Detour Pit Stop #25: The World's Biggest Truck Stop, Iowa, USA
Walcott, Iowa has a population of just 1,600 people. On a busy day the truck stop down the road on Interstate 80 is home to considerably more.
With spaces for 900 trucks it’s the biggest in the world, serving around 5,000 visitors every day. Since it was founded in 1964 Iowa 80 claims to have served over 65 million people - that’s the population of the UK.
At this enormous facility drivers can eat at the 300-seat restaurant, wash their trucks (at the truckomat), their clothes (at the laundry) and themselves (in the shower block). They can take in a movie or relax in the drivers’ den, visit a dentist or chiropractor, get a haircut and even get their pooches pampered at the dog groomers.
Of course, there’s fuel and servicing, a convenience store and a truck showroom for anyone fancying an upgrade. And with an on-site museum and regular events it’s not just a pit stop for working drivers, but a family-friendly day out.
