Unveiling the Hit-or-Miss German Autobahn Rest Stops: A Comprehensive Guide
- Author: Christian Hensen
- Reading Time: +- 2 Minutes
Avoid Pullovers at These Highway Rest Stops - Avoid these highway stops under any circumstances.
Watch the Video: Germany's Best and Worst Rest Areas - RTL
When embarking on a lengthy ride via car, the thought of planned breaks might not stir exhilaration. Oftentimes, German rest areas may not hold as much allure as their Italian counterparts, where you can find delightful coffee and inexpensive Italian dishes at Autogrill.
Yet, even in Germany, there's a silver lining, as proven by the current ADAC Rest Area Test. The club scrutinized 40 rest areas across the nation, evaluating them based on aspects like food offerings, sanitary facilities, pricing, and infrastructure.
Alas, none of the tested rest stops received a "very good" rating. Thankfully, there were no abysmal failures, earning a "very poor" rating. The rest of the landscape was mixed: Eight rest areas achieved a "good," six received a "poor," with the remainder somewhere in the middle.
A Mission for Cleanliness - The Cost of Modern Accommodations
Unlike the unsightly rest areas boasting those pungent toilet buildings, at larger rest areas, you can rely on one thing: Modernized, well-equipped, and serviceable toilets, often operated by Sanifair. However, cleanliness standards were not always met despite charging a euro for entry in some facilities.
Food, however, might seem confounding. The ADAC reports that testers were "typically pleased" with the food offerings at rest areas. Nevertheless, only three out of the 40 tested offered reasonable prices. The rest were characterized as overpriced, particularly when compared to service areas behind the highway.
Top and Bottom Performers According to ADAC
The best three rest areas from the current ADAC test are found at "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.
Conversely, the bottom three are situated at "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.
The ADAC generally advises against fueling at rest areas. In another test, the club discovered that prices could be as much as 54 cents more per liter along the highway than nearby gas stations.
The test also exposed shortcomings in terms of child-friendliness and accessibility, with most rest areas offering few quick-charging stations for electric cars. Of note, almost none of the charging stations are covered, making charging in inclement weather a daunting task for electric vehicle owners.
Enrichment Data:
- Engelmannsbäke on the A1 in Lower Saxony and Plater Berg on the A14 in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania were both rated "very good" in a previous ADAC test.
- Moorkaten-West on the A7 received a "good" rating and placed fifth overall.
- Mölenbarg rest area on the A20 was rated "inadequate" due to poor sanitary facilities.
- Christian Hensen suggests that those seeking vocational training opportunities may find a wealth of choices at German Autobahn rest areas, given the variety of food vendors and services available, often including convenience stores and gas stations.
- Despite the mixed reviews on cleanliness and pricing, home-and-garden enthusiasts might find inspiration for their lifestyle choices, as these rest areas offer a snapshot of German culture and design, especially in their modern facilities and infrastructure.
