Hello Vegan Travelers!
While the vast majority of my posts deal with international travel, I will sometimes share advice on domestic travel also. The following information can apply to both domestic road trips or international journeys for those who rent a car abroad for road trips.
Today’s message is regarding vegan meal options at highway rest area stops. During your road trips, you will undoubtedly make a stop for lunch, dinner, or a snack. You may experience your hunger pangs while on route by car. You may even be on the highway where the closest opportunity for a meal may be the rest area stop. These have presented problems for vegans for ions!
Rest areas can present some of the most frustrating experiences for vegan travelers! Vegans are lucky if they can find a fast food restaurant there that even provides a salad without cheese. The best option if you are unsure of the destination, is to bring your own trail mix, crackers, vegan sandwiches such as tofurkey, or to bring dry packaged noodles or Indian meals that just need hot water.
United States:
The rest area “food court” typically includes such non-vegan-friendly, fast food restaurants as McDonald’s, Burger King, Pizza Hut, and Starbucks.
I recently came across a wonderful vegan dining experience at a rest area stop in Massachusetts off the Mass. Turnpike! This particular rest stop included a Fresh City cafe. They had a few options on their menu with a “V” next to it. I chose a delicious Asian veggie wrap which was all vegan. This was my first experience EVER with finding a vegan option (besides salad) at a rest stop! YAY! I was DELIGHTED!!!!! On the Maine Turnpike, near Kennebunk, the rest stop includes a convenience store with a fresh fruit stand.
I have never rented an auto in another country. However, travelers who do rent cars also need to be concerned about vegan options at rest area stops in other countries.
United Kingdom/Great Britain:
In the UK, highway rest areas are referred to as “motorway service stations”.
Marks and Spencer Simply Food stores are located at many rest stops in England, Scotland, and the rest of Great Britain. These stores sell vegan sandwiches. It is difficult to find vegan fare at the motorway service stations in the UK, so this store is a welcomed find!
Europe:
Each European country varies in the quantity and quality of rest area dining.
Veganism is still uncommon in France. Auto-routes in France have some full service facilities. However, do not expect anything vegan to eat at rest stops in the country. In Germany, it is also difficult to find any vegan fare along the roadways.
There is a restaurant in Austria called Landzeit. They have locations along the autobahn. Their huge salads are a great choice for vegans.
Australia:
Australia rest areas do not include restaurants. They may have a caravan serving beverages and snacks for the weary traveler. There are other facilities called roadhouses for travelers which contain restaurants. The roadhouses typically do not have vegan meal options. It is recommended to bring your own food while on a road trip here.
Asia:
Rest areas in Asia do have restaurants on site. Malaysian highways have restaurant facilities located above the expressway. In Thailand, rest stops usually include curry or noodle restaurants. These are good possibilities for vegans, but be prepared to ask if the dishes contain fish sauce.