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North Carolina Rest Areas & Rest Stops (2026)

  • 53 rest areas
  • 7 welcome centers
  • 7 interstates
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Updated October 2026 · Sources: OpenStreetMap, North Carolina DOT

North Carolina has 53 public rest areas and 7 welcome centers along its interstates and highways. Most of them sit on I-40, I-85 and I-95.

Welcome centers greet drivers at I-26 West NC Welcome Center on I-26, I-85 Southbound Welcome Center & Rest Area on I-85 and North Carolina Welcome Center on I-77. The longest stretch between two rest areas in the same direction is about 100 miles on I-77 northbound, between North Carolina Welcome Center and Virginia Rest Area. Compared with the US average, North Carolina rest areas are more likely to have picnic areas (57% vs 37% nationally).

Planning a longer stop? North Carolina's rules for overnight parking are summarized below, along with weigh stations, truck stops and RV dump stations in the state.

North Carolina Rest Area Map

Every rest area, welcome center and service plaza in North Carolina, plus truck stops, weigh stations and dump stations. Open the interactive map to zoom in, filter by amenities and get directions.

  • Rest area
  • Truck scale
  • Truck stop
  • RV dump station
  • Welcome center
  • Weigh station
  • Truck parking
Open the North Carolina mapPrefer a list? See all ↓

All 60 Rest Areas in North Carolina

Rest stops in North Carolina, sorted by road. Each one links to its own page with exact location, amenities and the next stop in each direction.

25 more stops with limited info

Mapped in OpenStreetMap, but without enough details yet for a page of their own. Know one of them? Tell us.

  • I-40 Catawba Rest Area Eastbound MM 136 · I-40 · Exit 135
  • I-40 Catawba Rest Area Westbound MM 136 · I-40 · Exit 135
  • I-40 Eastbound Rest Area near Benson · I-40 · Exit 325
  • I-40 Westbound Rest Area near Benson · I-40 · Exit 325
  • I-77 Iredell County Rest Area · I-77 · Exit 59
  • Virginia Rest Area · I-77 · Exit 101
  • I-85 Cabarrus County Rest Area · I-85 · Exit 60A
  • I-85 Cabarrus County Rest Area · I-85 · Exit 60A
  • I-95 Northbound ─ Johnston County · I-95 · Exit 98
  • I-95 Southbound ─ Johnston County · I-95 · Exit 98
  • US-19 Northbound Rest Area near Andrews · US-19
  • Smoky Mountain Visitor Center · US-23
  • US-64 Rest Area near Columbia · US-64
  • Washington County Rest Area · US-64
  • US 70 Craven County · US-70 · Exit 409
  • Currituck County US 158 Rest Area · US-158
  • US-421 Rest Area · US-421
  • Brown Mountain Overlook
  • Cherohala Skyway restroom/trail head
  • Connect 4
  • Ellerbe Rest Area
  • Observation Deck
  • Rest Area near Waxhaw
  • SJAFB USO
  • Watauga County US 221 Rest Area

Rest Areas by Interstate in North Carolina

Rest areas on a divided interstate usually serve one direction only. Here they're listed in order of travel, with the distance to the next stop (by mile marker where known).

I-26 Rest Areas in North Carolina

I-26 has 4 rest stops in North Carolina – 2 eastbound, 2 westbound.

I-26 Eastbound

  1. I-26 Eastbound Rest Area near Mars Hill · Exit 3

    ↓ 30.9 mi

  2. I-26 Henderson County Rest Area · Exit 40

I-26 Westbound

  1. I-26 West NC Welcome Center · Exit 67

    ↓ 22.6 mi

  2. I-26 Buncombe County Rest Area · Exit 40

All rest areas on I-26 →

I-40 Rest Areas in North Carolina

I-40 has 13 rest stops in North Carolina – 7 eastbound, 7 westbound.

I-40 Eastbound

  1. North Carolina Welcome Center · Exit 7

    ↓ 72 mi

  2. Marion Rest Area - Eastbound · Exit 81

    ↓ 50.4 mi

  3. I-40 Catawba Rest Area Eastbound MM 136 (limited info) · Exit 135

    ↓ 40.1 mi

  4. Davie County, I-40 Eastbound Rest Area · Exit 180

    ↓ 53.5 mi

  5. Alamance County Rest Area · Exit 140

    ↓ 70.9 mi

  6. I-40 Eastbound Rest Area near Benson (limited info) · Exit 325

    ↓ 38.2 mi

  7. Duplin County I-40 Rest Area · Exit 364 · both directions

I-40 Westbound

  1. Duplin County I-40 Rest Area · Exit 364 · both directions

    ↓ 38.3 mi

  2. I-40 Westbound Rest Area near Benson (limited info) · Exit 325

    ↓ 70.9 mi

  3. Alamance County Rest Area · Exit 140

    ↓ 53.6 mi

  4. Davie County, I-40 Westbound Rest Area · Exit 180

    ↓ 40 mi

  5. I-40 Catawba Rest Area Westbound MM 136 (limited info) · Exit 135

    ↓ 50.3 mi

  6. McDowell County Rest Area · Exit 83

    ↓ 72 mi

  7. I-40 Westbound Rest Area · Exit 7

I-40 rest areas in North Carolina: map & details →All rest areas on I-40 →

I-73 Rest Areas in North Carolina

I-73 has 2 rest stops in North Carolina – 1 northbound, 1 southbound.

I-73 Northbound

  1. Randolph County I-73/I-74 Northbound Rest Area · Exit 61

I-73 Southbound

  1. Randolph County I-73/I-74 Southbound Rest Area · Exit 61

All rest areas on I-73 →

I-74 Rest Areas in North Carolina

I-74 has 3 rest stops in North Carolina – 2 eastbound, 1 westbound.

I-74 Eastbound

  1. I-74 Eastbound Rest Area · Exit 5

    ↓ 90 mi

  2. Randolph County I-73/I-74 Southbound Rest Area · Exit 61

I-74 Westbound

  1. Randolph County I-73/I-74 Northbound Rest Area · Exit 61

All rest areas on I-74 →

I-77 Rest Areas in North Carolina

I-77 has 4 rest stops in North Carolina – 2 northbound, 2 southbound.

I-77 Northbound

  1. North Carolina Welcome Center · Exit 1A

    ↓ 100.1 mi

  2. Virginia Rest Area (limited info) · Exit 101

I-77 Southbound

  1. I-74 Eastbound Rest Area · Exit 5

    ↓ 45.8 mi

  2. I-77 Iredell County Rest Area (limited info) · Exit 59

All rest areas on I-77 →

I-85 Rest Areas in North Carolina

I-85 has 10 rest stops in North Carolina – 5 northbound, 5 southbound.

I-85 Northbound

  1. I-85 Northbound Rest Area near Grover · Exit 2

    ↓ 57 mi

  2. I-85 Cabarrus County Rest Area (limited info) · Exit 60A

    ↓ 41 mi

  3. Davidson County I-85 Northbount Rest Area · Exit 102

    ↓ 40 mi

  4. Alamance County Rest Area · Exit 140

    ↓ 51.4 mi

  5. I-85, Northbound - Granville County · Exit 202

I-85 Southbound

  1. I-85 Southbound Welcome Center & Rest Area · Exit 233

    ↓ 30.8 mi

  2. I-85, Southbound - Granville County · Exit 202

    ↓ 51.4 mi

  3. Alamance County Rest Area · Exit 140

    ↓ 40 mi

  4. Davidson County I-85 Southbound Rest Area · Exit 102

    ↓ 41 mi

  5. I-85 Cabarrus County Rest Area (limited info) · Exit 60A

All rest areas on I-85 →

I-95 Rest Areas in North Carolina

I-95 has 8 rest stops in North Carolina – 4 northbound, 4 southbound.

I-95 Northbound

  1. North Carolina Welcome Center · Exit 7

    ↓ 39.2 mi

  2. Cumberland County I-95 Northbound Rest Area · Exit 49

    ↓ 49.5 mi

  3. I-95 Northbound ─ Johnston County (limited info) · Exit 98

    ↓ 40.7 mi

  4. Northbound Nash County Rest Area · Exit 141

I-95 Southbound

  1. North Carolina Welcome Center · Exit 180

    ↓ 38.2 mi

  2. Southbound Nash County Rest Area · Exit 141

    ↓ 41 mi

  3. I-95 Southbound ─ Johnston County (limited info) · Exit 98

    ↓ 50 mi

  4. Cumberland County I-95 Southbound Rest Area · Exit 49

All rest areas on I-95 →

Can You Sleep at Rest Areas in North Carolina?

Unknown – check posted signs

We haven't verified North Carolina's official rule for overnight parking at rest areas yet. Time limits are posted at each rest area.

Posted signs at each rest area always take priority.

Compare rules in all 50 states →

Amenities at North Carolina Rest Areas

  • Restrooms46 of 60
  • Truck parking6 of 60
  • Picnic area34 of 60
  • Pet area1 of 60
  • Vending machines22 of 60
  • Drinking water7 of 60
  • EV chargingnot recorded
  • Wi-Fi2 of 60
  • Dump stationnot recorded

North Carolina rest areas are above the US average for picnic areas (57% vs 37% nationally).

North Carolina Welcome Centers & Service Plazas

Welcome centers offer maps, travel information and often staff; service plazas on toll roads add fuel and food.

North Carolina Rest Area FAQ

How many rest areas are in North Carolina?

North Carolina has 53 rest areas and 7 welcome centers on its interstates and highways, according to our data from October 2026.

Can you sleep at rest areas in North Carolina?

We haven't verified North Carolina's official overnight rule yet. Check the signs posted at each rest area – they always take priority.

Which North Carolina rest areas have truck parking?

6 rest areas in North Carolina have designated truck parking, including Alamance County Rest Area, Alamance County Rest Area and I-85, Northbound - Granville County.

Do North Carolina rest areas have dump stations?

We list 22 RV dump stations in North Carolina. See the list below.

Truck Stops, Weigh Stations & RV Dump Stations in North Carolina

11 weigh stations

All North Carolina weigh stations →

54 truck stops

All truck stops in North Carolina →

22 RV dump stations

+ 17 more on the map

Rest Areas in Neighboring States

Data: OpenStreetMap contributors · Last updated October 2026 ·Report an issue · Data sources