Rest areas on I-40: what to know
I-40 runs about 2,560 miles from Barstow, California, to Wilmington, North Carolina, through eight states. In the West it follows much of old Route 66 past Kingman, Flagstaff, Albuquerque, and Amarillo, and in the East it crosses Tennessee and the Smoky Mountains into North Carolina.
Rest area spacing changes a lot along the way: in the desert West, the gaps can be long, while Tennessee and North Carolina have welcome centers at their state lines. Choose a state below to see every rest area in it, or enter your trip to see the stops on your side of the highway, in order.
Every rest area on I-40, in road order
Listed west to east, the way the mile markers run. Choose a direction to see only the stops that serve it.
I-40 in California
California has 4 rest areas and service plazas on I-40: 2 eastbound and 2 westbound. They come from the Federal Highway Administration's 2019 list, so a newer stop may be missing, and the state hasn't confirmed their status.
Rest areas here come from the Federal Highway Administration's 2019 list. The state hasn't confirmed their status.
Eastbound: longest stretch between stops in California about 77 miles. Westbound: longest stretch between stops in California about 77 miles.
- Desert Oasis EastboundNext stop ahead: 77 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Desert Oasis Westbound
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40 westboundNext stop ahead: 77 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40 eastboundNext stop ahead: 72 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
I-40 in Arizona
Arizona has 4 rest areas on I-40: 2 eastbound and 2 westbound. They come from the Federal Highway Administration's 2019 list, so a newer stop may be missing, and the state hasn't confirmed their status.
Rest areas here come from the Federal Highway Administration's 2019 list. The state hasn't confirmed their status.
Eastbound: longest stretch between stops in Arizona about 212 miles. Westbound: longest stretch between stops in Arizona about 330 miles.
- Rest area, I-40 eastboundNext stop ahead: 212 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40 westboundNext stop ahead: 72 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40 eastboundNext stop ahead: 127 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40 westboundNext stop ahead: 212 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
I-40 in New Mexico
New Mexico has 9 rest areas and welcome centers on I-40: 5 eastbound and 4 westbound. They come from the Federal Highway Administration's 2019 list, so a newer stop may be missing, and the state hasn't confirmed their status.
Rest areas here come from the Federal Highway Administration's 2019 list. The state hasn't confirmed their status.
Eastbound: longest stretch between stops in New Mexico about 148 miles. Westbound: longest stretch between stops in New Mexico about 330 miles.
- NHS Rest Stop 23: Manuelito Welcome CenterNext stop ahead: 99 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40 eastboundNext stop ahead: 105 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40 westboundNext stop ahead: 330 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40 eastboundNext stop ahead: 44 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40 westboundNext stop ahead: 44 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40 eastboundNext stop ahead: 50 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40 eastboundNext stop ahead: 148 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40 westboundNext stop ahead: 51 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- NHS Rest Stop 31: Llano Estacado/Glen Rio (Welcome Center)Next stop ahead: 71 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
I-40 in Texas
Texas has 3 rest areas and welcome centers on I-40: 2 eastbound and 1 westbound. They come from the Texas Department of Transportation's current list.
Rest areas here come from the Texas Department of Transportation's current list.
Eastbound: longest stretch between stops in Texas about 148 miles. Westbound: longest stretch between stops in Texas about 131 miles.
- Texas Travel Information Center at AmarilloNext stop ahead: 52 mi
Listed by Texas Department of Transportation; open/closed status not published.
- Donley County EastboundNext stop ahead: 58 mi
Listed by Texas Department of Transportation; open/closed status not published.
- Gray County WestboundNext stop ahead: 131 mi
Listed by Texas Department of Transportation; open/closed status not published.
I-40 in Oklahoma
Oklahoma has 9 rest areas on I-40: 4 eastbound and 5 westbound. They come from the Federal Highway Administration's 2019 list, so a newer stop may be missing, and the state hasn't confirmed their status.
Rest areas here come from the Federal Highway Administration's 2019 list. The state hasn't confirmed their status.
Eastbound: longest stretch between stops in Oklahoma about 187 miles. Westbound: longest stretch between stops in Oklahoma about 186 miles.
- Rest area, I-40 eastboundNext stop ahead: 187 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40 westboundNext stop ahead: 56 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40 westboundNext stop ahead: 186 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40 eastboundNext stop ahead: 54 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40 eastboundNext stop ahead: 32 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40 westboundNext stop ahead: 54 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40 eastboundNext stop ahead: 83 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40 westboundNext stop ahead: 32 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40 westboundNext stop ahead: 33 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
I-40 in Arkansas
Arkansas has 8 rest areas on I-40: 3 eastbound and 4 westbound, and 1 whose direction isn't listed. They come from the Federal Highway Administration's 2019 list, so a newer stop may be missing, and the state hasn't confirmed their status.
Rest areas here come from the Federal Highway Administration's 2019 list. The state hasn't confirmed their status.
Eastbound: longest stretch between stops in Arkansas about 131 miles. Westbound: longest stretch between stops in Arkansas about 127 miles.
- Rest area, I-40
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
This list doesn't say which direction this stop serves.
- Rest area, I-40 westboundNext stop ahead: 1 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40 eastboundNext stop ahead: 131 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40 westboundNext stop ahead: 36 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40 eastboundNext stop ahead: 37 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40 westboundNext stop ahead: 127 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40 eastboundNext stop ahead: 50 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40 westboundNext stop ahead: 43 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
I-40 in Tennessee
Tennessee has 14 rest areas and welcome centers on I-40: 7 eastbound and 8 westbound. They come from the Tennessee Department of Transportation's current list.
Rest areas here come from the Tennessee Department of Transportation's current list.
Eastbound: longest stretch between stops in Tennessee about 97 miles. Westbound: longest stretch between stops in Tennessee about 99 miles.
- Shelby County Welcome Center (I-40 EB)Next stop ahead: 75 mi
Listed by Tennessee Department of Transportation; open/closed status not published.
- Haywood County Welcome Center (I-40 WB)Next stop ahead: 89 mi
Listed by Tennessee Department of Transportation; open/closed status not published.
Amenities
Adult changing tableEV chargingFamily restroomAmenities from Tennessee Department of Transportation, Oct 19, 2026
- Madison County Rest Area (I-40 EB)Next stop ahead: 57 mi
Listed by Tennessee Department of Transportation; open/closed status not published.
- Madison County Rest Area (I-40 WB)Next stop ahead: 30 mi
Listed by Tennessee Department of Transportation; open/closed status not published.
- Benton County Rest Area (I-40 EB)Next stop ahead: 40 mi
Listed by Tennessee Department of Transportation; open/closed status not published.
- Benton County Rest Area (I-40 WB)Next stop ahead: 58 mi
Listed by Tennessee Department of Transportation; open/closed status not published.
- Dickson County Rest Area (I-40 EB)Next stop ahead: 97 mi
Listed by Tennessee Department of Transportation; open/closed status not published.
- Dickson County Rest Area (I-40 WB)Next stop ahead: 39 mi
Listed by Tennessee Department of Transportation; open/closed status not published.
- Smith County Welcome Center (I-40 Eb/Wb)
Listed by Tennessee Department of Transportation; open/closed status not published.
Amenities
EV chargingAmenities from Tennessee Department of Transportation, Oct 19, 2026
- Cumberland County Rest Area (I-40 EB)Next stop ahead: 95 mi
Listed by Tennessee Department of Transportation; open/closed status not published.
Amenities
EV chargingAmenities from Tennessee Department of Transportation, Oct 19, 2026
- Cumberland County Rest Area (I-40 WB)Next stop ahead: 60 mi
Listed by Tennessee Department of Transportation; open/closed status not published.
- Jefferson County Rest Area (I-40)Next stop ahead: 43 mi
Listed by Tennessee Department of Transportation; open/closed status not published.
Amenities
EV chargingAmenities from Tennessee Department of Transportation, Oct 19, 2026
- Jefferson County Rest Area (I-40 WB)Next stop ahead: 99 mi
Listed by Tennessee Department of Transportation; open/closed status not published.
Amenities
EV chargingAmenities from Tennessee Department of Transportation, Oct 19, 2026
- Cocke County Welcome Center (I-40 WB)Next stop ahead: 21 mi
Listed by Tennessee Department of Transportation; open/closed status not published.
Amenities
EV chargingAmenities from Tennessee Department of Transportation, Oct 19, 2026
I-40 in North Carolina
North Carolina has 13 rest areas on I-40: 5 eastbound and 5 westbound, and 3 whose direction isn't listed. They come from the Federal Highway Administration's 2019 list, so a newer stop may be missing, and the state hasn't confirmed their status.
Rest areas here come from the Federal Highway Administration's 2019 list. The state hasn't confirmed their status.
Eastbound: longest stretch between stops in North Carolina about 90 miles. Westbound: longest stretch between stops in North Carolina about 89 miles.
- Rest area, I-40 westboundNext stop ahead: 16 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40 eastboundNext stop ahead: 72 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40 eastboundNext stop ahead: 54 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40 westboundNext stop ahead: 72 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40 eastboundNext stop ahead: 41 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40 westboundNext stop ahead: 54 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40 eastboundNext stop ahead: 57 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40 westboundNext stop ahead: 41 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-85 northbound
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
This list doesn't say which direction this stop serves.
- Rest area, I-85 southbound
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
This list doesn't say which direction this stop serves.
- Rest area, I-40 westboundNext stop ahead: 89 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40 eastboundNext stop ahead: 40 mi
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
- Rest area, I-40
Status not confirmed by the state. Check before you rely on this stop.
Listed by the Federal Highway Administration (2019).
This list doesn't say which direction this stop serves.
Long stretches without a rest area
Stretches longer than 60 miles, by direction.
- Eastbound, no rest areas are listed for 77 miles between Desert Oasis Eastbound and Rest area, I-40 eastbound. Plan your stops before you go.
- Eastbound, no rest areas are listed for 72 miles between Rest area, I-40 eastbound and Rest area, I-40 eastbound (mile 23 in Arizona). Plan your stops before you go.
- Eastbound, no rest areas are listed for 212 miles between Rest area, I-40 eastbound (mile 23) and Rest area, I-40 eastbound (mile 235). Plan your stops before you go.
- Eastbound, no rest areas are listed for 127 miles between Rest area, I-40 eastbound (mile 235 in Arizona) and NHS Rest Stop 23: Manuelito Welcome Center (mile 3 in New Mexico). Plan your stops before you go.
- Eastbound, no rest areas are listed for 99 miles between NHS Rest Stop 23: Manuelito Welcome Center (mile 3) and Rest area, I-40 eastbound (mile 102). Plan your stops before you go.
- Eastbound, no rest areas are listed for 105 miles between Rest area, I-40 eastbound (mile 102) and Rest area, I-40 eastbound (mile 207). Plan your stops before you go.
- Eastbound, no rest areas are listed for 148 miles between Rest area, I-40 eastbound (mile 302 in New Mexico) and Texas Travel Information Center at Amarillo (mile 76 in Texas). Plan your stops before you go.
- Eastbound, no rest areas are listed for 187 miles between Rest area, I-40 eastbound (mile 10) and Rest area, I-40 eastbound (mile 197). Plan your stops before you go.
- Eastbound, no rest areas are listed for 83 miles between Rest area, I-40 eastbound (mile 283 in Oklahoma) and Rest area, I-40 (mile 35 in Arkansas). Plan your stops before you go.
- Eastbound, no rest areas are listed for 131 miles between Rest area, I-40 eastbound (mile 68) and Rest area, I-40 eastbound (mile 199). Plan your stops before you go.
- Eastbound, no rest areas are listed for 75 miles between Shelby County Welcome Center (I-40 EB) and Madison County Rest Area (I-40 EB) (mile 6). Plan your stops before you go.
- Eastbound, no rest areas are listed for 97 miles between Dickson County Rest Area (I-40 EB) (mile 7) and Smith County Welcome Center (I-40 Eb/Wb) (mile 17). Plan your stops before you go.
- Eastbound, no rest areas are listed for 95 miles between Cumberland County Rest Area (I-40 EB) (mile 20) and Jefferson County Rest Area (I-40) (mile 10). Plan your stops before you go.
- Eastbound, no rest areas are listed for 72 miles between Rest area, I-40 eastbound (mile 10) and Rest area, I-40 eastbound (mile 82). Plan your stops before you go.
- Eastbound, no rest areas are listed for 90 miles between Rest area, I-85 southbound (mile 139) and Rest area, I-40 eastbound (mile 325). Plan your stops before you go.
- Westbound, no rest areas are listed for 89 miles between Rest area, I-40 westbound (mile 325) and Rest area, I-85 southbound (mile 139). Plan your stops before you go.
- Westbound, no rest areas are listed for 72 miles between Rest area, I-40 westbound (mile 82) and Rest area, I-40 westbound (mile 10). Plan your stops before you go.
- Westbound, no rest areas are listed for 99 miles between Jefferson County Rest Area (I-40 WB) (mile 16) and Cumberland County Rest Area (I-40 WB) (mile 2). Plan your stops before you go.
- Westbound, no rest areas are listed for 97 miles between Smith County Welcome Center (I-40 Eb/Wb) (mile 17) and Dickson County Rest Area (I-40 WB) (mile 7). Plan your stops before you go.
- Westbound, no rest areas are listed for 89 miles between Haywood County Welcome Center (I-40 WB) (mile 1 in Tennessee) and Rest area, I-40 westbound (mile 243 in Arkansas). Plan your stops before you go.
- Westbound, no rest areas are listed for 127 miles between Rest area, I-40 westbound (mile 199) and Rest area, I-40 westbound (mile 73). Plan your stops before you go.
- Westbound, no rest areas are listed for 186 miles between Rest area, I-40 westbound (mile 197) and Rest area, I-40 westbound (mile 10). Plan your stops before you go.
- Westbound, no rest areas are listed for 131 miles between Gray County Westbound (mile 131 in Texas) and NHS Rest Stop 31: Llano Estacado/Glen Rio (Welcome Center) (mile 373 in New Mexico). Plan your stops before you go.
- Westbound, no rest areas are listed for 71 miles between NHS Rest Stop 31: Llano Estacado/Glen Rio (Welcome Center) (mile 373) and Rest area, I-40 westbound (mile 302). Plan your stops before you go.
- Westbound, no rest areas are listed for 330 miles between Rest area, I-40 westbound (mile 207 in New Mexico) and Rest area, I-40 westbound (mile 235 in Arizona). Plan your stops before you go.
- Westbound, no rest areas are listed for 212 miles between Rest area, I-40 westbound (mile 235) and Rest area, I-40 westbound (mile 23). Plan your stops before you go.
- Westbound, no rest areas are listed for 72 miles between Rest area, I-40 westbound (mile 23 in Arizona) and Rest area, I-40 westbound. Plan your stops before you go.
- Westbound, no rest areas are listed for 77 miles between Rest area, I-40 westbound and Desert Oasis Westbound. Plan your stops before you go.
Rest areas on I-40 east (eastbound)
Eastbound drivers climb from the Mojave Desert to Flagstaff at about 7,000 feet, cross the high plains of New Mexico and the Texas Panhandle, and drop into Oklahoma and Arkansas. Winter storms can close the road around Flagstaff and in the mountains of New Mexico, so check conditions before you go.
Rest areas on I-40 west (westbound)
Westbound, the long stretches between towns begin in the Texas Panhandle and continue through New Mexico and Arizona. Fuel up and take a break whenever you can, and plan a stop in Albuquerque or Flagstaff for the night.
Tennessee and the Smokies
Tennessee has the longest stretch of I-40, about 455 miles from Memphis through Nashville and Knoxville. East of Knoxville, I-40 climbs through the Pigeon River gorge into North Carolina, a winding mountain stretch. Hurricane Helene washed out part of the road in 2024, and repairs are expected to last until about 2029. Until then the gorge has one lane in each direction, a 35 mph limit, narrow lanes, and long weekend delays, and wide loads must detour. Check DriveNC.gov before you go, or consider I-26 and I-81 as an alternative.
Tips for driving I-40
- Break every two hours: AAA suggests a stop about every two hours or 100 miles. In the West, plan breaks ahead, since rest areas can be far apart.
- Check winter weather: Snow and ice can close I-40 near Flagstaff and in New Mexico in winter. Check the state 511 sites before you set out.
- Fill up in the desert: Between Barstow and Kingman, and across New Mexico, fill up at half a tank.
- See old Route 66: Many I-40 exits lead to stretches of the old road. See our Route 66 road trip.
What the status on each rest stop means
We never call a rest stop open unless the state, or someone who checked, has confirmed it. A stop marked "Status not confirmed by the state" comes from the Federal Highway Administration's 2019 national list and may have closed or changed, so check before you rely on it. Amenities appear only where the state lists them. See how our status labels work.
Rest areas on I-40: frequently asked questions
Are there rest areas on I-40? +
How long is I-40? +
How many states does I-40 go through? +
Does I-40 follow Route 66? +
Which state has the most miles of I-40? +
Is I-40 through the Smoky Mountains safe in winter? +
⚠️ For planning only. Rest area status, hours, amenities, and parking rules can change, and our data is incomplete. Check before you rely on a stop, obey posted signs and time limits, and never drive tired. See our Terms of Use.