Are there service areas on national highways?
4 Answers
There are service areas on national highways, but they are relatively fewer: 1. It is understood that the addition of service areas on ordinary national and provincial trunk highways is part of the unified planning and deployment by the Ministry of Transport; 2. Among them, Shandong Province has 24 ordinary national and provincial highway service facilities projects included in the first batch of national pilot projects, including 19 service areas and 5 parking areas; 3. According to the opinion of the Municipal Highway Bureau, the Dunton Service Area in Juxian County will be completed and operational by the end of this year, and the remaining three will be completed and operational by the end of June next year. Highway service areas refer to facilities specifically designed for passengers and drivers to rest, which should include parking lots, public toilets, gas stations, vehicle repair shops, dining areas, and convenience stores, with an average spacing of about 50 kilometers. The construction scale of service areas should adapt to the future growth in traffic volume.
I've been driving for over 20 years and frequently travel long distances on national highways. Service areas do exist, just not as densely distributed as on expressways. I've driven on G109 and G312, where some sections have service areas every 50-60 kilometers offering fuel stations, snack shops, and restrooms. If you drive dozens of kilometers without seeing one, you'll need to use mobile navigation or check maps in advance to plan accordingly—otherwise, running out of fuel could be a serious problem. Taking breaks during long drives is essential to prevent fatigue-related accidents. Once, on a trip from Beijing to Shanxi, a service area allowed me to refuel and grab a bowl of noodles, which refreshed me and made driving much safer. Overall, national highway service areas are quite practical, though fewer in number compared to expressways—just stay vigilant. My driving experience has taught me that planning rest stops makes journeys safer and smoother.
The service areas along national highways have been a great help for our family road trips, especially when traveling with two kids. These rest stops usually feature clean restrooms, small convenience stores, and simple dining options, with some even having children's play areas to keep the little ones entertained. That said, facilities vary significantly between different national highways - remote sections may have more basic service areas. Before each trip, I always check service station locations via map apps to identify reliable stopping points. Taking breaks for restroom visits, snacks or water purchases makes the journey more comfortable and ensures safer driving. Once during an outing, the snack bar at a service area saved us when our child got suddenly hungry, preventing crankiness that could affect driving focus. Overall, service areas are widely available on national highways, but I recommend researching your route in advance for better planning.
I often go backpacking and hitchhike along national highways, and I've noticed that service areas do exist, but most are quite basic. Unlike the luxurious ones on expressways, they usually just have a few parking spots, a small restroom, or a simple shelter. I use them to take a break, drink some water, and eat the bread I brought along, which saves money and offers freedom. Some service areas even provide free Wi-Fi spots to check routes. I remember once during a long-distance hitchhiking trip, I met a fellow backpacker at a service area along G207, and we chatted for hours. The key is to bring enough snacks and water yourself, as the opening hours of these service areas can be unpredictable. In short, such facilities are common but simple on national highways, and making reasonable use of them during self-guided trips can make the journey much easier.
