The New Kent rest area along Interstate 64 between Richmond and Williamsburg is the 10th best public restroom in the country, according to a recent survey conducted by American River Wellness.
The rest area — at mile marker 213 heading eastbound on I-64 — was also named the best public restroom in Virginia.
“Recently renovated, this spot offers clean bathrooms, manicured grounds and easy highway access — perfect for history buffs headed toward Colonial Williamsburg,” the stated. “It’s a little piece of polished rest area perfection.”
ARW, a company that helps truck drivers, surveyed 3,017 drivers to identify the nation’s best public restrooms. “For America’s long-haul truckers, road trippers and anyone living life between mile markers, the quality of a public restroom speaks volumes,” the results said.
“It’s not just a matter of convenience — it’s a reflection of how a town (or area) treats the travelers who pass through. A clean welcoming facility hits at a place that cares, not just about appearances, but about the comfort and well-being of its visitors.”
The New Kent County rest area opened in 2003, replacing the previous complex that was built in 1976, according to the . The 11,000-square-foot building, open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, includes restrooms, an indoor vending area, an enclosed lobby and a Virginia State Police office. There’s also a children’s play area, picnic and pet areas and a LOVEworks sign for visitors to stop and take photos with.
“We hope these findings shine a spotlight on the places that are getting it right and inspire more towns to invest in the well-being of all travelers across America,” Graham Sargent of ARW said in a news release on the survey.
The nation’s top rest area is the Kula Forest Reserve Picnic Area on the Haleakala Highway in Maui, Hawaii. The other top five areas are: No. 2, Florida Welcome Center, I-95, Jacksonville, Florida; No. 3, Kentucky Welcome Center, I-65, Bowling Green, Kentucky; No. 4, Waimea Canyon Lookout, Hawaii; and No. 5, Burlington Rest Area, I-40 and I-85, between Greensboro and Durham, North Carolina.
In Virginia, the Skippers Welcome Center on I-95 near the North Carolina border and the Troutville Welcome Center on I-81 near Roanoke made the Top 100 list.
Wilford Kale, kalehouse@aol.com
