German Autobahn Rest Areas: A Traveler's Guide
- Pen by Christian Hensen
- ⏱️ - 2 Min Read
Avoid pulling over at these highway pit stops - Avoid these specific highway pullovers.
Watch the Video: Top and Bottom Rest Areas in Germany from RTL
Going on a long car journey? Break stopovers might be a drag. But remember, not all German highway rest areas are the same! Unlike marvelous Italian Autogrills, Germany's rest stops don't always live up to expectations. However, it's not all gloom and doom. The current ADAC rest area evaluation paints a mixed picture, with no complete failures, thankfully.
Assessing the Good, the Bad, and the Average
ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club) evaluated more than 40 rest stops across the country. Alas, none received a "very good" rating. But there were no total disasters either. The scores ranged from "good" (eight spots) to "poor" (six spots), with the rest averaging somewhere in the middle.
Clean and Modern Restrooms at a Cost
Larger rest areas often offer modern, well-equipped restrooms, claim the testers. Yet, some remained grubby despite charging an entry fee of one euro. So, major kudos for cleanliness are earned when cleanliness is maintained!
Testers generally enjoyed the food offerings, reporting being "almost always satisfied." However, only three out of forty areas won appreciation for fair pricing. The rest were deemed overpriced compared to off-highway service stations.
Ranking the Best and Worst Rest Areas
The top three rest areas in the current ADAC evaluation are Fürholzen West in Bavaria on the A9, Demminer Land in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on the A20, and Sindelfinger Wald Süd in Baden-Württemberg on the A8.
The bottom three are Fuchsberg Süd in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on the A20, Münsterland West in North Rhine-Westphalia on the A1, and Eisenach Nord in Thuringia on the A4.
ADAC recommends avoiding refueling at rest areas, as prices can be 54 cents more per liter compared to nearby gas stations. Plus, rest stops highlighted accessibility and child-friendliness shortcomings in their evaluation. Moreover, many locations have limited fast-charging stations for electric vehicles, and the charging stations are mostly uncovered, making charging in bad weather quite a challenge.
Finding Further Details
For comprehensive reviews and ratings of rest areas in Germany, check out the ADAC website or purchase their publications. Alternatively, specialized travel guides or apps focusing on roadside facilities can also provide useful insights for your road trip. Happy travels!
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