News and Events
- Traveler Comments
- Report Items Lost and Found at a WI Rest Area
- Safe Travel Tips -- for June
- Lesser-Known Holidays in July
- Jackson County Rest Area 54 - Points of View in Wisconsin
- Featured Service Provider - UPDATED May, 2009
- Rest Area Maintenance Hall of Fame
- Emerald Ash Borer
- New Rest Areas Being Built in Portage
- Wisconsin Travel Planner Guide
- Rest Area Closures due to Construction & Repairs
- Recycling Program at Wisconsin's Rest Areas
- Tourism Counters at Wisconsin Welcome Centers Close
- Distribute Your Tourism Guides and Brochures at WI Rest Areas
- Rules & Policies at Wisconsin Roadside Facilities
Traveler Comments
Tell Us About Your Rest Area Visit
WE NEED YOUR HELP in continuing to meet your rest area needs. Please take a few seconds to give us your impressions. Download a Visitor's Comment Form VISITOR COMMENT FORM (pdf) and tell us about your rest area experience. Thank you and enjoy your travels!
Note: Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to open the Visitor Comment Form. This software can be downloaded for free at the following link: Download Adobe Acrobat Reader
Barron County Rest Area - Click on photo to learn more about this site
"This is one of the best rest areas I have seen anywhere in the Country. Wisconsin should be proud." - May 2009
Dunn County Rest Area - Click on photo to learn more about this site
"You are doing a fantastic job! One of the best rest areas I have ever seen. Thank you. Keep up the good work." - May 2009
Jefferson County Rest Area - Click on photo to learn more about this site
"The people were nice and working hard to keep this place spotless. It is a very clean site. Thank you." - May 2009
Juneau County Rest Area - Click on photo to learn more about this site
"The best and cleanest restrooms I've seen." - May 2009
Report Items LOST at a WI Rest Area
If you think you may have lost an item while stopping at a rest area, contact the rest area where you believe you lost your item. A complete listing of rest areas can be viewed by clicking on Site Phone Directory (pdf). This directory is arranged in alphabetical order by County. Contact us at rfw@rfw.org or call 608-244-5310 if you need further assistance.
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Safe Travel Tips - MOOve Over
June is Dairy Month - Brake for cows.
Merging: Merge into traffic at traffic speed, don't be the slowpoke that others must heed.
Move Over Law: Drivers must provide a safety zone for stopped law enforcement and emergency vehicles.
Yield quickly to approaching emergency vehicles with its siren on. You must move to the right and stop your vehicle.
For additional Wisconsin travel information go to Travel Planner Guide.
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Lesser-Known Observances in July
- 2 - I Forgot Day
- 5 - Build a Scarecrow Day
- 6 - National Fried Chicken Day
- 7 - Chocolate Day
- 13 - Barbershop Music Appreciation Day
- 14 - National Nude Day
- 15 - Cow Appreciation Day Give a cow a hug today!
- 20 - Moon Day
- 26 - All or Nothing Day
- 27 - Take Your Pants for a Walk Day
- 31 - Mutt's Day
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Points of View in Wisconsin - Jackson County Rest Area
Click on the photo to see one of the many RAM sites featured through photos. Find out about its location and interesting facets. You may want to visit the next time you are in the area.
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Check out our new FEATURED SERVICE PROVIDER
The RAM Featured Service Provider recognizes a Wisconsin Rest Area Maintenance service provider who is doing an exceptional job. The recognition is primarily acknowledged through RFW site inspections, from comment cards or letters of visitors stopping at the sites, or from comments received from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation staff in 2009. The RFW staff would like to recognize the outstanding efforts of Highline Corporation , Inc. in Hurley, Wisconsin. To read about Highline Corporation, go to RAM Featured Service Provider.
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Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)
Keep the EAB out of our A-S-H. Click Here to learn how to battle the bug.
New Rest Areas Being Built in Portage
WisDOT is replacing the rest areas eastbound and westbound on I-39/90/94 with new modern facilities. These computer generated drawings show what the new rest areas will look like. As construction continues, both rest areas are scheduled to be open to the public by October or early November 2009. The existing rest areas remain open during construction of the new facilities.
Click on each images to enlarge.
NEW -- Construction photos - April (pdf) and Construction photos - June (pdf) of Columbia County (Portage) rest areas
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Wisconsin Travel Planner Guide
For information about road conditions and construction projects around the state and how they might impact your travel plans, visit the following links:
- 511 - Road Conditions & Travel Information: http://www.511wi.gov/web/Map.aspx
- County Maps: http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/maps/county.htm
- Freeway Exit Numbers: http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/road/exits.htm
- RV Dump Stations: http://www.rvdumps.com/dumpstations/wisconsin
- Tourism Information: http://www.travelwisconsin.com/
- Travel Green Wisconsin: http://www.travelgreenwisconsin.com/consumer/index.htm
- Travel Easy Map: http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/traveleasy/docs/state-map.pdf
- Truck Operator Map: http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/maps/truck-routes.htm
- Work Zones and Detours: http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/road/workzones.htm
- Work Zone Safety in Wisconsin: http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/safety/motorist/workzones/
Rest Area Closures due to Constructions & Repairs
The following sites will be closed during road construction.
- Milwaukee County Park & Rides located on College Avenue (NE & SW) will both be closed May 21 - August 2009 due to I-94 construction.
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Recycling Program at Wisconsin Rest Areas
Most sites have recycling bins for common recyclable materials such as aluminum, plastic, tin, glass, and newspapers. Crews sort through the materials and take them to the local recycling facilities, thereby reducing the amount of waste that would normally go to landfills.
Wisconsin's rest area recycling program was among the first in the nation, starting in 1992.
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Tourism Counters at Wisconsin Welcome Centers Close
On April 11, 2009, the Department of Tourism removed their staff and permanently closed the tourism counters at Wisconsin Welcome Centers throughout the State. The restrooms remain open to the public.
Go to http://www.travelwisconsin.com/ for information regarding Wisconsin tourism.
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Distribute Your Tourism Guides and Brochures at WI Rest Areas
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation, RFW and local rehabilitation agencies work cooperatively in acquiring materials for the literature racks at the rest areas to provide travelers with safety brochures, maps and information on local tourism attractions. To place brochures and guides from your community in the rest area literature racks, please download a copy of the Literature Policy (pdf) for more information.
Contact Susan Davis at RFW Inc. via email at sdavis@rfw.org or call the RFW office at 608-244-5310 if you have any questions.
To learn more about the Rest Area Maintenance Program go to http://www.rfw.org/RAM/WhatistheRAMProgram.htm
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Rest Area Policies:
Camping Policy at Wisconsin Roadside Facilities
Roadside sites are provided for the safety, comfort, convenience and enjoyment of the traveling public. Activities which are not safety related are not compatible with the intended use of the roadside facility. Wisconsin Department of Transportation policy prohibits camping by any person on public highways or adjacent lands.
Geocaching at Wisconsin Roadside Facilities
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation, for safety and operational reasons, discourages citizens from using any WisDOT site for geocaching purposes. Any "cache" found by site staff will be disposed of promptly.
Long Term Parking at Wisconsin Rest Areas
Roadside sites are provided for the safety, comfort, convenience and enjoyment of the traveling public. Long term parking at highway rest areas is not allowed, as it is not consistent with the purpose and design of the facilities and can cause problems relative to the use and maintenance of the site.
Long term would be considered as vehicles parked at a roadside site for more than a 24-hour continuous period, occupied or not. If a vehicle is parked at a roadside facility for more than this time period, it will be reported to the State Patrol and the procedure for removal will begin.
Service Animals at WI Rest Areas
Wisconsin Act 354 - A person with disabilities or a service animal trainer who is accompanied by a service animal is permitted to accompany the person with a disability or the service animal trainer to all areas of the public place that are open to the general public. This would include restrooms, vending area and any information available inside the facility
Non-Service Animals at WI Rest Areas
All animals other than service animals whether in transport cages or not, may not be allowed into the rest area building. Non-service animals are to be confined either in the owner's vehicle or may use the pet walk area when accompanied by the owner. All animals are to be on a leash while on the rest area premises.
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RAM Service Provider Member's Only Area
A portion of this website is reserved for information pertaining specifically to Wisconsin Rest Area Maintenance Program and SWEFM service providers. The RAM Service Providers Only area contains helpful resources, news, and happenings that impact RAM employees. Included in the RAM Service Providers Only area is the RAM & SWEFM Program Manuals and RAM Training Resources, including the Training Manual, Crisp Tour and many other useful training tools. Topics include the following:
- Green Products & Practices
- RAM Committee Information
- Nuts and Bolts Newsletter
- From the Front Lines
- RAMping Up
- RAMifications
- RAM Program Training Manual & Resources
- RAM & SWEFM Program Manuals
- Seasonal Wayside Resources
- SWEFM Program Resources
- Latest RAM and SWEFM Best Practices and Updates
Go to the RAM Service Providers Only Section to check it out today! You will need a user name and password to access this section. If you are a RAM Service Provider and do not know your user name and password, contact Susan Davis (sdavis@rfw.org).
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