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Top German Municipalities: Ranking the Superior and Inferior Towns
Top German Municipalities: Ranking the Superior and Inferior Towns

Unleased: Unveiling the German Rest Areas,From Bothersome to Brilliant

  • by Christian Hensen
      • 2 Min

Avoid halting at theseroadside resting spots casually - Stay clear of these parking spaces for safety reasons.

Ever found car trips tiresome due to dreaded rest breaks? Well, German rest areas might have a tarnished reputation, but it's not all grime and gloom! The current ADAC rest area test dispels doubts, scrutinizing 40 rest areas across the country and grading them based on factors including catering, sanitary conditions, pricing, and infrastructure.

Though none of the tested rest areas received a "very good" rating, luckily, none descended into a "very poor" verdict either. The results show a mix: Eight rest areas earned a "good", six a "poor", while the remainder hovered in the middle.

Modern toilets - Beware the Price Tag

Compared to elusive, rank, unmanned rest areas featuring infamous toilet cabins that send a warning before you even get close due to their noxious stench, larger rest areas, often managed by Sanifair, promise better prospects. Testers confirm these facilities as "modern, well-equipped, and intact", yet some didn't maintain the highest level of cleanliness standards, despite levying an entry fee of euro.

Food offerings might seem surprising. According to the ADAC, testers were "almost always satisfied" with the food choices available at the rest areas. However, only three out of the 40 tested facilities presented fair prices. The remainder, unfortunately, were deemed exorbitant, with overpriced shops noteably costlier compared to highway service areas.

Top-notch rest areas and the flops

The cream of the crop from the ADAC test includes 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.

On the flip side, the bottom of the barrel includes 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 advises against fueling at rest areas. Another test by the club reveals that you can pay up to 54 cents more per liter at rest areas compared to gas stations near exits[3].

The test also brought to light concerns regarding child-friendliness, accessibility, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure[4]. Surprisingly, most rest areas provide insufficient fast-charging stations for electric vehicles. Moreover, almost none of the charging stations are covered, making charging an electric vehicle in awful weather quite the challenge.

Enrichment Insights:

  • [1]ADAC test indicates that some rest areas lack family-friendly facilities and maintain poor cleanliness standards.
  • [2]Several rest areas, including Engelmannsbäke (A1, Niedersachsen) and Plater Berg (A14, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern), received praise for their quality in the ADAC test.
  • [3]ADAC's test reveals that fuel prices can significantly higher at rest areas compared to gas stations near exits.
  • [4]The test highlighted deficiencies in child-friendliness, accessibility, and a lack of fast charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in many rest areas.
  1. The community policy of ADAC regarding rest area tests evaluates 40 areas across Germany, analyzing factors such as catering, sanitary conditions, pricing, and infrastructure.
  2. Although none of the tested rest areas were given a "very good" rating, many were graded as "good" or "poor", suggesting a mix of ratings in the review.
  3. For individuals seeking modern and well-equipped rest areas, locations such as Fürholzen West in Bavaria, Demminer Land in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Sindelfinger Wald Süd in Baden-Württemberg perform exceptionally well according to ADAC's latest vocational training on rest area inspections.
  4. Surprisingly, despite high entry fees, certain rest areas fail to maintain the highest level of cleanliness standards, as shown in the ADAC's vocational training report on rest area assessments.
  5. Travelers seeking a home-and-garden, lifestyle, technology, travel, or car-related resources may find relevant information in the Sindelfinger rest area, which offers a diverse range of amenities catering to various interests.

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