News and Events
- Traveler Comments - submit your comments and questions.
- Report Items Lost and Found at a WI Rest Area
- New Rest Areas Being Built in Portage
- Rest Area Maintenance Hall of Fame
- Featured Service Provider - UPDATED December, 2008
- LaCrosse County - Points of View in Wisconsin
- Distribute Your Tourism Guides and Brochures at WI Rest Areas
- Lesser-Known Holidays in January
- Travel Planner Guide
- RV Dump Stations
- Recycling Program at Wisconsin's Rest Areas
- Rules & Policies at Wisconsin Roadside Facilities
- RAM Service Providers Only Section
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
Jefferson County Rest Area - Click on photo to learn more about this site
"I am very pleased with the cleaning and care of the facility and grounds. Keep up the good work!" - December 2008
Kenosha County Welcome Center - Click on photo to learn more about this site
"This is the best rest stop ever! Keep up the good work!" - December 2008
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 and Wisconsin welcome centers can be viewed by clicking on Site Phone Directory. 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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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. Both Rest Areas are scheduled to be completed by November 2010. The existing rest areas will remain open during construction of the new facilities.
Click on each images below to enlarge.
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 2008. The RFW staff would like to recognize the outstanding efforts of Headwaters, Inc. in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. To read about Headwaters, Inc., go to RAM Featured Service Provider.
Points of View in Wisconsin - Rest Area & Welcome Center in LaCrosse County
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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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 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
Lesser-Known Observances in January
- 2 - Run Up the Flagpole and See if Anybody Salutes It Day
- 6 - Bean Day
- 10 - Peculiar People Day
- 15 - Hat Day
- 19 - National Popcorn Day
- 27 - Punch the Clock Day
- 27 - Thomas Crapper Day -- This holiday commemorates Mr. Thomas Crapper, the man who (as the name may suggest) invented the flush toilet.
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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:
- Current Road Conditions: http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/road/winter-roads.htm
- Incident Alerts: http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/incident-alerts.htm
- Freeway Exit Numbers: http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/road/exits.htm
- Tourism Information: http://www.travelwisconsin.com/
- Travel Green Wisconsin: http://www.travelgreenwisconsin.com/consumer/index.htm
- Truck Operator Map: http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/maps/truck-routes.htm
- WI County Maps: http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/maps/county.htm/
- Current Construction: http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/road/workzones.htm
- Work Zone Map: http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/traveleasy/docs/state-map.pdf
Wisconsin RV Dump Stations
For information regarding Wisconsin RV Dump Stations, go to RV Dump Stations. They are listed first by locations easily accessed from Interstate highways followed by those in other locations throughout the state.
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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Rest Area Policies:
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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