good idea in order…read moreto feel comfy in the car for a long ride down the highway. The view is beautiful and is meant to be enjoyed. The parking area was clean and not any papers were littering the ground. It is nice to see the effort made to keep the place looking nice for everyone.

Everything was so clean here including the bathrooms. The…read morechipmunks come up to you which was cute. Love how they have a memorial for the cal trans workers. Highly recommend this rest area

This is a convenient place to stop and they have a lot of pumps…read more This is also a good place to get snacks (hubby loves the mini Cinnabons). They offer clean restrooms and showers. It is a very popular place.

Great place to stop in Weed, CA. Especially during the winter months it's icy and snowy and a lot…read moreof fun. Also it's a great place to get "weed" souvenirs! Lol

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

Nice scenic spot to rest. Restrooms are good. There is a nice little trail to take a walk and…read morestretch your legs.

This is a beautiful rest area! I spent the night in an RV with my 2 small dogs. Was so quiet, we…read moregot great sleep. There were a few trains in the middle of the night but I like trains so no biggie. Bathrooms were very clean

Vista point is a small rest stop/ view point off the southbound I- 5-fwy. There are no restrooms or…read morevending machines here as this is a place to take a break from the unnecessarily dramatic and often crowded Freeway and simply soak in the breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean. A good place for birding and if you're here at the right time with your binoculars you may catch a glimpse of some migratory whales or a group of dolphins. The Vista point turnout is located a few miles south of San Clemente State Beach and just north of Oceanside.

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