13 Best I-95 Rest Stops Worth Pulling Over For

Some rest stops are better than others. Some are grim little parking lots with busted vending machines and questionable lighting. Others are full-blown travel plazas with real food, clean restrooms, and enough room to stretch your legs without feeling like you wandered onto a movie set for a horror film.

The good news? I-95 runs roughly 1,920 miles from the Canadian border in Maine all the way down to Miami, Florida — and scattered along that route are some genuinely great places to stop. The kind of places where you actually want to get out of the car.

This is your guide to the 13 best I-95 rest stops that are worth pulling over for, listed from north to south. Some have incredible food courts. Some have quirky history. A few even feel like mini vacations. All of them will make your road trip better.

Key Takeaways

The best I-95 rest stops go far beyond a simple bathroom break. From Maine's Kennebunk Service Plaza to Florida's welcome centers, you can find full service plazas with fuel, food courts, EV charging, and even tourist information — all without leaving the highway. The best ones are clean, well-lit, open 24 hours, and spaced perfectly for breaking up a long drive along Interstate 95.

Quick Picker:

• Best for families: Kennebunk Service Plaza, Biden Welcome Center, Maryland House Travel Plaza

• Best for charm and history: South of the Border, Kittery Welcome Center, Fredericksburg Welcome Center

• Best budget-friendly: Hardeeville Welcome Center, St. Johns County Rest Area, Fredericksburg Welcome Center

• Best food stop: Biden Welcome Center, Maryland House Travel Plaza, Vince Lombardi Service Plaza

• Best for truckers: Molly Pitcher Service Plaza, Vince Lombardi Service Plaza, Chesapeake House Travel Plaza

Planning an I-95 road trip? Wayback Tours helps you discover the best stops, hidden gems, and places worth pulling over for — all along America's most-traveled highway.

What Makes a Great Rest Stop on I-95?

Before we get into the list, it helps to know what separates a good rest area from a bad one. After all, there are dozens of pull-offs along I-95, and they range wildly in quality.

The standouts share a few things in common. Clean restrooms, obviously. But also good lighting, plenty of parking for both cars and trucks, pet-friendly green space, and ideally some real food options beyond a bag of chips from a vending machine.

The full service areas — the ones with gas, food courts, and convenience stores — tend to be the real MVPs of long-distance travel. States like Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware have invested heavily in their highway service plazas, and it shows. These stops feel more like rest-stop resorts than sad highway pull-offs.

Virginia and the Carolinas take a different approach. Their rest stops are simpler, but the welcome centers at state lines are generally clean, well-staffed, and stocked with free tourism info. No food or fuel, but honest and reliable.

Florida is a mixed bag. The state rest areas in the north are solid. The farther south you go, the more you'll want to plan your stops around exits with gas stations and restaurants instead.

How Often Should You Stop on a Long I-95 Drive?

Every two hours or so is the general recommendation — and that's not just for comfort. Taking regular breaks keeps you alert, reduces fatigue, and gives you a chance to hydrate and move around. On a highway as long as I-95, that means you'll probably hit five to eight stops on a full Maine-to-Florida run.

The spacing of the best rest stops along I-95 works out nicely for that. You'll find strong options in New England, the Mid-Atlantic, and the Southeast. The biggest gap tends to be through parts of North Carolina and southern Virginia, where stops are fewer and farther between. That's where planning ahead really pays off.

If you're driving with kids, plan to stop more often. If you've got a dog, look for stops with designated pet areas — most of the major plazas on this list have them.

The 13 Best Rest Stops Along I-95 (North to South)

The following are the 13 stops that stood out to us for quality, cleanliness, food, and overall vibe — listed in strict geographic order from north to south. 

No matter if you're a road warrior, a family on vacation, or a trucker looking for a real break, these are the ones to bookmark.

Kennebunk Service Plaza — Maine

Pull into the Kennebunk Service Plaza on the Maine Turnpike and you'll immediately notice something: it doesn't feel like a highway rest stop. It feels like a proper little pit stop in a New England town that actually cares about its visitors.

Why this one stands out:

There are separate plazas for northbound and southbound drivers, both sitting at mile marker 25. You get Burger King, Dunkin', a convenience store, and Citgo gas — all open 24 hours. The northbound side also has Popeyes. For a turnpike service plaza, it's well-maintained and has a surprisingly calm atmosphere, especially in the off-season. EV charging is available at both sides, too.

What you need to know before you go:

• Location: I-95/Maine Turnpike, Mile Marker 25 (both directions)

• Hours: Open 24/7

• Cost: No toll to access the plaza (turnpike tolls apply on I-95)

• Time needed: 15–30 minutes

• Fuel: Citgo with gas and diesel

Worth it or skip it?

Worth it — especially if you're starting a southbound trip and want to fuel up and grab breakfast before the long haul. Great for families.

⭐ What is a Bucket List? Save places you want to visit and come back to later. Your Wayback Tours bucket list keeps track of stops you don't want to forget — perfect for planning future trips.

Kittery Welcome Center — Maine

This one sits right at the border — literally at mile marker 3 on I-95 northbound, just after you cross from New Hampshire into Maine. It's the state's way of rolling out the welcome mat, and it does the job well.

Don't skip this if you like...

...getting the lay of the land before exploring a new state. The Kittery Welcome Center is stocked with free brochures, maps, and info on everything from lighthouses to lobster shacks. The facility is clean, the staff is friendly, and the grounds are pleasant for a quick stretch. No fuel or food, but there's a sense of arrival here that you don't get at a typical rest stop.

What you need to know before you go:

• Location: I-95 Northbound, Mile Marker 3, Kittery, Maine

• Hours: Restrooms open 24/7; welcome center staffed during daytime hours

• Cost: Free

• Time needed: 10–20 minutes

• Fuel: None on-site

Worth it or skip it?

Worth it if you're heading north into Maine. Great for trip planning on the fly and getting your bearings.

Fun Fact:

 The Maine Turnpike is said to be one of the earliest long-distance superhighways in the United States, with its first section opening in 1947 — before the Interstate Highway System even existed.

Branford Service Plaza — Connecticut

Connecticut went all-in on its I-95 service plazas a few years back, and the results are impressive. The Branford Service Plaza sits near mile marker 54 on the northbound side and is one of the newer, more polished stops on the Connecticut stretch.

The quick pitch:

Modern, clean, and stocked with real food options — including Subway, Dunkin', and a Mobil gas station. Free Wi-Fi, EV charging with Tesla and universal chargers, and a pet walking area make this a solid all-around stop. It's one of several plazas that Connecticut operates 24/7 along this corridor.

What you need to know before you go:

• Location: I-95 Northbound, near Mile Marker 54, Branford, Connecticut

• Hours: Open 24/7

• Cost: Free

• Time needed: 15–30 minutes

• Fuel: Mobil gas and diesel

Worth it or skip it?

Worth it — especially for anyone doing the New York-to-Boston corridor and looking for a clean, modern stop with food and fuel. If you're exploring more of the state, check out our list of things to do along I-95 in Connecticut.

Milford Service Plaza — Connecticut

The Milford Service Plaza is one of the busiest stops on the entire Connecticut stretch of I-95, and for good reason. It's well-positioned, well-stocked, and sits right around mile marker 41.

What makes this stop different

Traffic data has consistently ranked Milford among the most-visited rest stops along I-95 in the Northeast. Both the northbound and southbound plazas here offer Subway, McDonald's, Dunkin', Sbarro, and a convenience store.

Backup generators keep everything running during power outages — a smart touch for a region that gets hit with nor'easters. Like the rest of Connecticut's I-95 plazas, it's open 24/7 with free Wi-Fi and EV charging.

What you need to know before you go

• Location: I-95, near Mile Marker 41, Milford, Connecticut (both directions)

• Hours: Open 24/7

• Cost: Free

• Time needed: 15–30 minutes

• Fuel: Mobil gas and diesel

Worth it or skip it?

Worth it. Milford is a reliable, no-surprises kind of stop. If you're hungry, need gas, or just need to stretch after the New York gridlock, this is your spot.

Vince Lombardi Service Plaza — New Jersey

Named after the legendary football coach who grew up in Brooklyn, the Vince Lombardi Service Plaza sits at the top of the New Jersey Turnpike near mile marker 116 in Ridgefield, Bergen County. It's one of the most heavily trafficked service areas on the entire I-95 corridor.

Why this one stands out:

This is a bidirectional plaza, meaning both northbound and southbound travelers use it — which makes it busy, but also means it gets a lot of attention and upkeep. You'll find a solid food court, fuel, restrooms, and plenty of parking for both cars and trucks. It's the last major stop before the George Washington Bridge if you're heading north, or the first real breather if you're heading south into Jersey after crossing from New York.

The NJ Turnpike service plazas were all rebuilt or renovated starting in 2014, so the facilities here are modern and clean. Food options rotate, but you'll typically find brands like Starbucks, Popeyes, and Nathan's.

What you need to know before you go:

• Location: NJ Turnpike (I-95), Mile Marker 116, Ridgefield, Bergen County

• Hours: Open 24/7

• Cost: Free (turnpike tolls apply on the road)

• Time needed: 15–30 minutes

• Fuel: Full-service gas station

Worth it or skip it?

Worth it — especially if you're bracing for the bridge or just survived it. One of the better full-service stops along the New Jersey Turnpike.

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Molly Pitcher Service Plaza — New Jersey

Further south on the NJ Turnpike, the Molly Pitcher Service Plaza sits near mile marker 71 on the southbound side, between interchanges 8 and 8A in Cranbury, Middlesex County. It's named after the folk hero of the Revolutionary War.

Don't skip this if you like...

...a quieter alternative to the bigger, busier plazas. Molly Pitcher has everything you need — fuel, food, restrooms, EV charging, and Wi-Fi — without the intense crowds of the Lombardi or Edison plazas closer to New York. It's a smart mid-turnpike stop if you're heading toward Philadelphia or points south.

What you need to know before you go:

• Location: NJ Turnpike (I-95) Southbound, Mile Marker 71, Cranbury

• Hours: Open 24/7

• Cost: Free (turnpike tolls apply)

• Time needed: 15–30 minutes

• Fuel: Full-service gas station with EV charging

Worth it or skip it?

Worth it. Less chaotic than the northern plazas, and perfectly positioned for a mid-Jersey break. A good one for drivers who want to refuel (themselves and their vehicle) without the hustle.

Fun Fact:

 The New Jersey Turnpike service plazas are all named after notable New Jersey residents. You can gas up at Alexander Hamilton, grab a coffee at Thomas Edison, and use the restroom at Walt Whitman — all in one trip.

Biden Welcome Center — Delaware

Sitting right in the median of I-95 near mile marker 5 in Newark, Delaware, the Biden Welcome Center (formerly known as the Delaware House Travel Plaza) is one of the most consistently praised stops on the entire East Coast corridor.

The quick pitch:

This place is massive — a 42,000-square-foot facility that's accessible from both northbound and southbound lanes. The food court features chains like Popeyes, Burger King, Starbucks, Pret A Manger, and Cinnabon. There's also a convenience store, a Delaware tourism center, and a gift shop with local products. The building was designed with energy-efficient LEED standards and opened in 2010, so it still feels modern and bright.

Clean restrooms, tax-free shopping (it's Delaware, after all), and plenty of parking make this a no-brainer stop — no matter if you're doing the DC-to-NYC run or the full Maine-to-Florida haul.

What you need to know before you go:

• Location: I-95, Mile Marker 5, Newark, Delaware (accessible from both directions)

• Hours: Open 24/7

• Cost: Free

• Time needed: 20–40 minutes

• Fuel: Sunoco with gas and diesel, plus EV charging

Worth it or skip it?

Absolutely worth it. Many travelers consider this the single best rest stop between New York and Washington, DC. If you're picking just one stop in the Mid-Atlantic, make it this one.

Chesapeake House Travel Plaza — Maryland

About 15 miles south of the Biden Welcome Center, the Chesapeake House Travel Plaza sits at mile marker 97 on I-95 in Cecil County, Maryland. It's the first of two major travel plazas on the JFK Memorial Highway, and it's a strong one.

What makes this stop different:

Like the Biden Welcome Center, the Chesapeake House sits in the highway median and serves both directions of travel. The facility was completely rebuilt in 2014 as part of a public-private partnership and features a modern food court, convenience store, and a full Sunoco fuel station. You'll find brands like Earl of Sandwich, KFC, Wendy's, and Peet's Coffee.

The building earned LEED Silver certification, which means it was designed with sustainability in mind. It also has EV charging stations, a dog walking area, and a Maryland tourism information center.

What you need to know before you go:

• Location: I-95, Mile Marker 97, North East, Maryland (accessible from both directions)

• Hours: Open 24/7

• Cost: Free (JFK Highway tolls apply)

• Time needed: 20–30 minutes

• Fuel: Sunoco with gas, diesel, and EV charging

Worth it or skip it?

Worth it. Especially if you skipped the Biden Welcome Center or want a second stop before heading into Virginia's longer, less-serviced stretch.

Maryland House Travel Plaza — Maryland

Just 15 miles south of Chesapeake House, the Maryland House Travel Plaza sits at mile marker 82 near Aberdeen, Harford County. It's the bigger, busier sibling — and widely considered one of the best rest stops on the entire I-95 corridor.

Why this one stands out:

The Maryland House was rebuilt in 2014 and came back as a 42,000-square-foot food court and travel center that feels more like an upscale mall food hall than a highway pit stop. Vaulted ceilings, skylights, and an open layout give it a surprisingly airy feel. The food court includes Wendy's, Dunkin', Phillips Seafood, Nathan's, and Auntie Anne's, among others. There's also a dedicated Kids Korner seating area, a fenced dog park, and a convenience store with an Elevation Burger.

It's accessible from both directions of I-95, which makes it one of the busiest stops on the highway. Plan for crowds on holiday weekends.

What you need to know before you go

• Location: I-95, Mile Marker 82, Aberdeen, Maryland (accessible from both directions)

• Hours: Open 24/7 (individual restaurant hours vary)

• Cost: Free (JFK Highway tolls apply)

• Time needed: 20–40 minutes

• Fuel: Sunoco with gas, diesel, and EV charging

Worth it or skip it?

Worth every minute. If you're looking for the best combination of food, cleanliness, and amenities on the I-95 corridor, this is the gold standard. Perfect for families. If you're also looking for nearby places to crash for the night, here's our list of the best overnight stops on I-95.

Fun Fact:

 The Maryland House has been welcoming I-95 travelers since the original facility opened in 1963. The current version, rebuilt decades later, is said to serve millions of visitors each year.

Fredericksburg Welcome Center — Virginia

Once you leave Maryland heading south, the rest stop game changes. Virginia doesn't have the full-service travel plazas you'll find in the Mid-Atlantic states. What it does have is a handful of well-maintained welcome centers and safety rest areas — and the Fredericksburg Welcome Center at mile marker 131 is the best of the bunch on I-95.

Don't skip this if you like...

...stretching your legs in a quiet, green space with some Southern charm. This southbound-only stop is clean, well-staffed, and sits about 45 minutes south of Washington, DC. The welcome center has brochures and maps for all of Virginia's regions, along with friendly travel counselors who can help plan a detour. There's also a LOVE sign for photos — a Virginia tourism classic.

No fuel or food here, so top off before you leave Maryland. But as a clean, calming break from the road, it does the job well.

What you need to know before you go:

• Location: I-95 Southbound, Mile Marker 131, Fredericksburg, Virginia

• Hours: Restrooms open 24/7; welcome center staffed 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. daily

• Cost: Free

• Time needed: 10–20 minutes

• Fuel: None on-site

Worth it or skip it?

Worth it for southbound travelers who need a break between DC and Richmond. Skip it if you need gas or food — you'll have to exit the highway for that.

Need help planning your full I-95 road trip itinerary? Wayback Tours makes it easy to save stops, build custom routes, and keep everything in one place.

South of the Border — South Carolina

You'll know it's coming long before you get there. The billboards start popping up hundreds of miles away — bright orange signs featuring a cartoon character named Pedro with puns like "You never sausage a place!" By the time you reach I-95 Exit 1 in Hamer, South Carolina, just south of the North Carolina border, you'll either be dying to stop or dying to keep driving. Either way, you won't forget it.

What makes this stop different:

South of the Border has been a fixture on I-95 since 1949, when it started as a modest beer stand near the NC/SC state line. Today, it sprawls across roughly 350 acres and includes a gas station, motel, multiple souvenir shops, restaurants, mini golf, a campground, and a towering sombrero-shaped observation deck that rises high above the pine trees.

Is it cheesy? Absolutely. That's the whole point. South of the Border is a living piece of American roadside history — the kind of place that doesn't exist anymore in most parts of the country. It's campy, colorful, and unapologetically weird. The kids will love the giant statues. You'll love the photo ops. And everyone will appreciate the chance to get out and walk around after hours in the car.

It's also a fully functional rest stop with fuel, food, and restrooms — so it earns a spot on this list for practical reasons, too. For more stops like this one, check out our list of the best roadside attractions along I-95.

What you need to know before you go:

• Location: I-95 Exit 1, Hamer, South Carolina (just south of the NC border)

• Hours: Open 24/7 (individual attractions and shops vary)

• Cost: Free to visit; individual attractions have small fees

• Time needed: 30 minutes to 2+ hours depending on how deep you go

• Fuel: Gas station on-site

Worth it or skip it?

Worth the stop — at least once. It's a road trip rite of passage. Best for families and anyone who appreciates kitschy Americana. If you've got kids along for the ride, they'll remember this one.

Hardeeville Welcome Center — South Carolina

Near the southern tip of South Carolina, just before you cross into Georgia, the Hardeeville Welcome Center is one of those quiet, clean stops that does everything right without trying too hard.

The quick pitch:

This is a straightforward state welcome center with restrooms, tourist brochures, vending machines, and a nice patch of green for stretching your legs or walking the dog. It won't blow you away with food courts or gift shops, but it's consistently one of the cleanest and most well-maintained stops on the southern portion of I-95. The staff is friendly, and the location — right near the Georgia border — makes it a natural break point.

South Carolina tends to keep its welcome centers in good shape, and Hardeeville is a great example.

What you need to know before you go:

• Location: I-95 near the SC/GA border, Hardeeville, South Carolina

• Hours: Restrooms open 24/7; welcome center staffed during daytime hours

• Cost: Free

• Time needed: 10–20 minutes

• Fuel: None on-site

Worth it or skip it?

Worth it for a quick, clean break — especially if you've been pushing through the Carolinas without stopping. A solid budget-friendly option.

St. Johns County Rest Area — Florida

Once you cross into Florida, the rest area options thin out compared to the Mid-Atlantic states. But the St. Johns County Rest Area near mile marker 331 on the northbound side is a pleasant surprise — and one of the better-maintained stops in the northern part of the state.

Don't skip this if you like...

...a clean, well-kept rest area that feels like someone actually cares about it. Travelers have consistently praised this stop for its spotless restrooms, friendly staff, and peaceful surroundings. It's a basic rest area — no food or fuel — but the grounds are tidy, the parking is ample, and it's a welcome breather after the long stretch through southern Georgia.

This part of Florida is close to St. Augustine, so if you've been thinking about a detour, this is a good place to pause and reconsider your plan.

What you need to know before you go:

• Location: I-95 Northbound, near Mile Marker 331, St. Johns County, Florida

• Hours: Open 24/7

• Cost: Free

• Time needed: 10–20 minutes

• Fuel: None on-site

Worth it or skip it?

Worth it. One of the cleanest Florida rest stops along I-95, and perfectly positioned if you're arriving into the Sunshine State from the north.

Tips for Making the Most of I-95 Rest Stops

A few practical tips to keep in mind as you plan your stops along the interstate:

Download an app before you go. Several free apps can show you rest area locations, amenities, and user reviews along your route. Google Maps also lets you search for rest areas along your planned route, which is handy in a pinch. But the best practice is always to plan your stops ahead of time.

Fill up at full-service plazas. States like Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware have rest stops with gas right on the highway. Once you hit Virginia and the Carolinas, you'll usually need to exit for fuel. Plan accordingly.

Watch for overnight parking rules. Most rest areas allow short naps but discourage overnight camping. Rules vary by state, so check local signs before settling in for a long snooze.

Travel during off-peak times if you can. The major plazas — especially Maryland House and the Biden Welcome Center — can get packed during holiday weekends. Early morning or late evening stops are usually calmer.

Keep a cooler in the car. Even with all these great stops, you'll save money and time by packing snacks and drinks. The convenience stores at highway plazas tend to be pricey.

Conclusion

You don't have to dread the drive down I-95. With 13 solid rest stops spread from Maine to Florida, there's always a good place to pull over, recharge, and remember that the journey is supposed to be part of the fun.

From the modern food courts of Maryland and Delaware to the kitschy charm of South of the Border and the quiet welcome centers of Virginia and the Carolinas, the best I-95 rest stops prove that a great road trip is built one good stop at a time.

Save these stops, build your own road trip bucket list, and keep track of every place you want to visit — all in one place with Wayback Tours.

FAQs

Are there rest stops with showers on I-95?

Most state-operated rest areas do not have showers. For showers, look for truck stops just off the highway — chains like Pilot, Flying J, and Love's typically offer paid shower facilities near many I-95 exits.

Can you sleep at I-95 rest stops?

Policies vary by state. Most states allow short naps at rest areas but prohibit extended overnight stays. Some states, like Virginia, post time limits. Truck stops and campgrounds near I-95 are better options for overnight rest.

How far apart are rest stops on I-95?

Spacing varies by state. In Connecticut and New Jersey, service plazas appear every 15 to 30 miles. In Virginia and the Carolinas, rest stops can be 50 or more miles apart. Planning ahead is the best way to avoid getting caught in a long gap.

Do all I-95 rest stops have gas stations?

No. Full-service plazas in states like Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware include fuel. However, rest areas in Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida typically do not have gas — you'll need to exit the highway.

What's the best rest stop food on I-95?

The Biden Welcome Center in Delaware and the Maryland House Travel Plaza are widely considered the top food stops on the corridor. Both offer a variety of chain restaurants in clean, modern food court settings — a big step up from vending machines.