Rest Areas

In 2010 Oregon Travel Experience and its council assumed management of nine rest areas at five locations throughout Oregon. More recently, the 2012 Legislature passed Senate Bill 1591, which immediately added two rest areas (Tillamook and Government Camp). Eight more rest areas along I-5 and I-84 will be phased in over the next two years.

OTE bases its rest area management on the needs of the motorist as well as the communities which exist nearby. We collaborate with community leaders and regional businesses to provide the very best motoring experience possible. From the volunteer free coffee program to safe and clean restrooms, Oregon Travel Experience highway safety rest areas have become models for the nation.

Currently (2012), Oregon Travel Experience manages rest areas at the following locations:

• Baldock, Northbound and Southbound (just south of Wilsonville on I-5)
• Santiam, Northbound and Southbound (just south of Salem on I-5)
• Manzanita, Northbound and Southbound (just north of Grants Pass on I-5)
• Boardman, Eastbound and Westbound(I-84)
• Ontario, Westbound (I-84)
• Government Camp (OR Hwy 26)
• Tillamook (US Hwy 101, south of Tillamook)

Taking pride in a job well done

The presence of Oregon Travel Experience (OTE)  rest area supervisors has made a remarkable difference for travelers. Supervisors have been on duty to help motorists with car repairs, provided enough fuel to get them to the closest gas station, and act as first responders to traffic incidents along the Interstate.

If you stop at an OTE-managed rest area, you can count on it being clean and safe. If it isn’t, we haven’t lived up to our promise to you, and we want to hear about it.

Take our rest area customer survey

Have you recently been to an OTE-managed rest area? We’d love to hear your feedback. Please complete our survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/oregontic.  It’s very short and asks questions about cleanliness, friendliness and attitude of our employees, and safety and security.

Want to get the inside story?

Make sure to check out some of our true life rest area heroes and their compelling stories in the newsletter section. Our employee blog, “Roadways and Waysides” often has the latest news from individual rest areas. Learn more about our rest area supervisory staff on our about us pages.

Free Coffee Program

The Rest Area “Free Coffee” Program is a service sponsored by nonprofit organizations in the interest of public safety. Stop at one of our rest areas and get a cup. Visit with our knowledgeable volunteers; you’ll often learn things about the surrounding community you wouldn’t know otherwise.

For a monthly schedule of  volunteer groups at OTE locations, and their individual hours of operation, please link to the “find out more”  page below, and scroll down the page to the “calendar” section.

Find out more about OTE’s Free Coffee program

Apply for a permit to serve free coffee (PDF)

Rest area community coalitions

Establishing community involvement in our supervised rest areas is part of our overarching mission and mandate; we help strengthen the regional economic infrastructure in nearby communities by directing motorists to essential services and regional attractions.

Local businesses secure space at our information kiosks located within rest areas or on back-lit display panels within travel plazas such as the Woodburn Company Stores. Brochure rack space is allocated to numerous locations off the main highway that feature comfortable places to sleep and eat, or fun places to shop while traveling.

Our coalitions have also become a statewide model for problem solving. We don’t shirk from the tough issues and our Baldock story is one that captured the “what’s possible” spirit from law enforcement, social service agencies and the Clackamas District Attorney’s Office. This model is now being reviewed in order to solve the unique challenges in the Grants Pass, Manzanita rest area.

Rest area information kiosks

Oregon Travel Experience operates information centers within 12 heavily used rest areas across Oregon. These open and inviting kiosks provide literally millions of travelers with valuable information while inspiring them to make the most of their Oregon experience.

Motorists will find attractive illuminated panel advertisements from area hotels, restaurants, wineries, golf courses, museums and other attractions. In addition, most kiosks offer brochure displays which can be combined with a back-lit panel or stand separately. Finally, kiosks offer a special poster display for local convention and visitors bureaus or Chambers of Commerce.

Rest area kiosk displays reach millions of travelers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information, including kiosk locations and rates, please contact us.

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