One of the best ways to see BC is by hitting the road. (Who doesn’t love yelling “Road Trip!”?)
I remember moving from Smithers to Merritt, packing up all my belongings and hitting the Highway 16, turning right down Highway 97 until I drove into the Thompson-Nicola area. The scenery was absolutely gorgeous in mid-August, with some great stops along the way, but the breaks that really made the trip worthwhile were the rest areas. Whether you’re travelling for work or for a bit of sight-seeing, it’s really important to stop now and then for a little refresh – to eat, to take a bathroom break, to empty your garbage, to stretch those legs, etc.
BC has about 170 rest areas for you to check out and we’ve put together a handy BC Provincial Rest Area map for you to see where they all are. Click on the icons and you’ll find out more about the rest area. Added bonus for commercial vehicles: this map shows which accommodate large vehicles over 20 metres in length, and whether there are deceleration and acceleration lanes to enter and exit the area.
You will also see them on the DriveBC map, if you activate the Rest Area icon on the legend.
Are these all the rest areas in our province? No. We hope to get there, but these are the ones maintained by us and the highway maintenance contractors. There are some provided by communities or in national parks (federal) or run by private businesses that we have not included but we hope to eventually make this more comprehensive.
Check out our Using Provincial Rest Areas Map page for more information.
So whether you’re a professional driver, weekend warrior, commuter, sight see-er, or for any other reason you’re taking advantage of those provincial rest areas, you have your own unique perspective and we’d like to hear what you have to say. Drive safely.
Blue icons on the BC Rest Area Map indicate those that accommodate large vehicles.
Is there any waste disposal near Vancouver General Hospital ?
Hi Lyle – thanks for your question. Unfortunately, that’s not something we know but we suggest you connect with the City of Vancouver. Good luck!
The rest area washrooms on the coquihalla at the old toll booth site are disgusting . All three of the portable toilets are full to overflowing!
Hello Mark – thanks for sharing your concern with us here.
We will share this concern forward with our maintenance contractor and encourage you to report any issue which causes you concern directly to our contractor, as this is the quickest way to resolve the issue. Here’s a list of all our contractors and their service areas: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/transportation-infrastructure/contracting-to-transportation/highway-bridge-maintenance/highway-maintenance/contacts#SA01
Safe travels.
The rest stop is the one on hwy1. West of Abbotsford
Hello Glenda and thank you for sharing your concerns with us here. The Bradner Rest Area and Cole Rd Rest Area (also situated within the Abbotsford area) continue to experience an unprecedented challenge with homelessness at this time. Efforts are made regularly by our staff and the BC RCMP to remove any unsightly conditions and encampments at the site. Unfortunately, as one individual is moved out, another moves in shortly thereafter. The reality of these areas is that the transient individuals that frequent them are genuinely homeless people with no place to go essentially, which is exacerbated with current COVID protocols. This cycle unfortunately speaks to the current social environment rather than a lack of efforts from the ministry. The Fraser Valley has been inundated with a large homeless population that is ever expanding daily for a multitude of reasons including opioid and housing crisis. Motorists who feel unsafe or witness behavior unbecoming to a provincial rest area are encouraged to please contact local law enforcement immediately.
The ministry is currently reviewing design upgrades for the Bradner Rest Area as it relates to the Hwy 1 expansion project from 264th to Whatcom Rd. and this will aid in providing a better experience to users. We hope to break ground on this work as early as this spring/summer 2022. We hope that this helps answer some of your questions. It is not an easy or pleasant situation all around and we appreciate you taking the time to share your concerns with us here.
Why are there so many broken down rvs at this rest stop. New homeless rv camp
Hello Glenda and thank you for sharing your concerns with us here. The Bradner Rest Area and Cole Rd Rest Area (also situated within the Abbotsford area) continue to experience an unprecedented challenge with homelessness at this time. Efforts are made regularly by our staff and the BC RCMP to remove any unsightly conditions and encampments at the site. Unfortunately, as one individual is moved out, another moves in shortly thereafter. The reality of these areas is that the transient individuals that frequent them are genuinely homeless people with no place to go essentially, which is exacerbated with current COVID protocols. This cycle unfortunately speaks to the current social environment rather than a lack of efforts from the ministry. The Fraser Valley has been inundated with a large homeless population that is ever expanding daily for a multitude of reasons including opioid and housing crisis. Motorists who feel unsafe or witness behavior unbecoming to a provincial rest area are encouraged to please contact local law enforcement immediately.
The ministry is currently reviewing design upgrades for the Bradner Rest Area as it relates to the Hwy 1 expansion project from 264th to Whatcom Rd. and this will aid in providing a better experience to users. We hope to break ground on this work as early as this spring/summer 2022. We hope that this helps answer some of your questions. It is not an easy or pleasant situation all around and we appreciate you taking the time to share your concerns with us here.
Can you please update new image of rest area sign above the “A Cheat Sheet for BC Provincial Rest Areas”
Because on Aug 23 2021 I Was on highway 19 on the way to Sayward BC and I Saw new signs of Large Text Rest area and new arrow by passing by Robert Lake Rest Area.
Thank you.
Hi Harry – thanks for your message. The image on this blog currently has an image of our Rest Area signage with a large arrow. Is there another sign you’d like to see included?
NANOOSE
Highway/Route 19
8.9KM NORTH OF NANAIMO
Stopped here today to use bathroom. My friend and I were shocked to find the facilities dirty and smelly. No female could/should use this place, it’s an insult to nose and eyes and couldn’t have been looked after for a long time. In the time of Covid this is not acceptable.
Hi Egon,
I’m sorry to hear you and your friend had a bad experience at the Nanoose Bay rest area. I’ve shared your concern with our local maintenance contractor, Mainroad Mid-Island. For the fastest response in the future, you can always report issues like these directly to the local maintenance contractor via DriveBC Report a Highway Problem: https://drivebc.ca/rahp/
A quick follow up – I heard from Mainroad – they have a crew responding. Thanks for reporting to us.
I recently had to use the Britton Creek washroom at night on a Saturday. It was beyond filthy, with no cleaning or disinfectant options and the toilet kept flushing while sitting! I took what measures I could but who carries bathroom cleaner/disinfectant?
Preventing disease spread, hygiene should be a vital, critical component of any public rest stop that has this many users. I literally wanted to talk to a lawyer after this disgusting, humiliating experience, where I and others could be getting some form of disease by using these high use, unclean toilets.
Instead I will provide a solution for you to fix the problem. Whoever deals with this, the Premier and any govt reps should have to experience this for themselves. Then they, you would understand.
Solution. All rest stops should have a pay for cleaning offering. I’m sure many people would opt for that. Also, self cleaning stalls are in many European cities and we should have the same. Self cleaning would provide a 24/7, tech solution to the problem.
Thank you!
Hello Jo and thank you for your comment. We are sorry to hear of your negative experience and we have shared your feedback with our staff in the area for follow up. These washrooms are cleaned on a daily schedule. Our Britton Creek bathroom is seeing higher than normal volumes due to the closure of the Toll Booth washrooms, which might also account for some of the issue. In the future, if you notice anything that causes you concern on BC highways, we encourage you to report the issue directly using our Report a Highway feature or call the local number: 1-888-899-9854
We hope that this is helpful.
I will follow up with letters to your Minister and Deputy Minister, but I deplore the disgusting pit toilets your Ministry provides on our highway system. They are disgusting facilities and the travelling public should not put up with this. This is the 21st century, not the 1950s.
Hello Robert – thanks for reaching out to us here – we are sorry to hear your concerns. Is there a particular rest area you are concerned with? We would like to be able to follow up with our maintenance contractor directly. We also encourage you to share any concerns you see directly to our maintenance contractor, as they are required to log all incoming concerns for response and this will also help us with an audit of services, should one be required.
I am adding to the conversation of both the Bradner and Cole Rd rest areas. Both are filled with long term ‘residents’ in crappy vehicles. Stayed overnight at Cole road for a short rest with my 5th wheel and was lucky to get the last possible spot. When I left early in the morning the trailer beside me was left without a vehicle. Can you please get some serious enforcement to these rest areas so they could be used for what they are meant for: a short term rest spot for travelers.
Thanks for your comments Bernie, about the Bradner and Cole Road rest areas. I will share them with our people responsible for overseeing those rest areas. As you may be aware, we have been contacting Abbotsford Police, bylaw enforcement and RCMP to assist with enforcement and removal of vehicles/RVs like the kind you have mentioned, for which rest areas are not intended. Unfortunately, once enforcement officers leave the area, new and or recurring offenders return. The maintenance contractor has increased litter removal, sani-dump/water/WIFI repair call outs, and its response to complaints by the public, in response to the greater number of people who are attempting to use the rest areas for “longer term” parking.
Cole road rest stop. Was by there today to use sani dump. Excretement all over sani dump receptacle. Realized also that the water was not running so not able to rinse down area before using and also to flush my tank. I have my own hose to use but useless when water was shut off. Is this a seasonal sani dump site?
Ended up leaving to use the bradner site further down the hwy.
it would be convenient to have the water connection available to hook up a hose for those whose rvs have the hose connection to flush the black tank properly. Thank you
Hi Lm,
The Cole Rd facilities are in operation year-round. The situation you described may be due to vandalism.
Any time you have a concern with maintenance/hygiene in rest areas, please contact the contractor responsible. For Cole Road Rest Area, that would be Emil Anderson Maintenance: info@eac.bc.ca or 1.800.667.5122. You’ll find the contractors for other areas of the province listed here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/transportation-infrastructure/contracting-to-transportation/highway-bridge-maintenance/highway-maintenance/contacts
Bradner rest stop has numerous derelict trailers and motor homes stationed there with hoarding of items overflowing their parking area. They are using this area as a permanent home base. Why is this allowed to occur? Very unsightly.
I had stopped with my trailer to use the sani dump and did not feel comfortable using the washroom facilities afterwards. A couple of individuals were on their bikes checking out parked rvs.
Hi Lm,
Rest areas in the Fraser Valley/Abbotsford area have for some time had issues with overnight vehicles. The ministry’s road area managers have consistently contacted Abbotsford Police, bylaw enforcement and RCMP to assist with enforcement and removal of overnight RVs on a weekly basis. And while these enforcement efforts work for short periods of time, new and or recurring offenders return, sometimes the same day, once enforcement officers leave the area. To try and address the increase in RV and homeless individuals in the rest areas, the maintenance contractor has increased services for litter removal, sani-dump/water/WIFI repair call outs, and its response to complaints by the public.
I am checking with my ministry contact responsible for the Cole Road rest area and will get back to you with an answer about whether the water/sani-dump is operational year-round. Any time you have a concern with the maintenance/hygiene in rest areas, please contact the contractor responsible. For Cole Road rest area, that would be Emil Anderson Maintenance at info@eac.bc.ca or 1.800.667.5122.
Bradner reststop is disgusting. It is full of homeless asking for money. Lots of weird people there. Saw a woman and 2 men doing things on the picknick table at the upper entrance i didn’t need to see glad my kids weren’t with me.
Hello Melony – thank you for connecting with us here to share your concerns. We have sent your comment directly to our staff in the area for follow up.
The site or related pages are quite old. When searching for rest stops with public wifi I found only 5. The page was last updated in 2018. Other pages with references to wifi were 2016 and 2017.
Can you provide a list of rest stops in B.C. with wifi access? Thanks
Hello Stan,
Thanks for your comment. We reached out to our staff responsible for overseeing the Wi-Fi in BC rest areas and can confirm the following rest areas have Wi-Fi.
Britton Creek Highway 5 – 67 kilometres south of Merritt
Mt Terry Fox Highway 16 – 6km east of Tete Jaune
Galena Bay Highway 23 – 49km north of Nakusp
Glacier View Highway 16 – 7km north of Smithers
Taylor River Highway 4 – 37km west of Port Alberni
The rest areas listed below received Wi-Fi in 2018:
Hunter Creek on Highway 1 – 11 kilometres west of Hope
Bradner on Highway 1 – 53 kilometres east of Vancouver
Cole Road on Highway 1 – 73 kilometres east of Vancouver
The Last Spike on Highway 1 – 24 kilometres east of Sicamous
Slim Creek on Highway 16 – 120 kilometres east of Prince George
Mount Terry Fox on Highway 16 – six kilometres east of Tête Jaune
Boulder Creek on Highway 16 – 53 kilometres west of Hazelton
Loon Lake on Highway 97C – 40 kilometres southeast of Merritt
We also want to thank you for pointing out those areas requiring updating.
We have them in our targets and updates will commence shortly. Safe travels.
Bradner rest Area: Hwy 1 west of Abbotsford,BC.
Police are needed at this rest stop – too many threats and you are threatened to talk to old men there. Keep the old red headed Hooker out of the washrooms.
Disgusting display of pimps and hoes
Hello Sandra – thanks for sharing your concerns here with us. We shared your comment with our staff in the area who confirmed they are following up with local law enforcement on this issue. Safe travels.
Does portal lake rest area have a washroom?
Hi Natalie. Portal Lake Rest Area does have toilets, but I would reach out to BC Parks if you have any other questions – they manage it as part of Mt. Robson Provincial Park.
Thank you
Could you please send me a PDF of the rest stops in BC, Thank you
Good morning Claire – we have sent a PDF of the map to the email address you provided here. Safe travels!
Why doesnf the Cole road rest area 110 power work
Hi Mike – thanks for your comment. Before we send this message off to our staff in the area we wanted to clarify – are you referring to a 110 power outlet for EVs?
Hello! May I receive a PDF of the rest stops as well?
Also, first time pulling a travel trailer for the first time from Lethbridge, AB to Osoyoos, does anyone have any recommendations for the safest route, would crowsnest trail be safer or through highway 1 and down through Vernon, Penticton then to Osoyoos? Any input would be appreciated
Good morning Sarah – we will send you a copy to the email you have provided here. Have a look at this blog outlining alternate (read: flatter routes from Vancouver to AB)
https://www.tranbc.ca/2018/07/05/scenic-not-steep-the-flattest-route-from-victoria-to-alberta/
Safe travels!
My 78 year old mom stopped at Bijoux falls on highway 97 north for a bathroom break. Both toilets were disgusting filthy with fecal matter everywhere. Non useable at all. Where would you like a 78 year old woman to go to the bathroom? We have pictures if you would like to see what everyone else that enters has to look at. Pigs are cleaner. So disappointed in the cleanliness of these bathrooms,,, shameful.
Hi Tracy,
Sorry to hear the rest area conditions at West Pine River Rest Area, just northwest of Bijoux Falls Provincial Park, on Hwy 97 were unsatisfactory.
Please contact the maintenance contractor any time you encounter these kinds of conditions. This rest areas would be the responsibility of Argo Road Maintenance: 1 800 663-7623 or argosouthpeace@argoroads.ca I will also forward your comments to our area manager that who oversees the work of the maintenance contractor, in keeping rest areas clean and sanitary.
Could I sleep in my car overnight at one of these rest areas to break up a long drive?
Hi Lauren. Overnight camping (more than four hours resting) is not allowed at BC rest areas. We encourage you to check out the many BC Parks campgrounds for your trip. Safe travels!
Total B.S
Check out the caravan that has set up homestead at the Hwy 1 and Bradner in Abbotsford.
Get the cops there and clean the rif raf with their old bus and rv’sout of there
Hi there Andy – we have reported your concern to our local area manager. If you ever notice anything that concerns you on BC highways, please contact our maintenance contractors or our local office staff. Links to both below:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/transportation-infrastructure/contracting-to-transportation/highway-bridge-maintenance/highway-maintenance/contacts#SA01
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/transportation-reports-and-reference/regional-district-contacts
May I get a PDF of the rest stops please.
Good morning Kathy!
We have sent a PDF of the Rest Area map to the email address you provided here. Let us know if you need anything else! Safe travels.
May I please also receive a pdf of the rest areas? Thank you!! This is a really great resource 🙂
Good morning Kristin! Thanks for the compliment – we do try to be helpful! 🙂
We have sent a PDF copy of the map to the email address provided here. Safe travels!
May I have a PDF of rest areas please – thank you !
Good morning Donna! We’ve sent a PDF to the email provided here. Safe travels!
Would it be possible, to request a PDF map of thr rest area map? Thank You so much, have a great day!!
Hello Dustin,
We have sent you a PDF of the rest area map to the email provided here. Let us know if you need anything else. Safe travels!
Hello. I would like to request a PDF rest area map. Thank you. Joe.
Hello Joe,
We’ve sent a PDF of the Rest Area map to the email address you provided here. If you need anything further, or if you didn’t receive it, please let us know. Safe travels!
Julý 10/20
Out for a day drive to get out of the house. Traveling #7 hwy past johnson slough. Why with all the traffic on the road is that rest area washrooms closed. What are people supposed to do when you must go to a bathroom and not in ones pants. Help us out here. Don’t you care about the public? Where is your compassion?
Hi L. Knight — Thanks for sharing this concern about washroom closures at the rest area near Johnson Slough. I will check into what was going on there, and get back to you here.
Is there a PDF version of the rest area map available for offline use? There are lots of dead zones especially on the more Northern roads.
Hi Tev,
We’ve rounded up a PDF version for you (very high level – no details available on the RA themselves) and sent it to the email address you provided here.
Hope that this is helpful!
Is there a halfway point (rest area) from Kamloops to Langley suitable for parents to swap children for visits?
Hi Leah. Britton Creek Rest Area on the Coquihalla can be accessed from both directions. It’s about two hours from Langley; about 1.5 hours from Kamloops. Your other option is meeting somewhere in Hope (the travel times would be reversed). The rest area map can help you decide:
https://www.th.gov.bc.ca/restareas/
We had a medical appt so travel was essential. May 19th was travel day. Took the Coke. Had to use the washroom at the old toll site. Garbage was piled 4 ft high by washroom doorway. Garbage strewn through the washroom, toilets plugged and dirty. Awful is not even an adequate description! It is essential to be clean now. Who is not getting this! Unfortunately we have to go down south again. Why has cleaning gone by the way. This encourages disease.
Hi Donna. I’m sorry to hear about your experience. Our maintenance contractor, Yellowhead Road & Bridge (Nicola) Ltd.
1 888 899-9854 maintains that rest area. I will share your comment with our local operations manager, who oversees this maintenance contract.
I am looking for overnight parking Stop on highway 1 between golden and Canmore for our 24 foot rv, just for a sleep and then on our way.
Good morning Linda,
Overnight camping (more than four hours resting) is not allowed in BC Rest Areas. We encourage you to check out the many BC Parks campgrounds for your trip. Safe travels!
Can you tell me whether rest area washrooms are open at this time. We have to make a trip Kelowna to Maple Ridge and back Tues Mar 31st
Thanks
Good morning Tracey!
Our rest areas are open and our maintenance contractors are working as hard as they can to monitor and maintain, given the current health concerns.
Hello,
I’m doing research study of the market and industry of rest areas between Hope and Lytton. Can you please guide me where can I find info as to the rest area market and current state of the industry. Moreover, whom should I contact for further info and clarifications.
Thanks
Hi Karen,
Please contact Senior Manager Rehabilitation and Construction Michelle Evans: Michelle.Evans@gov.bc.ca
I shared your comment with her, so she is aware.
Thanks!
Hey,
I have mailed her but have not listen anything back yet!!
Hello Karan – Michelle has recently taken on a new role. Please connect directly with john.babineau@gov.bc.ca.
Thanks and our apologies for the confusion.
Hi I would like to apply for the Yale rest area and I have left messages to call me but haven’t heard back yet. Is there some place on line that I can apply?
Hello Connie,
I believe that there is an opportunity for select rest areas in the Southern Interior Region, posted on BC Bid. Please contact john.babineau@gov.bc.ca for more details.
i am a craft vendor wish experiance for over twenty years doing fairs and festivals. we are considering vending at rest areas. can you tell us which authorities to contact. areas most interested to us is between hope and kamloops and the okanogan possibly toward banff. thank you
Hi Ron,
Our rest areas are not licensed for commercial vending at this time, but if you would like to discuss this further with the local area staff on the Coquihalla, please contact
#127 – 447 Columbia St.
Kamloops, BC V2C 2T3
250 828-4002
We have permanent campers in the Bradner rest area on the truck side. Three times now I have had to drive through and not been able to stop.
Thanks for the heads up Peter. We have sent this to our local area staff who will look into it.
Hi there Peter – we’ve reached out to law enforcement to help us inform overnight campers to leave rest stops (Bradner, Cole Rd., Hunter Creek). We will continue to monitor but if you see anything that causes you concern, please let us know. Thanks!
Where can I apply for the cleaning job at the bradner rest area.
Our maintenance contractor, Emil Anderson Maintenance, maintains this rest area.
Still very much an issue. RV’s with generators running & trailered vehicles disconnected as run abouts. Permanent camping is still an issue at Cole Rd
Thanks for letting us know Cam – we are sharing this with our local area staff for follow up. Stay tuned.
The rest area at the Hope Slide has 3 EV Chargers. It needs to be open in the winter:range falls 20%, minimum. A lower range EV needs to do an extra charge on the way up HWY 3 as it is mostly uphill also as well as the cold. Might not be able to make it from Hope to Manning Park.
I’ve heard people say low range EVs are too limited where really there just needs to be more charging stations, closer distances. Actually, there needs to be more also. I’ve had to wait more than 40 minutes to get to charge. Then add up the time to charge. Then the number of times.
You need to appreciate nature, want to stretch your legs and reduce stroke risk. You require patience to wait as you have no choice but to.
Everyone could have an EV and not worry about getting somewhere if there were more chargers shorter distances apart. It is just that simple.
So please, keep it open for EVs.
Thanks.
Hello Victoria and thanks for your comment and suggestions. We have confirmed that the Hope Slide Rest Area is open year round. Here’s more information on government initiatives to encourage drivers to choose EV vehicles: https://cleanbc.gov.bc.ca/
we may need to pull over late at night with no place to stay overnight. Will we be forced to move if stay is longer than 4 hrs?
Hi Mike – thanks for your question. While our highways and rest area facilities are patrolled on a regular basis – the likelihood of being moved along exactly after four hours is slight. This is the same reason we encourage drivers not to overstay the four hour limit – the safety and security of those in the facilities cannot be assured. Make sense? BC Parks facilities are open around the clock for travellers looking to pull in off the highway and have security on site. http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/
Highway signs for rest areas should indicate whether a rest area is suitable for larger vehicles. This information is available on the interactive map, but this is not suitable for reference while driving – that would be illegal.
I’ve noticed that this has been suggested before, but so far no action has been taken to correct this oversight and potential safety issue.
Hi Ross,
I’ll share with our sign department as a suggestion. We take all comments under consideration. When you say “larger vehicles”, are you referring to commercial vehicles or other vehicles? (IE campers)
I am referring to larger RVs. I was caught in the Goat River rest area towing a 5th wheel and it took a lot of juggling to get turned around so I could exit. Luckily it was not busy at the time, or I would have been unable to manoeuvre.
On a related note, I’ve noticed there are long stretches of highway where rest areas for large Rvs are not available. Highway 3 east of Princeton, for example. Even a heavily travelled route like the Trans Canada has limited availability east of Kamloops.
Hi Ross,
Thanks for your comments about rest areas, in BC.
If you haven’t seen this before, you might find our rest area map helpful in planning your travels. Any “rest area” symbol that appears in red, indicates that the rest area does not accommodate vehicles that are more than 20 metres in length: https://www.th.gov.bc.ca/restareas/?zoom=7&loc=-118.510502%2C50.489887
We just completed 8,000 miles through Banff, Jasper, Tok, Dawson, Chicken , Fairbanks, Denali, Anchorage , Whitehourse, Skagway, Homer and Seward with a truck camper and towing a Jeep. Lovely Canadian Country side, but not once we’re we able to find a rest area that allowed overnight camping in Canada. While Provincial parks a nice, clean and by lakes and usually only $12can. But, We just want to pull over and go to sleep without unhitching and spending 30-45 minutes finding getting envelopes to pay or waiting for a ranger to come and collect. The laws need to change. There are beautiful places to park, fish or enjoy the quiet. No such problem in Alaska or the lower 48. Please address this. I would have no problem paying a fee and getting a dated windshield sticker or another solution. Love Canada, my family is in BC.
Hi Steve and thank you for your comment 🙂
Commercialization of our rest areas is a conversation that does come up occasionally, however; at this time , and likely for the foreseeable future, overnight camping will not be available in our rest areas. Rest areas can be dark, secluded and remote which lead to safety concerns regarding those camping overnight. To make changes to improve lighting, security and other facilities is not something we can achieve with our current budget allowance. We encourage you to use any BC Rest Area to catch zzzz’s while you are travelling, but we try to discourage motorists from using rest areas for more than four hours at a time. Hope that this helps clarify. We appreciate your comments and hope that the rest of your trip through BC was excellent.
I totally agree this needs to be addressed.si if you want to camp American style stay in America .happy 4th
Hi I left a clothing item at Bradner rest area TCH north of Abbotsford on May 2. who can I contact to see if its been turned in or picked up by maintenance?
Hello Lee,
Please contact our contractor for the area, Emil Anderson Maintenance, with the details provided here at: 1-800-667-5122
Good luck finding your item!
The Hope Slide Rest Area has electric car chargers but the gate is locked. My cord is NOT THAT LONG!
Hi Dave – we are looking into this for you. Stay tuned.
who would i contact re a bag that was left in the washroom at the summit of the coq on thurs Aug 2
Hi Georgia,
Please contact the Maintenance Contractor for the Coquihalla Highway, to see if they may have found your bag.
VSA Highway Maintenance Ltd — 1-888-315-0025.
i went thru the coq. on thursday and left a bag at the summit washroom. could u tell me who i would contact
Hi Georgia,
Please contact VSA Highway Maintenance Ltd at 1-888-315-0025, to see they may have the bag you left behind at the Coquihalla summit restroom.
Please make your “Cheat Sheet for BC Provincial Rest Areas” map a downloadable *PDF file.
Thanks for the feedback Larry – we have shared it forward.
To Whom it may concern;
We were traveling to Merritt today Good Friday there is a public washroom at the top of Hamilton Hill south of Merritt. Truck break check stop hwy. 97C
We stopped there for a much needed bathroom break, I opened the door to the washroom and slammed it shut.
The filth was unbelievable, feces all over the toilet everywhere, not fresh it was old and the washroom was in a terrible state.
This is not the first time it has been like this. The one on highway 5 A is bad also.
Highway trucks go up and down all the roads many times a day, why can’t they stop use a power washer and clean these public washrooms.
No one should have to clean this kind of mess by hand but if they were cleaned properly and often then the public could at least us them.
I feel sorry for the truckers having to pull in there and try to use this washroom, after all these people live on our roads and deserve better.
These rest area washrooms are worse in the Winter, Spring and Fall.
I hope something is done about this issue and soon. Thank you.
Gayle Comeau
Hi Gayle,
We are sorry to hear about your experience, and have reported it to VSA Maintenance (1-888-315-0025), the contractor responsible for cleaning the Hamilton Hill rest area and those on Highway 5A.
The state of the rest area washrooms is abysmal! I have stopped at many of them and except for the ones close to the larger centres,and there are not many,they are pig styes.foul,coated with excrement and odorous beyond even holding ones breath.
Hi Trent,
Thanks for your comments about BC rest areas.
Please contact our maintenance contractors who are responsible for maintaining rest areas, when you encounter conditions that are unsatisfactory.
We live in California and have traveled through BC several times. We love your country and tour BC highway rest area system.
We will be traveling through BC enroute to Alaska in the spring of 2017. We will be utilizing rest areas, as well as RV parks for nightly stays. We have a large RV trailer that doesn’t fit well into smaller Provincial Parks, so we have to use rest areas to ‘rest’ some nights.
California rest area rules are a ‘8 hours max’ stay. Are BC rest areas still only 4 hours, and is that 4 hours enforced away from major city areas?
Thank you
Hi Dave,
Thanks for connecting with us here. You are free to use any BC Rest Area to catch zzzz’s while you are travelling, but we try to discourage motorists from using rest areas for more than four hours at a time. Rest areas can be dark, secluded and remote which lead to safety concerns regarding those camping overnight. BC Parks have many campsites available to travellers day or night and we encourage you to camp overnight there.
We have done some digging and have found that not all rest areas have “no camping” signs posted. Often they are posted when it’s found that longer-term camping is becoming a problem at a particular rest area. Overall, in terms of overnight stays, rest areas were originally envisioned for motorists who are too tired to continue driving and need to pull over and rest for a few hours, but we don’t believe that those who are homeless are turned away.
Hope this helps. Happy travels!
This site is such a great idea! One handy addition would be weather there is a power supply for trailer/ amenity hook up
Great suggestion Amanda,
We have shared it forward on your behalf.
This may be a weird question but ,who manufactures your pit toilets ? we would like to Buy one for our Cabin
Thank you for your time
Mike
Hi Mike,
Our pit toilets are generally provided by a company called Leko Precast Hope that this!
the rest areas in canada and the governments policy are an absolute disgrace which they should be thoroughly ashamed of!
not only the life
permitting only 4 hours of sleep endangers the life of drivers, and passengers including children as well as other drivers and passengers on the road.
i just drove from florida to bc.
and the difference between usa rest stops and government policy with canadian is unbelievable.
the americans provide a rest stop approx every 100 kilomentres on all the interstates i travelled. the rest stops had large buildings with exceptionally clean washroom facilities and food and drinks available in the many vending machines.
there were absolutely no hassles from anyone for sleeping overnight in more than 6 months travelling.
apparently the us authorities don’t want their sleepy travellers found dead on the road.
canadian rest stops – canada’s shame!
Hi Barley,
Thanks for connecting with us and sharing your concern. We are in the process of revisiting our rest area program and have solicited feedback from frequent users and are considering options for addressing the feedback we have received. We hope that this helps.
Like I said to your compatriot…..you want to camp American style?Stay in America
They need new toilet at:
Oyster Bay
Roberts Lake
Nanoose
Cobblehill
Malahat Summit
Because people hate porta potties rest area
Here a list need new outhouse because they too small and no door
Big tree
Keta Lake
Eve River
Eagles Nest
Misty Lake
Hi Harry,
Thanks for connecting with us here and sharing your feedback. We connected with the manager of the Provincial Rest Area Revitalization program about your concerns and they shared a table with us outlining past, present and future planned work at the sites you mentioned:
The table below summarizes the rest area work that was carried out last fiscal (2015/16), this fiscal, plus planned work for next fiscal (2017/18). While we are aware of the work to be done at the rest areas mentioned above there are approximately 180 rest areas across the province needing a variety of repairs and it is going to take time for us to address all of the outstanding issues and short comings; but we’re working hard to get there.
Rest Area Description of work
Oyster Bay This site saw minor site improvements in 2015/16. Work including the re-gravelling of pathways, the relocation of picnic tables, and the limbing of trees.
Roberts Lake This site saw minor site improvements in 2015/16. Improvements included the relocation of the handicap bathrooms, repairs to bathroom roofs, and repairs to the site’s fence.
Nanoose This site received improvements in 2015/16. This work included the removal of 3 porta potties and the construction of 3 permanent concrete outhouse buildings. Furthermore the tourist information board was replaced, plus other small site aesthetic improvements.
Cobblehill No plans this or next summer
Malahat Summit No plans this or next summer
Big Tree This summer the rest area was closed. This action was chosen because the site had limited potential to expand, plus safety concerns with vehicle egress/ingress. One of the more pressing safety issues relates to the poor visibility that drivers have when they are attempting to re-enter the highway.
Keta Lake Pit toilets replaced in 2015/16
Eve River No plans this or next summer
Eagles Nest No plans this or next summer
Misty Lake No plans this or next summer
Hope that this helps!
Excellent new H’Cap accessible toilets at Oyster Bay installed this summer. I went past one day & it was still the old port-a-potties; then just a couple of days later the new toilets were in place & the old ones gone!
Ninja toilets! 😉
It would be useful if the info for each rest stop included whether a dump station was available.
Hi Ross,
Thanks for your feedback. We have shared it forward for review.
Hi Ross,
Grey water dumping stations are not standard for any provincial rest area. They may exist for other non-provincial (private) rest areas, but those are not included in our list. Hope that this helps.
What is the time limit for rest stop use in B.C.? For example, am I allowed to park my self contained van and sleep for 8 hrs?
Hi there,
You are free to use any BC Rest Area to catch zzzz’s while you are travelling, but we try to discourage motorists from using rest areas for more than four hours at a time. Rest areas can be dark, secluded and remote which lead to safety concerns regarding those camping overnight. BC Parks have many campsites available to travellers day or night and we encourage you to camp overnight there. Hope this helps.
Is there an easy way to transfer rest stops to my GPS from your site
Hi Richard,
Thanks for connecting with us here. Which device do you use? Unfortunately, there is currently no easy way to transfer the data from our site to your GPS. GPS devices use a special data file – specially named and formatted. Each device has its own format and there in no real global standard as yet, (although some companies are trying to).
GPX is the closest thing to a global GPS file – and there are easy ways to translate a GPX file into something one of the “picky” GPSrs would read. It would be better to do something for most people instead of doing nothing because you can’t do everything…
Hey Richard,
I put together a GPS POI file of all of the rest stops in bc. It is garmin poi format (works in my Nissan Rogue’s GPS). pretty slimmed down version, just the location, rest stop name, south/northbound and type of toilet.
Let me know if you want me to email you a copy.
I would appreciate a copy (gpx format) if you have created one.
Hi Deepak,
Data can be downloaded via DataBC
http://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/ministry-of-transportation-mot-rest-area
Besides toilets and tables, are there any BC rest areas that include services like fuel, food, laundry, showers, shops, etc?
Like these places-
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/traveller/service-centres/questions-and-answers.shtml
http://web-japan.org/trends/11_lifestyle/lif111006.html
Hi Werner,
Thanks for connecting with us and thanks for the great idea! While provincial rest areas do not have services such as shops and showers, there are many municipal and community driven rest areas across the province that do. Hope that this helps!
Thanks very much. Good to know. I guess the emphasis is on “rest”. But as you say, the other amenities can indeed be found in most communities along the way and usually not to far from rest areas.
Travelers would be well advised to exercise caution and common sense in the dark hours. These areas(the ones I’ve seen so far), though lit and open 24hrs, are unstaffed and it’s unpredictable as to how frequently they are patrolled by RCMP. Some nights it’s not exactly a “family friendly” atmosphere, and it’s not uncommon for shady characters and practices to occur.
To my recollection I can’t remember if any of these areas have public telephones. If not, it might be a good idea in terms of safety and emergency to have them installed.
Thanks again.
We just returned from a trailer trip from Alberta. We came back Highway 16 to Prince George and then south on 97 and through the Fraser Canyon to Maple Ridge. Somehow there must be some signage to indicate if the rest areas will accommodate large RVs and semi trailer trucks (perhaps a sign that indicates no vehicles over 25 ft., as seen in some states). We had a near disaster at the Goat River rest area as I followed my travel companions in (also towing a 25 ft trailer) when we realized there was no room to turn around. This necessitated both of us backing out onto Highway 16 (rest area is located at the bottom of a hill (both ways) and a turn. This was extremely scary (and highly dangerous) for both of us. Only a few miles down the road west was another rest area with lots of rooms for trucks and trailers.
Hi Ian,
Thanks for your feedback. We are currently looking at ways we can expand the information available online and on the road about what rest area facilities are available to travellers. Stay tuned.
Do you know which rest stops are the busiest in the province and would you have any idea of how many travellers use them?
Hi Audry,
Sorry, we don’t have that information.
Are there any rest stops between Vancouver and Barriere that have playgrounds?
Rest areas are located just off provincial highways and all offer toilets (and most have picnic tables). They do not have playgrounds. You might want to look up the BC Parks along your route, as some parks offer playgrounds, and/or walking or swimming opportunities, and most are not far from the highway. Click on the “tree” icon on the map for details. Playgrounds are indicated with a symbol of children on a teeter-totter (aka see-saw).
I am a truck driver, and it would be very helpful to know well in advance of a rest area whether or not the rest area is accessible to trucks. I’ve noticed that some highways have an axle limit, and some specify no trucks, and this is helpful.
Thanks Chris for the suggestion. I’ll definitely pass this along.