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A '''rest area''' (or '''service area''' ('''RSA'''), '''service station''') is a public facility located next to a motorway at which drivers and passengers can rest, eat, or refuel without exiting on to secondary roads. It can be a great place for hitchhiking: you can ask for a ride when drivers re-fill or wander around the area, or you can stand by its exit (that leads to a motorway) and hitchhike there.
Facilities of the rest area may include park-like areas, fuel stations, toilets, and restaurants. Rest areas are common in the [[United States]], [[Canada]], [[Australia]] and parts of [[Europe]] ([[France]]: Aire de service, [[Germany]]: [http://www.tank.rast.de/standorte/servicenetz/index.php Raststätte ] (directly on the Autobahn) and [http://www.autohof.net/ Autohof ] (somewhat off the Autobahn), [[Italy]]: [http://www.automap.it/areediservizio/ Area Servizio], [[United Kingdom]]: [http://www.motorwayservices.info/ Motorway services], [[Austria]]: Autobahnstation, [[Denmark]]: Serviceanlæg, [http://www.info-teria.dk/ Info-teria], [[Hungary]]: Pihenohely, [[Netherlands]]: verzorgingsplaats, [[Slovenia]]: PočivališčaPočivališče) and [[Asia]].
Not all rest areas include [[Petrol station hitchhiking|petrol stations]] - this means that the traffic on such rest areas will, in general, be much lower, and one can expect more difficulties when looking for a ride there. For service areas with gas stations see information [[Where to hitchhike|here]].
== Food and Drink ==
Food on rest area's is in general highly overpriced and, in case of already prepared food, pretty abysmal. However, many German Raststättes now prepare food (mostly pasta) on the spot and, although still overpriced, it is actually pretty good.
== Get out of a rest area ==
Also, be aware that rest areas may not be the safest places due to petty crime.
=== Personal experiences =United States ==In most states of the United States there are no petrol stations on rest areas. In these states the rest areas are a relatively good option for hitchhiking. In some of them ([[Ohio]]?) you will even find free wireless internet. In [[New Hampshire]] you can try to hitchhike at the state liquor stores that are very popular because of the state's low (non-existing?) tax on alcohol.
== Personal experiences ==
[[User:Kimdime69|Kimdime]] managed to camp in rest areas where there was trees and/or places reasonably hidden.
[[User:Hippietrail|Hippietrail]] has slept right on the benches at the front of several rest areas in Japan with no problems at all.
[[wikipedia:Rest_area]]