Tag:highway=rest_area
+/- highway=rest_area
Place where drivers can leave the road to rest, but not refuel.
Used combinations in
Defacto |
Description
- See rest area on Wikipedia
Unlike highway=services, rest areas don't have places to buy fuel, they may have picnic tables, garbage bins and toilets although some are just an area to pull off the road so you can have a rest from driving or to change drivers. If tagging a large one as an area, area=yes can be added so the name doesn't show up around an invisible line.
These areas are also commonly referred to as rest stops, turnouts, or lay-bys. They may be combined with tourist information (tourism=information) in a welcome center.
In the UK, lay-bys are marked with a blue-background "P" symbol, identical to that used for parking areas. The most common variety is a simple, rather short, extra lane next to the highway with a concrete surface and a couple of litter bins. Some are set further back in the form of short loops of service road, and may feature mobile fast food outlets, toilets etc. (In the UK, it is legal to leave HGV trailers parked on these, but not on those not separated from the road, so some road users (truckers) may be concerned with the difference.) Lay-bys are not found on UK motorways: by law rest stops on motorways must be full-fledged service areas highway=services.
In the U.S., the vast majority of Interstates have only rest areas, not service areas. One must exit the highway to find fuel or food. The main exception is on a tolled Interstate, where service areas are the norm.
See also
Related terms: rest area. rest stop. layby (en_GB). lay-by (en_GB). turnout (en_US). pullout (en_US). parking.
