Photo credit: Gov. Mike DeWine via X
With 36 New Rest Areas and 40 Upgrades Coming, Ohio’s Putting Real Parking—and Driver Safety—Back on the Map
By Eclipse DOT
You ever pull into a rest area and wonder if it was designed by someone who’s never seen a truck in their life? We’ve all been there. Half the time, there’s not enough parking, and the other half, you’re dodging cones, construction, and questionable smells coming from that one vending machine.
But Ohio? They finally got the memo—and they’re answering with blacktop, budget, and a bold plan to give truckers what they’ve been begging for: safe, clean, and plentiful places to stop.
Let’s dig into why the Buckeye State is suddenly looking like the MVP of the open road.
🛣️ DeWine’s Rest-Area Revolution: 76 Projects Strong
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine isn’t just showing up for photo ops—he’s showing up for drivers. His master plan, backed by a massive $11 billion transportation budget, includes building 36 brand-new rest areas and upgrading 40 more by the end of 2026.
That’s 76 total sites, all getting the kind of makeover that says, “We see you, truckers—and we’ve got your back.”
The newest stars of the show? Four just-opened rest area buildings:
🔹 Two along U.S. Route 33 near Columbus
🔹 Two on U.S. 30 near the Indiana border
Together, these sites added 40 new truck parking spots—and this is just the warm-up round.
🏁 Van Wert County: Where Parking Isn’t a Myth
Out near Convoy, Ohio, DeWine helped cut the ribbon on a gleaming new eastbound rest area on U.S. 30—about 30 miles from Fort Wayne, Indiana. It’s the first welcome mat for drivers crossing into Ohio, and it’s pulling out all the stops:
⭐ 10 dedicated truck parking spaces
⭐ 60 car slots
⭐ Vending machines (snacks that won’t break your teeth)
⭐ Family restrooms with universal changing stations
⭐ Drinking water and local tourism guides
Just across the highway? A twin rest stop for westbound traffic—same features, same first-class treatment.
🛻 Marysville Joins the Movement
Also in July, DeWine unveiled two more rest areas on U.S. 33 near Marysville, roughly 33 miles northwest of Columbus. Each site includes:
⭐ 10 parallel truck parking spots
⭐ 27 car spaces
⭐ Bathrooms, snacks, and no scary gas station vibes
According to Development Director Lydia Mihalik, these redesigned stops give “a warm welcome and a lasting first impression.” And she’s not kidding—these aren’t just places to pee. They’re built to invite, refresh, and represent Ohio well.
💵 Big Budget, Bigger Goals
This isn’t just a feel-good campaign—it’s backed by serious funding. Ohio’s $11 billion transportation bill includes $150 million earmarked just for truck parking and infrastructure planning across state-owned land.
Why? Because between 2015 and 2019, Ohio logged over 460 crashes involving tired truckers, including 6 fatalities, plus 5 deaths tied to illegally parked trucks. That’s not just tragic—it’s completely preventable. Ohio’s using those numbers to push real change and stop fatigue-related accidents before they happen.
🔧 I-75, I-70, and the Rest Area Overhaul of the Century
Statewide, Ohio maintains more than 85 rest areas—and they’re not just sprucing them up. They’re rebuilding them from the ground up. Starting in July 2025, rest areas on I-75 from the Ohio River to Findlay are getting full makeovers—reopening by summer 2026.
This six-site rebuild bundle will cost $58.5 million—but by bidding them together, Ohio saved serious taxpayer dough and landed top-tier contractors.
🎨 From Sketchy Stops to Tourist Showpieces
These new and upgraded rest areas aren’t just clean—they’re shockingly nice. Think:
⭐ Lodge-style interiors with bigger restrooms
⭐ Covered picnic areas and rocking chairs
⭐ Dog trails and native landscaping
⭐ Family-friendly restrooms with universal changing tables
At the I-70 stop in Licking County, they even installed a tourism display featuring the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks—a UNESCO World Heritage site—and live traffic cams. Because hey, who doesn’t want a little culture and situational awareness with their bathroom break?
By 2026, 29 of Ohio’s rest areas will feature universal adult changing stations, part of a state-wide effort to promote accessibility and inclusivity.
🌱 A Boost for Local Economies
DeWine’s vision isn’t just about safety—it’s also about boosting the economy. Rest areas are now being positioned as gateways to local attractions, helping travelers discover Ohio’s small towns, trails, and tourist gems.
In 2024 alone, Ohio saw 242 million visitors spending a record-breaking $57 billion, supporting 443,000 tourism-related jobs. If those visitors are welcomed with quality rest areas, they’re more likely to stay, explore, and spend.
😴 Tired of Talking About Fatigue? So Is Ohio.
DeWine nailed it:
“A safe traveler is a well-rested traveler.”
And he’s absolutely right. At Eclipse DOT, we’ve said it for years—fatigue is a silent killer. It wrecks lives, wrecks equipment, and wrecks your CSA score.
With 76 rest area projects underway, Ohio is making sure truckers have fewer excuses for driving tired—and more places to pull over, rest up, and roll out responsibly.
🧠 Fleet Managers, Here’s Your Call to Action
If your drivers are still relying on blind luck to find parking, it’s time to upgrade your strategy. A few questions:
✨ Are your routes aligned with legal rest stops?
✨ Do your drivers know how to use their ELDs to maximize rest time?
✨ Is fatigue a regular topic in your safety meetings—or an afterthought?
If you’re shaky on any of those, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered.
Eclipse DOT Can Help You:
⭐ Plan better routes with real-time rest options
⭐ Train drivers to manage HOS without guesswork
⭐ Prep for audits with file systems like DOTDocs
⭐ Stay inspection-ready with mock audits and safety coaching
⭐ Get a free DOT Micro Audit—yes, FREE
🚛 Final Gear Check: Ohio Is Showing the Rest of the Country How It’s Done
Clean, safe, accessible, and trucker-friendly rest areas used to be a fantasy. Now? They’re Ohio’s reality.
Whether you’re hauling hazmat through the heartland or just trying to find a legal spot to crash for the night, Ohio might just become your favorite state—one rest stop at a time.
And if you want to turn that momentum into a fleet-wide safety win…
👉 Click here to schedule your FREE DOT Micro Audit
Because a parking spot is great—but real compliance peace of mind? Even better.
Gain exclusive access to our CDL & DOT Compliance articles with a trial at DOTDocs.com. And don’t forget to claim your FREE micro audit at THE ECLIPSE DOT MICRO AUDIT. Ready for seamless operations? Discover the difference today!