I-95 South Welcome Center — Attraction in Laurel

Take a dump if you must but don't surprise if you cuss, for half the door is a bust and looking from a height a slight beyond 3 feet many will see you while you seat.

Yes, the restrooms inspired poetry, and trust me, you think this was bad? Wait till you stop, and you'll be sad you didn't listen to my warning. For Maryland could only afford half the doors for all men's stalls. Quite the sight you'll wish you see, to erase the memory of another man taking a dump in what you hoped would be an empty stall.

As a taller person, I'm often disappointed with the relative lack of privacy in stalls. Thanks to this rest stop, you too can feel the akwardness of approaching a stall hoping for it to be empty only to notice later than you wish you had that someone is sitting there. ... This seems like the right use case for those parking stall availability lights though...

GOT Spoiler... I just can't wrap my mind around who signed off on the design. Perhaps Tyrian Lannister get's the last laugh in our world as well as Westeros.

And if you, the designer, or approver, or builder, (or contractor) happen to have gotten this far, please, please build your own bathroom on your roof and then tell me how it is this came to be that you lost all sense and thought when you placed these round the pot.

There are gifts and items to help you enjoy the rest of your stay in Maryland as if the men's room wasn't sufficient to make you feel utterly betrayed again by the state that brought you Spiro Agnew.

Hopefully you never read this because: A. You're a woman and your stalls (according to my wife) offer more privacy. B. You don't stop here in the first place.

But if you do, don't come here for the bathrooms. Just skip along and enjoy one of the many good things Maryland...

As a new volunteer for 4 hours a week at I-95 SB, I am admittedly somewhat partial in my observations. The person supervising both Northbound and Southbound Welcome Centers has served in the position since about 1994. She is an exceptionally warm and caring individual. When on duty with other staff members and volunteers it becomes abundantly clear in the Southbound Center, how much information she is able to impart about all parts of Maryland and is able to assist persons traveling with Exit Numbers, Motels, Places to eat and many other FAQs, and many queries which are not frequently asked. To every extent possible she and other staff members engage those who come into the Welcome Center without becoming intrusive.

As an 86 year old volunteer, I find myself extremely pleased that I have been able to assist a few travelers in some small way as they move toward their destinations. But equally enjoyable has been the opportunity to learn so much more about my adopted home state, its history, its roles in the Civil War and the War of 1812, significance in the writing, development and eventual acceptance of our National Anthem, the origins of railroads, and so much more. There are so many events to participate in and so many parts of Maryland to enjoy that we encourage those heading South to plan some vacation time in Maryland when they return perhaps heading back to their home areas to the north.

The Southbound I-95 Welcome Center is truly Welcoming to ALL. Come visit anytime we're open...

This is the I-95 South rest area, located near Laurel, Maryland, just past highway 32.

Courteous staff, entire area is always clean, plenty of bathroom stalls, 2 cold water fountains, vending machines, a welcome center, & tons of easy parking. Large green space available for leashed dogs. The green space has a several trees & picnic tables (covered & uncovered). If you accidentally drive past all of the parking spots, there is a lane, near the end of the exit road, where you can loop back around to the beginning of the entrance lane & the parking areas.

The side lane on the exiting road, where the trucks & RVs exit, is signed as an "idle reduction lane", but it is also open to people who need to take a longer stop to rest/sleep in their vehicles. From my frequent traveling & use of the rest area, it's my experience that sleeping in your vehicle in the parking lot & in the exit road's side idle reduction lane is allowed any time day or night. The entire rest area is safe & has adequate lighting. I tend to be a light sleeper, so I usually park near in the exit road's side idle reduction lane, away from the main parking lots. Doing so, however, means the walk to the restrooms is...