What is a "truck stop"?

[Mac1337]

How is a truck stop different from all other gas station/quick mart establishments you see on the road?

[NewtonMP2100]

. . .isn't that where that ex-NJ Governor used to frequent. . .?

. . .to meet 'friends' for some fun. . .?

[JoeH]

Depends a bit, but in many cases a truck stop in addition to fuel will have places for drivers to park and sleep for hours, even rooms for the night. Some have shower facilities. And having some sort of diner or other food service is fairly standard.

[MacMagus]

They're about 5 times the size with bigger bathroom facilities, truck-specialty shops (often with fantastic selections of specialty-electronics like 12v Microwave ovens) and a much bigger selection of borderline-legal amphetamines.

[Filliam H. Muffman]

It is not always obvious from the freeway how big they are.

Supposedly the biggest in the US.
http://www.iowa80truckstop.com/

This one is just north of Sacramento, looks like about 100 trucks can park there at once.
http://www.sacramento49er.com/
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&view=map&q=sacramento+49er+travel+plaza&ie=UTF8&ll=38.618455,-121.537907&spn=0.004996,0.008175&t=h&z=17&iwloc=A

[Carm]

Joe H has it. In addition, the "truck stops" have extra tall overhangs to allow the truckers to get their trucks under to gas up. You will know the difference when you are at one.

Joe

[Harry in MI]

I think MacMagus has it nailed.

[mikeylikesit]

They are great places to stop. Bring a high tolerance for country music with you.

[Ken Sp.]

Filliam H. Muffman wrote:
It is not always obvious from the freeway how big they are.

Supposedly the biggest in the US.
http://www.iowa80truckstop.com/

This one is just north of Sacramento, looks like about 100 trucks can park there at once.
http://www.sacramento49er.com/
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&view=map&q=sacramento+49er+travel+plaza&ie=UTF8&ll=38.618455,-121.537907&spn=0.004996,0.008175&t=h&z=17&iwloc=A

LOL-JDC and I live near each other, and we could almost drive a golf ball to that 49er truck stop.

It is large, but not huge. The Siiver Skillet had some pretty good breakfast

[iaJim]

Old truck stops were not like that. They were frequently little dumps with a GREAT diner, fuel pumps, and room for trucks to get in and out. Frequently, they were gravel lots. Nothing fancy, but everyone thought that if the truckers stopped there, that it must be a good place to eat.