#Iowa 80 Truckstop

[mrsmoose54]

Road Trip September 23

Research and Planning – Nearly time go! The countdown has begun to my latest Road Trip. I came across some curve balls during the final details and did get a result due to a change in my flight confirmation.  The itinerary is busy but I can’t stress enough, the importance of planning and research to manage your expectations. Obviously in this day and age results are not far from your…

[grouchythefish]

So I saw your reblog about truckstops, and as someone uniquely qualified to answer your rhetorical questions, this excited me. My qualifications include living within fifteen minutes of and having two family members who currently work for the Iowa 80 Truckstop, having worked there for six months after high school, and then having a parent who worked there for seven years before working for the other truckstop across the road.

The truckstop I worked for, Iowa 80, is located in Walcott, Iowa, is the world's largest truckstop. They almost lost that title to their sister location and had to expand their square footage. Inside this truckstop is a 24-hour restaurant, a laundromat with at least fifteen washers and dryers (I haven't counted), a dentist (who I highly recommend for dental emergencies), full scale showers for purchase that include private restrooms (some are fully wheelchair accessible), a small movie theater, a hair salon, a chiropractor, a small office that's used as a church/worship space for truckers with resources for local actual churches and advocacy groups, a food court rivaling our local mall, a game room, a gift store, and finally, the showroom. There's also a small truckers lounge with free internet access and lots of space to sit and converse.

The only thing missing from the post is places to sleep. You could technically sleep there. It is a 24-hour business, and I have seen people take their dogs inside during storms and camp out on the floor of the showroom before. But there's not like... beds or anything. There are a few hotels nearby, but as can be expected due to the nature of the trucking industry, they're all motels and cheap places to sleep that's not the bed inside your truck.

The showroom is large enough to house a full semi with trailer (used for storage), with an electronics section, chrome department, and a small graphics printing section called the custom shop, where you can have embroidered t-shirts and vinyl stickers made of your company's logo, or whatever you want. For sale on this floor includes all kinds of accessories and electronics for truckers, as well as a small media selection of DVDs, CD's and audio books. They also have a section for mattresses for your semi, as well as they used to have a small spot to buy musical instruments.

The foot court and convenience store are a huge room with a Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Wendy's, combination Einstein Bros Bagels and Caribou Coffee, Dairy Queen/Orange Julius. There is also a full-scale convenience store, with every soda, snack, and candy you can imagine.

In the gift shop, you can buy your normal stuff. T-shirts and such. But you can also buy katanas. For some reason. And I used to have to sell those at 3am. They also at one time sold a whip. But no guns or alcohol, thank god. That would've been too much for the family-friendly label that the family that owns the company has.

There's also a service center, with access to truck diesel, DEF, etc. It has a Chester's Chicken, a Blimpie, and a smaller little gas station selection of candy and drinks and such.

Now, if you want alcohol or lottery, you gotta go across the road, to Pilot.... which is where my mom defected to after like six years of working for Iowa 80. They sell booze. But there's not only one, there's TWO of them, across the road, and across the interstate from Iowa 80. One has an Arby's, and the other has a Subway.

In this small section of town, there's also a McDonalds, but it's not part of everything else. It's just there, between the little Pilot store and one of the aforementioned motels.

You now know everything there is to know about my weird situation with Iowa 80/Pilot.

But there is one thing I gotta say, this is pretty unique. Most rest stops, and gas stations are like Pilot. Located off the interstate, a little shop to get gas and snacks, a restroom, and some space to stretch your legs. Iowa 80 is a big ass building and part of a family owned business with multiple sister locations. In the US, most rest stops and such are just a gas station, maybe a bathroom with a place to get out for vending machine snacks and a spot to hide from bad weather.

Okay that's all bye~

Omg thank you so much for sending me this!

No place to sleep does make sense since most transport trucks have beds built in anyways.

Most truck stops here are basically just roadside food courts with a gas station outside and sometimes with a tiny gift shop that might have t-shirts and keychains. I pass 5 on my way to and from work (god my commute is far too long) and all except one are owned by the same company (OnRoute) and are pretty boring.

Now that I'm thinking about it, I'm pretty sure the only truck stops I've been to with anything more than that have all been in the US on roadtrips. Though obviously none as exciting as the one you are describing (Jesus Christ a movie theatre and a dentist??)

I kinda wanna own a truck stop katana now.

[panism]

at Iowa 80 The World's Largest Truckstop

[that-fema-corps-blog]

Day 269

April 29, 2023

We left before dawn, made a quick stop at a café, and carried on until we reached Chicago.

We first looked at Cloud Gate, aka “The Bean”:

Cloud Gate is a public sculpture by Indian-born British artist Anish Kapoor, that is the centerpiece of AT&T Plaza at Millennium Park in the Loop community area of Chicago, Illinois. The sculpture and AT&T Plaza are located on top of Park Grill, between the Chase Promenade and McCormick Tribune Plaza & Ice Rink. Constructed between 2004 and 2006, the sculpture is nicknamed “The Bean” because of its shape, a name Kapoor initially disliked, but later grew fond of. Made up of 168 stainless steel plates welded together, its highly polished exterior has no visible seams. It measures 33 by 66 by 42 feet (10 by 20 by 13 m), and weighs 110 short tons (100 t; 98 long tons).

We walked to the world’s largest Starbucks. This building had one of the prettiest interiors I’ve seen; I didn’t take any photos, but this article has several:

We took the Riverwalk and stopped at an indoor shopping and restaurant area for a few minutes before walking back to the van. I saw a black-capped chickadee on the way. These guys are almost identical in appearance to the Carolina chickadees from further south.

We made a detour on the drive out to see one of the houses that Shameless was filmed in, then continued on until we reached Iowa. There we visited the world’s largest truck stop, Iowa 80:

Iowa 80 is the world’s largest truck stop, located along Interstate 80 off exit 284 in Walcott, Iowa. It sits on a 220-acre (89 ha) plot of land, three times larger than an average 75 acres (30 ha) truckstop, and it receives 5,000 visitors daily. Iowa 80 features a 67,000 sq ft (6,200 m2) main building, parking for 900 trucks, 15 diesel fuel pumps, and also has a dedicated pump for dispensing bulk diesel exhaust fluid. Four-hundred and fifty employees staff the megaplex.

We got to our AirBnB in the early evening, had dinner, and looked for a free concert, but it seems it was only open to students of a local college.

[leolaroot]

every little girl fantasizes about visiting Iowa 80 the world's largest truckstop.

[cdlhunter]

#sideshot #tractortrailer #iowa80truckstop #iowa80 #worldslargesttruckstop #trucknation #truckdriverlife #sideshotsaturday #cdl #trucksdaily #truckstop #cabover #caboverlife #coetrucks #cabovers #tiltedcabcrew #cdljob #cdljobs #cdlhunter @cdlhunter (at Iowa 80 - The World's Largest Truckstop) https://www.instagram.com/p/CNe6GxBpBLa/?igshid=1tcklgbe3bh1x

[bmvmediaco]

New @bichcallmesire w/ @bgmasoe_ @tae_the_shooter @bglonniekod and my brudda @abe_james_23 Rest up. @kevmoney2beats on the beat Go #Stream rite now ! 🔥 #Movie (at Iowa 80 - The World's Largest Truckstop) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAy8jkWJL3i/?igshid=1n4himrwc4fxm

[gypsy-star33]

The next time I visited here, I thought it would be as a truck driver's sidekick. Tire checked. Hitting the road again. (at Iowa 80 - The World's Largest Truckstop) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8aQp64gERC/?igshid=lrve3f92de1t

[veitingageirinn]

Stærsta veitingahús fyrir vörubílstjóra afgreiðir fleiri þúsund máltíðir á dag

#Iowa80 #Truckstop

Iowa 80 Truckstop sem staðsett við hliðina á litlum bæ Walcott í Bandaríkjunum þjónustar að mestu vörubílstjóra og býður upp á nokkra veitingastaði og þar á meðal hjarta staðarins sjálfan veitingastaðinn Iowa 80 Truckstop. Veitingastaðurinn opnaði árið 1964 og hefur verið opið alla daga síðan, allt árið í kring, dag og nótt.  Við Iowa 80 Truckstop eru 900 bílastæði fyrir vöruflutningabíla og þar…

[rjzimmerman]

In Iowa, a Green Light for EV Charging Stations (InsideClimate News)

The story from InsideClimate News:

Iowa utility regulators have issued a ruling that clears the way for companies to develop electric vehicle charging stations, part of the larger process happening across the country as officials and businesses figure out the rules of the road for EV infrastructure. Here’s why you should care: As more companies are allowed to build charging stations, it should increase the number of stations, which can encourage more EV ownership because drivers will know they have places to charge. The Iowa Utilities Board said last week that charging stations are not a public utility, which means that developers and owners of the stations can operate without needing to get state approvals every step of the way. The decision will help to resolve a dispute between the Iowa 80 Truckstop, which claims to be the largest truck stop in the world, and its utility over who has jurisdiction to develop EV chargers.

Other states also are grappling with the question of who can own and operate EV charging stations, with most saying that the stations should not be regulated as public utilities. Kentucky was among the states that recently clarified its rule in a way that allows non-utilities to develop the stations. It’s important to note that utilities can still get into the EV charging business, and many are doing so. A utility has the advantage of being able to install large numbers of charging stations and cover the costs with charges on customers’ bills. But there are advantages to letting other companies build the stations outside of a heavily regulated process. At this point, the country needs as many charging stations as it can get, especially in places where there are few stations.

[airmanisr]

1946 Chevrolet COE Truck by Paul V. Via Flickr: 1946 Chevrolet COE Truck Don Shewry Bettendorf, Iowa 2017 Walcott Truckers Jamboree Iowa 80 Truckstop Walcott, Iowa

[alyssaruffin]

Stopped at Iowa 80, the World's LARGEST Truck Stop! Last time we were here, my daddy was with us and Aurelia was two! We got her this little kitten plushy that she still has. Memmmmories!! @alyssaruffinmusic @kat_moonstar #roadtrip #summertrip #summervacation #summervacay #vacationmode #vacay #vacation #summer #summervibes #2022 #iowa #iowacheck #worldslargesttruckstop #adventures #mommydaughter #bondingtime #momanddaughter #mommydaughterday #memories #iowa80 (at Iowa 80 - The World's Largest Truckstop) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cf9pecCpsUa/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ayogikitchen]

Travel day! Not the first time I’ve posted similar pics, but it’s been such a long time. Heading back to the home where I spent all of lockdown and most of the pandemic. #travel #travelday #I80 #trukstoo #worldslargesttruckstop #iowa #midwest (at Iowa 80 - The World's Largest Truckstop) https://www.instagram.com/p/CehXC46pauU/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[pinkappleandpeaches]

Welcome to Iowa! @worldslargesttruckstop ⛽️ Currently in Nebraska and on the way to Wyoming 🗺 ___ . . . . . . #iowacity#roadtripusa#crosscountryroadtrip#travelandexplore#discovervacations#discoveron#newyorkers#relocation#westcoastbestcoast#calibound#휴가룩#휴가중#휴가스타그램 (at Iowa 80 - The World's Largest Truckstop) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWRLRUgPtLV/?utm_medium=tumblr

[cdlhunter]

A United Van Lines 1945 Chevrolet Master owned and on display at @iowa80truckingmuseum 🚛💨 #unitedvanlines #unitedvanline #chevy #chevytrucks #Chevrolet #bowtie #chevycabover #truckerlifestyle #truckingindustry #trucker #trucks #truckdriver #truckdrivers #truckstop #truckerslife #trucking #cdljob #cdljobs #cdlhunter @cdlhunter (at Iowa 80 Trucking Museum) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLiFpTQpog0/?igshid=rcs51t1cde6o

[encouragedlady]

Come visit with The Rainbow Rider at the 2021 Walcott Truckers Jamboree! Miss Shelle has her booth setup right in the front, you’ll see her from interstate 80 if you’re driving by today. #loveislove #RainbowRider #Trucking #LGBT #lgbtqpride #lgbttruckers (at Iowa 80 - The World's Largest Truckstop) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRHJCehNbDh/?utm_medium=tumblr