The Parking Zone – November 2024

While new lots offering paid parking are popping up left and right, traditional truck stops continue to plug away at adding new locations across the nation. Below are some of those developments and a few other truck parking items worth noting.

Georgia county throws roadblock at proposed truck stop

Residents of Tift County, Ga., let county commissioners know they don’t want a truck stop near U.S. Route 41 and Interstate 75 in Chula, and the commissioners listened. Responding to those concerns in a packed meeting, Tift County officials denied a rezoning request for a proposed truck stop, according to The Tifton Gazette. The decision does not completely end the plan, but it certainly throws a wrench in it. Worth noting: There are several truck stops down the interstate from Chula, including a Love’s Travel Stop with 115 truck parking spaces and a Pilot with 200 parking spaces, so the county is not exactly anti-truck stop.

New Love’s in Ohio

Speaking of Love’s, the truck stop chain is building a new location in Belmont, Ohio, off Exit 208 on Interstate 70 along state Route 149, WTRF reported. A Love’s spokesperson told Land Line that the Belmont store will have about 95 truck parking spaces and is scheduled to open in February 2025. The new truck stop will be located near an existing Pilot, which has more than 60 parking spaces. A tip of the cap to Belmont for being accommodating to truck drivers.

Indiana county overrides NIMBYs’ concerns

A RaceTrac truck stop may soon come to Tippecanoe County, Ind., off Interstate 65, according to WLFI. The county’s commissioners unanimously approved plans for the truck stop despite residents opposing the project even after developers agreed to revisions, including moving the facility farther away from homes. The new truck stop will be located just down the street from a Love’s, which has more than 60 truck parking spaces.

Kentucky county cracking down on

truck parking along interstate

If you have been parking on the side of Interstate 65 in Bullitt County, Ky., just south of Louisville, you might want to make other arrangements. The Pioneer News published a story earlier this year about local law enforcement agencies going after illegally parked trucks along the interstate. There is a truck stop in town, and yes, it’s a Love’s (with 88 truck parking spaces). There’s also a Pilot with about 50 spots, and the Bullitt County Welcome Center is just down the road. Of course, available spots don’t last long.

RaceTrac gets preliminary approval in Memphis

The Memphis City Council gave RaceTrac the green light to move forward with plans for a new truck stop off of Interstate 240 along U.S. Route 78, WATN reported. The company still faces fierce opposition to another truck stop from residents. RaceTrac’s proposed site is a stone’s throw away from – you guessed it – a Love’s truck stop with about 50 truck parking spaces.

Virginia county denies proposed Love’s

Based on the above entries, one would think Love’s can set up shop anywhere – but the Louisa Board of Supervisors in Virginia proved that’s not the case. County officials blocked plans for a new Love’s off Interstate 64, just west of Interstate 95. Although this ends a long standoff between the truck stop company and residents, county officials did leave the door open by stating they do not oppose a new Love’s in the county. They just don’t want one at that location.

TravelCenters of America eyeing east Georgia

Waynesboro, Ga., could be the home of a new TravelCenters of America, according to The True Citizen. The Burke County Planning Commission unanimously approved a rezoning request for a proposed TA off U.S. Route 25, just south of Augusta. Surprisingly, there is no Love’s in the immediate area … but there is one just 35 minutes away, west on Interstate 20.

New welcome center in Ohio

Some more truck parking is available along westbound Interstate 90 in Ohio. The Ashtabula County Welcome Center includes 41 parking spaces for trucks. Last year, Gov. Mike DeWine announced the state will add 33 new rest areas by the end of 2026.

Spot on a lot in Phoenix

Another new player in truck parking arrived on the scene in Phoenix, Ariz., earlier this year: Rush Truck Park. Nestled not too far from where Interstates 10 and 17 meet, the 11-acre lot is more for a trucker looking to drop off a tractor-trailer or one who has no other place to go. For $20 per day, you get a spot on what appears to be a not-fully-paved lot across the street from a salvage yard. The only amenities are security-related: a gate with an electronic access code, drone monitoring, lighting, video monitoring and steel, non-chain-link fencing with military razor wire. Again, this is more for long-term storage or a safe place to sleep for the night.

Below are some of the new big-chain truck stop locations that have opened in recent months:

New locations of truck stop chains

• Pilot Travel Center at 130 Interstate Exchange Way (Exit 143, I-16) in Ellabell, Ga. (72 truck parking spaces)
• One9 Travel Center at 3022 S. First Street (Exit 332, I-40) in Tucumcari, N.M. (29 spaces)
• Love’s at 1500 Taft Highway (Exit 18, state Route 99) in Bakersfield, Calif. (111 spaces)
• Love’s at 2315 Old Clyattville Road (Exit 13, I-75) in Valdosta, Ga. (112 spaces)
• Sheetz at 1215 Peeler Road (Exit 71, I-85) in Salisbury, N.C. (51 spaces)
• Sheetz at 5440 Asheville Highway (Exit 44, I-26) in Asheville, N.C. (17 spaces)
• Sheetz at 2543 W. state Route 24 (Exit 364, I-40) in Warsaw, N.C. (42 spaces)
• Sheetz at 121 Confidence Lane (Exit 302, I-81) in Middletown, Va. (60 spaces) LL