Skipping German Rest Stops? Here's What You Miss Out On, According to ADAC
- Author: Christian Hensen
- Reading Time: 2 Min
Avoid pausing at these roadside halts - Avoid Pulling Over at These Parking Spots
Sneak a peek at this video: Germany's Best and Worst Rest Areas on RTL
For those embarking on a lengthy road trip, pit stops might be the least exciting part. Yet, German rest areas don't always get a thumbs-up. Take Italy, for example, where a break at the first Autogrill promises delicious coffee and affordable Italian cuisine.
But within Germany, things aren't so bleak, as evidenced by the ADAC Rest Area Test. This assessment scrutinizes 40 rest areas nationwide by evaluating aspects like food options, cleanliness of toilets, prices, and infrastructure.
The bad news? None of the inspected rest areas earned a "very good" rating. The good news? No complete disasters either, since none received a "very poor." The verdict? A bit of a mix: Eight rest areas received a "good," six received a "poor," with the rest hovering in the middle.
Modern, Modern Toilets - But at What Cost?
Unlike the notoriously smelly, unattended restrooms in some smaller areas, you can count on sanitation facilities at larger rest areas—often managed by Sanifair. Testers found these to be "modern, well-equipped, and intact." However, some facilities fell short despite charging a euro, due to less-than-spotless cleanliness.
The food findings might surprise: Testers "nearly always" felt satisfied with the food offerings. However, only three out of the 40 tested areas offered fair prices. The rest were deemed overpriced, with shops being "expensive," particularly when compared to services off the highway.
Top 3 (And Bottom 3) Rest Areas Revealed
Highlights of the recent ADAC test include "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, securing the top spots. On the contrary, "Fuchsberg Süd" in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on the A20, "Münsterland West" in North Rhine-Westphalia on the A1, and "Eisenach Nord" in Thuringia along the A4 ranked as the bottom three.
ADAC advises against refueling at rest areas. Previous tests revealed up to a 54-cent difference per liter between fuel prices along the highway compared to nearby exits.
Further concerns in the test included child-friendliness and accessibility, along with a scarcity of fast-charging stations for electric cars. Notably absent: Covered charging stations, making charging in less-than-optimal weather challenging.
A Note on Additional Information
The specific top and bottom rest areas from the latest ADAC test weren't available in the provided search data. However, ADAC frequently releases rankings of motorway rest areas, featuring rest areas with top-notch facilities, clean sanitary areas, ample parking, appealing amenities, good lighting, quality food options, well-maintained restrooms, and secure environments. Alternatively, rest areas ranked poorly by ADAC often suffer from issues such as inadequate cleanliness, poor maintenance, lack of safety, inadequate parking, outdated restrooms, and low-quality food services.
For the latest rankings and detailed assessments, consult ADAC's official website or their press releases dedicated to motorway rest area evaluations.
- The ADAC Rest Area Test, a thorough assessment of rest areas across Germany, found that while none received a "very good" rating, none were considered "very poor" either, indicating a mixed verdict with eight rest areas receiving a "good" rating.
- Testers in the ADAC Rest Area Test found modern, well-equipped toilets at larger rest areas, often managed by Sanifair, but expressed disappointment with less-than-spotless cleanliness, despite a charging fee of one euro.
- The ADAC test reveled that Fürholzen West in Bavaria, Demminer Land in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Sindelfinger Wald Süd in Baden-Württemberg are among the top rest areas in Germany, while Fuchsberg Süd in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Münsterland West in North Rhine-Westphalia, and Eisenach Nord in Thuringia ranked as the bottom three.
- ADAC advises against refueling at rest areas, due to up to a 54-cent difference per liter between fuel prices along the highway compared to nearby exits, and also highlights concerns about child-friendliness, accessibility, a scarcity of fast-charging stations for electric cars, and the lack of covered charging stations.
- For the latest rankings and detailed assessments of rest areas, consult ADAC's official website or their press releases dedicated to motorway rest area evaluations, as the specific top and bottom rest areas from the latest ADAC test were not available in the provided search data.
