Are there service areas on national highways?
2 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.
