Large sign that said 3.95 gas while I was going on the I-5 Northbound. Â I exited, filled up. The pump didn't stick. Â It felt good. Â There was a megabus that pulled up with some shady characters coming out of it. Â Some college kids, some nomads, you never know really. Â Before heading to the bathroom, I put my GPS away. Â Walked in, seemed a bit packed for midnight b/c of that bus, seemed like a 7-11 on the minute before alcohol can't be sold but nonetheless the bathroom was pretty darn clean.
I would come back here.
This place is absolutely wonderful for so many reasons. I was on my way back down from San Jose and I was pushing my car close to empty. When I stopped on this exit, there were several gas stations and I had to choose one. I went searching through all the prices for each station. Shell's looked the cheapest but they trick you by putting in small letters "Cash/Shell Card" for the lower prices, meaning you'll pay at least $0.20 more each gallon if you pay with anything else. The 76's price on their billboard didn't match their pump at all. So when I pulled up to Travel Center's Mobil gas pump, I was thrilled to see it was exactly the price they advertised and was cheaper than anything I've seen in the last 300 miles (and consequently, 200 miles after as well). It was whilst I was pumping gas that I started to realize how great this place was.
The Greatness
- The squegees they use aren't all raggedy and broken. They work well and even better, the water they're in is actual SOAP water. None of this crappy, dirty water to clean your windshields. You'll actually get a good clean at this place!
- I went inside to use the restroom and it wasn't just clean, it had marble tiles on the walls. Don't believe me, look at the picture I posted up. It has stainless steel stalls, coat hangers, and actual paper towels so you don't have to try and blow your face clean after washing it. And if there's something you don't like, the manager left her card next to the exit so you can tell her your complaints. That's attention to detail!
- This place not only has a huge convenience store located inside, but they also have a Taco Bell Express and full on restaurant attached to it, with an All You Can Eat buffet. What the math?! That's great! Multiple choices in one convenient location.
- I had my own personal water bottle with me that I've been drinking throughout the drive. I didn't know if it would fly, but I decided to ask the Taco Bell worker anyways if I could fill up my bottle with water from their soda fountain machine. She smiled and said, "Sure". Now I know that's a little thing, but to someone who just wants some cold, refreshing, free water, that simple act could bring tears to your eyes.
- CHEAP, QUALITY GAS!
- You don't feel like you'll get mugged here. Safety first.
Cons
- NONE! Okay, maybe in the strange, off-chance-eclipse-of-the-moon, you get some cranky service or there's a long line for the restroom because you followed a tour bus all the way to this place. I really can't think of anything else. Place is the bee's knees.
So, if you find yourself going down the 5 for a long trip, make sure you stop here to get gas and some refreshments. Honestly, you won't regret it. It's a much better stop than almost anywhere else along the way. DO IT!
I just want to hate on the cashier LOL. I was on the bus from SJ to LA and we stopped here at midnight. I just woke up and wanted a Gatorade. So I get one and walk to the first cashier I see. Then homegirl says "I can help you even though I just opened" under her breath. Maybe I'm just cranky cuz I've been on a bus and woke up, but awww hellllllll nawwww. My bad I didn't notice the signed that said you weren't ready yet. Maybe you should fix your money drawer at the back before you show up at the register or just shut your mouth. RUDEEEE.
Review Source:We stopped here as a pit stop on our way back home to Southern California from San Francisco. Â
Around the travel center are motels and restaurants but this place was huge. It included a mini pizza hut, taco bell, restaurant with salad bar and a mini mart for all you car and travel needs.
You might even see an Asian tour bus on the Golden Tour through California.
Make sure you use the restroom before they do or prepare to wait and wait for long time.
This place is absolutely a central hub for road trips making it an ideal location to stop at for gas, snacks, and those much needed bathroom breaks. Right off of Highway 5, I can't begin to say how many countless times I've been to this gas station driving to and from LA/San Diego as well as the occasional Bakersfield trip. Many pleasant road trip memories were made here.
Gas is cheap here. Service is quick. Close to the freeway. Bathrooms are clean. A solid 4 stars for this place.
Beware of the crowded lines.
At this point in a southward drive to San Diego from Portland, the mind gets into milestone mode overdrive...
Oh, I remember this stupid landmark!
GET ME THERE!
WE'RE STILL FOUR HOURS AWAY
The last time I heard someone mention a TA in conversation it was a guy in a band worried that they had discontinued the all you can eat salad bar as he had not seen one in the last few TA's he'd visited.
This one has a salad bar, if you were wondering. It also has the normal array of electronics, fast food, a country kitchen, clothes, games and pretty chewed up bathrooms.
Oh, and gas. Gotta have that for the road trip thing to work properly.
Yep. I like stopping here when I do a San Francisco to/from Los Angeles/San Diego road trip because it's the midway point of the trip and I only need to stop once. This stop has everything I need - fuel for the car (paying at the pump with credit card worked fine), bathroom break and snacks/food. There's a diner inside  (food was so -so) and a Taco Bell.
Beware of the women's bathroom stall 4?5? once you flush the toilet, the water just spins and spins and spins and spins and you think it's going to burst and flood, but it doesn't, it just keeps spinning. Eventually the water stops spinning, but the first time this happened to me a year (or more?) ago, I freaked out. I was recently here and the toilet still has this issue, ha!
Driving from San Diego to Bay Area (or vice versa) I always stop here! It's the perfect mid-way stop, and my only stop, for gas and food on my 8 hour drive.
The gas is always cheap and there's a Taco Bell / Pizza Hut inside!! And a chicken taco is the perfect thing to munch on in the line for the bathroom if you happen to arrive just after a Japanese tour bus (which I unfortunately did just a few days ago). But there's a stocked convenience store on the other side which is always fun to rummage through for snacks if you need to waste a few minutes.
I might've been high, but I couldn't figure out how to get the pump to read my credit card... so I wasted a few more minutes by getting the guy inside to do it on the register.
Negatives: usually a long line inside. And it's always super hot... but then again if you're driving on 5 in the summer, then everywhere is hot.
2 Stars
Looks like they've replaced the slow-mo employees with some normal people, but the pump doesn't read credit cards, and I had to go pre-pay inside.
At night, expect to dodge huge moths flying around you while pumping gas....and if you look up in the sky, you'll see a bunch of bats (yea BATS) flying around, and maybe a pretty big owl. Pretty cool, but not enough to raise the rating.
I used to drive to Vegas a lot for vacations. Years ago I couldn't justify flying for an hour if it took over 2 hours to get to and thru the airport, and that's one way. It made better sense to marathon a rental car ride on my own and be able to load it up with tons of crap I'd buy on my trip. But, to give you a sense when my last vacation runs were, the insurance for a rental car was $9/ day, that I remember. The last couple of times I stopped off here, I was driving a moving van. In the wrong direction. towards the bay area.
Driving from San Jose to Vegas, depending on the mileage of the car I was driving, I could always get to Vegas in a hurry if I planned 2 stops: here and once past Mojave. Of course, I'd have to fill up, eat and go... facilitate at each stop. I couldn't skip anything or I'd have to make a 4th stop. Hell no, I waited for months for a Vegas trip I would get there as fast as I could, one time too fast (review of Avenal courthouse coming up). Travel Center was always my first checkpoint that I was really free from the bay area, feet touching far away ground. I think I even stopped here on trips to southern California, that was so long ago... That was where I vacationed before Vegas ruled my life for 15 years.
Chances are, I stop at a pump and with my rubber band legs, bugged eyes, sore legs and back, curled in the driving fetal position and stumble inside to the urinals. People are walking like Richard Simmons outside? Wash my hands and then slap water on my face. I usually eat as organic as I can, but driving for 8 hours, I usually buy one o those big bag of gummie bears and I have graduated from Red Bull days to Monster. I was addicted to Monsters (see monorail review), so now I just save energy drinks for road trips. sometimes, I walk around to stretch. And then I realize each time-
The TA has EVERYTHING. It's like the best of a hardware/ stationary/ electronics/ clothing/ sundry store. This store has more useful, functional, necessary things in it than most malls I've ever been to. I usually carry a pad of paper around to scribble things and this store usually reminds me of things I need write down for home later.
I usually drive overnight when a lot of restaurants are closed. But a couple of times, I was able to stop off and eat at their diner. They were experimenting with a breakfast buffet. I can't tell you what I did yesterday, but that meal I had years ago I remember was a damn good breakfast.
I think the people there are friendly. I don't remember any problems, lets say. Other customers can be more annoying. But, I'm usually groggy so I'm sure you could probably yell at me, since I'm checking to see if I have everything from the counter a dozen times. You do NOT want to realize you left your debit card 200 miles back. I wanted to buy something with the TA logo on it from all the times I stopped off there. The only thing I could find was a soda tumbler that I use to this day. I smile when I do. It's freedom.
And then on the way out to pump gas, I start stretching. My arms, legs and twisting every way, making tennis player grunts while my eyes water.
And then I realize who I probably look like.
Someday I will get back here, but I want it to be in my own vehicle. I haven't owned one in 4-5 years now... It's unnerving.
4 stars for gas, 3.5 stars for Country Pride buffet.
This TA consistently has some of the cheapest gas prices along I-5 between Norcal and Socal, at least when paying by credit card.
There are lots of window signs for the Country Pride restaurant, but they always look closed due to the dim lighting inside. Not so. I had dinner buffet here tonight and it wasn't anything I'd write home about, but it was pleasant.
The buffet is $10.99 and some of the items I had were:
- Standard salad bar
- Beef veggie soup
- Chicken noodle soup
- Rice, beans and tacos
- Baked chicken (tasted fried)
- Potato wedges
- Steamed green beans and carrots
- Spaghetti noodles and tomato sauce
- Some sort of baked apple desert
The food was tasty but nothing over the top. It felt like a homely meal but probably not as healthy. Service was friendly. There's also a menu you can order from if you don't feel like buffet.
TA Travel Center in Buttonwillow MUCH MUCH MUCH cheaper than nearby gas stations on the I-5. For example, on my drive up I-5 North, I stopped at a Chevron maybe 10 miles or so before Buttonwillow. $4.69?! HELL NO. I pulled right back out and got back on the 5. I took the next exit for gas that I saw, which had several stations, best price $4.79. WTF. I still had a bit less than half a tank left and decided to keep going. The WHERE App on my iPhone said that Travel Center was $3.99 and the price was user-submitted and updated 1 day ago. So I pulled in to Buttonwillow, and sure enough, it was still $3.99 here! That's a HUGE difference from $4.79...and this is credit card price for both!
My only complaint was that I had to wait in this long line for the bathroom because a tour bus had just stopped there at the same time. It's ok, it was worth the reasonable gas price.
For country pride restaurant. Nice place. Buttermilk pancakes are so good!!! Drool 1.99 never ending orange juice. 9.99 mexi buffet. 6.99 all u can eat soup and salad buffet. Hash brown good. Spaghetti is average a little watery. Salad bar is included if you eat pasta! And it comes with yummy garlic bread, nice people. Claudia our server was super nice. Comfortable seating. Not too many people. Convenient parking.
Styrofoam? Plate and silverware dining. Take out boxes unknown.
Vegetarian? Breakfast dishes, spaghetti, 20% of mexican buffet, 100% of salad bar
For convenience store: well stocked spacious has mini video game entertainment place and some fast food joints. Bathroom thumbs up!
The TA Travel Centers dot the freeway system in isolated areas, like this one in Buttonwillow, California.
Where is Buttonewillow?
It is off I-5 just west of Bakersfield, before the 99 and I-5 merge to take you up the Grapevine.
This is Travel Center #160.
Like most Travel Centers, it is a road trip roadie's or trucker's delight, with a restaurant with a Mexican Food buffet, lots of snacks and candies, coffee, sodas and energy drinks, and just about anything you need on the road. CB radio supplies, souvenir trinkets, NFL mini coffee mugs, you name it.
There is a huge filling station here with about a dozen pumps, and of course his and hers bathrooms, and even showers!
Unlike one I stopped at between Phoenix and Tucson, there were no Chinese ladies offering a quick $10 massage for the weary traveller, though. (I think they all moved to the local Mall in Bakersfield, since I see these people now at almost every mall these days!)
Look for the large, red TA sign off the freeway, and you'll find this place. It's in the same exit as the Indian Restaurant and the other typical freeway fast food chains.
Okay honestly though what would you expect from a travel center where hundreds of people pass by on a daily basis and people only stop for a bathroom break or at most a gas stop with a few snack minutes in between? Overall as a center full of amenities that you would need on a road trip especially from NorCal to SoCal, it's not bad at all. Most of the bathrooms are clean and there's a lot of food and junk snacks to be had if you're craving such.
However, the only gripe I have about this place aside from the astronomical gas prices because they know you can't go anywhere else for a while if you're out of gas is the ridiculous smell. It's almost like a mixture of rotting food and bathroom and consumes the ENTIRE place. in the summer they don't have AC inside either (or at least not when I went .... maybe it broke ....) but made the smell EVEN WORSE. Oiy!
I drive the I-5 to and from So. Cal at least once a year and on the way back home (Long Beach), my fiancee and I stopped here so she could use the restrooms...I was looking for a good truck stop experience. You know...good beef jerky, trucker hats, cheesy Christian T-shirts.
And I got my wishes!
If there is anything you need as a trucker...you will find it here. CB radios to DVDs...it seems like a must stop for long haul truckers who need to stock up for their drive.
My 4 star review though leads me to an amazing find...
STUBBS BBQ BEEF JERKY! I have never seen it before until I stopped here....seriously WTF??? And it was good too!!!
Fiancee says the bathrooms are some of the cleanest on the I-5 drive.
Good find!
I will probably never step foot into another TA again after the incident here.
My family and I were pulled in here to used the restroom and when we were about to leave through an opened door, I got pushed into the glass door by a dad holding a baby saying sarcastically, "Oops, did I push you into the door?" Apparently I had walked through the door that he was expecting to go through. And apparently Americans nowadays have no manners in holding doors for a family let alone pushing them into doors.
3 1/2 stars. $7 for breakfast buffet.
average breakfast buffet food eggs, bacon, sausage etc....
biscuits and gravy were nicely done..... come to think about it everything was pretty well made "no" runny eggs and undercooked potatoes.
waitress was on the ball...... she reminded me of Leah Remini (smoking hot) Â from "King of Queens"
Got|gas?
They do! Â Don't you love it when you roll up to a Unicol 76 and you see their prices and it's the damn Cash Only price? Â TA was the same price with Credit cards.
On the long trip between No/So Cal, this is my stop of choice. Â Cheap gas, Clean bathrooms, and across the street for your needed Caffeine fix at Starbucks. Â
The only reason this place isn't 5 stars is because 1) the pumps pump a little slow, and 2) during hot months the place smells like manure.
This is where I fill up gas on every drive between norcal and socal. Â The TA/76 here is always markedly cheaper than any other stop (unless you can stop by Santa Nella if you're going to east bay or Sacramento area).
Bathroom is kept in pretty okay condition. Â They have a taco bell express here for your quick food cravings, but their Country Pride buffet is actually where I will stop if I have time. Â They have a 6.99 and 8.99 lunch/dinner buffets that will fill you up! Â All you can eat for just slightly more than a value combo meal at McD or Carl's Jr. Â On thurs-sat they serve steak AYCE for 11.99 which is an even better deal.
I always stop here on my way back from LA, and with the fog so bad yesterday on my trip back, I had to stop and get breakfast.
The All You Can Eat deal is actually pretty good. I liked the sausage, French Toast and hashbrown. There were no biscuits to put the gravy on, but it did mighty well over the home fries which were also better than passable.
The gas was slightly higher than at Lost Hills, but not unreasonable at all considering. The little store had all the required things.
ALl in all, it's a good place to stop for a half-hour if you need to.
(Disclaimer: this is only a review for the Taco Bell Express located within.)
About three and a half hours into our journey back to LA, the BF decided he needed a small break and Buttonwillow was the place to do it. (simply because of the name alone)
We rolled into TCA and found ourselves a restroom and a Taco Bell (because what is a good road trip without some really bad junk food??). It was good of them to accommodate my request for a vegetarian version of the Crunchwrap supreme but as we walked over to the soda dispenser and ....WHAT?.....NO MOUNTAIN DEW??? OK, this is some kind of TB tragedy! Â Absolute disappointment followed as I had to choose a Dr. Pepper instead which tasted watered down. Sigh. Â At least the food was TB standard.
My review here is mainly for the Country Pride restaurant in the TA travel center. We came in for a late breakfast / early lunch on our way home from LA.
The kids loved their meals. You can't go wrong with breaded chicken and french fries (Yeah, I know. Not exactly the healthiest)
I had the chicken fried steak and eggs. I always figure that when I'm at a place like this you should order something that they sell a lot of.
The deal in this place is that you can get extra meat with your order for a nominal fee. With the chicken fried steak you get an extra slab of meat for $1.99. It's definitely a meat lover's paradise.
Suzette G.ordered  a grilled cheese on sourdough bread which came with some processed cheese food on some kind of white french bread.
When you come to a place like this you should plan on truckstop fare and not expect culinary nirvana but just some place to fill your gut before you hit the road.
They had all the snacks I was looking to eat on this road trip. It's totally great, you can get Coke and Pepsi from the soda fountain. Woohoo (especially since I'm a Coke drinker and all I was seeing on my trip were Pepsi places)!!
The bathroom was a little hard to find at first. I went all the way back towards where the truckers go and soon found myself wondering why there was only a men's restroom. Then I saw a tired truck driver wandering around in his boxer shorts. Not a completely pretty sight, let me tell you. Thankfully, his boxers were loose fitting.
As I was walking back towards the front looking for the bathroom, my head turns toward the cafe/diner area and I notice mens and womens bathrooms. Yay!!! I walked in and was completely impressed. The bathrooms were very clean. The toilets had automatic flush. Wow!!! Good job Travel Centers of America for keeping up to date with bathroom technology.
The gas here was definitely cheaper than some of the other places along the road too. They were only $3.05 per gallon. So that didn't seem too outrageous. This is a clean place to stop if you're on one of those long drives from LA up north or back.
This stop provided my dad and I a much needed quick break and bathroom stop on our way to SoCal. Â I was lucky enough to have my dad accompany me on the long drive to my new living location. Â Yes, you read that right... I'm now living and working in SoCal. Â But that's a whole other story right there.
The bathrooms were pretty clean which was nice.  And there were enough that there wasn't a line for the women's bathroom (always a good thing).  I can't say much else for the rest of the place but it seemed pretty nice.  I was able to purchase a couple bottles of Powerade for a good price.  Nice to see they don't try to screw you on price since you're in the middle of nowhere ;)  And we found a small arcade section where we played a couple rounds of a shooting game  to break up the monotony of driving on 5. Â
A welcome stop in the long drive. Â This one will definitely be a stop that I will remember on the drives to and from home to home.
In the great expanse of I-5 between NorCal and SoCal is the handful of small truck stop towns like Buttonwillow.
Getting gas at TA (Travel Centers of America) is one of those opportunities to rub elbows with the true Road Warriors of the world - the American Truck Driver.
Gotta love the large slection of super caffienated beverages, electronic accessories and trashy audio books and DVDs. Â As far as grabbing grub for my grumbling tummy you've got to wonder about the appeal of the greasy spoon diner, pizza hut/taco bell fast food stand and the assortment of barely edibile morsels found in these truck stops. Â
I'm sorry to say I bought a package of Jack Link's Sweet & Hot jerky that tasted like horse $hit (litterally). Â YUCK. Â Nothing worse than the taste of rancid meat. Â I don't know why they can't stock a better brand of quality jerky which I consider a staple food for road trips.
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