Dunnigan Rest Area

We used the southbound side of the highway. Very clean restrooms for a rest stop and they even had seat covers! Always a plus. Not really crowded for a Friday morning.
There were lots of trees, tables, trash cans for your garbage from your snacks in your car and an area for your pets to go.
There is designated auto and truck/​RV parking which I know that all rest stops do but makes it so easy for us who have an RV to park. It is nice to stop a a well maintained rest stop because boy I’ve stopped at some where I’ve ended up using my RV instead of the facilities because they’re so bad.
Great job of keeping this rest area nice for travelers.

This is my first review of a rest area. Can’t believe that we are now reviewing toilets and urnals. If got to go no poor review is going to change your mind about stopping in. Now that I’ve got that off mind, let me say that California got it right with rest areas every 25 – 35 miles. They are clean and functional. Just about all you can ask for. Unlike Texas where your lucky to see a rest area every 100 miles

It’s a rest area. Not terribly dirty, not ugly, but nothing in particular to make it stand out. There was ample parking, and the entrance and exit weren’t terrible either.
It’s hard to recommend a rest stop, but this is in the top 25% of rest areas.

Nice Stop To Tie My Shoelace
SITREP
It’s nice when there’s a rest area coming up on a trip where you can stop and re-​arrange crap in your car that you SHOULD have done before you left the house.
THE SETUP
Dunnigan is the first rest stop I hit when traveling north on I-​5. It’s also about the time after having left Sacramento that I remember I put the ice chest in the trunk and I need it now for some ice in my sport cup. Or also that my shoelace has come undone and I need to tighten it.
So I call it my «Safety & Refresher» Stop.
BY COMPARISON
However, other than that, Dunnigan is a pretty average rest stop with not a whole lot going for it, though it has the basics. After seeing the Rest Stops along I-​15 (Utah & Montana), I-​90 (Montana, Idaho, Washington) and further north from here along I-​5, I see that not all highway offices invest the same energy into their rest stops.
Still, with this little rest stop hamlet, it still had a lot of the basic important amenities going for it, like clean rest rooms and picnics tables. In fact, used a table to rearrange the stuff in my cooler since the flat surface helped me spread the stuff out that I had thrown in and meant to rearrange but forgot to.
THE LOWDOWN
A nice basic rest stop, but nothing to write home to the highway gods about.

(I’m sneaking this one in here, it’s from the Northbound part of my trip.)
This is an older rest area on the northbound side of Interstate 5, 37 miles north of central Sacramento.
Tons and tons and tons of tall, mature eucalyptus trees! It was wonderful to stop in a rest area with SO many large trees! So beautiful! Plenty of shade if that’s what you are looking for.
I know I took photos while I was there, but haven’t posted them for some reason, oh well.
Very large doggy area, plenty of parking for cars, RV’s, big trucks, clean restrooms etc.
A great place to stop if you OR your pet needs a break!

I’ve been to BOTH sides of the Dunnigan Rest Area. My preferred rest stop when heading to or from Redding.
Plenty of open space to walk around and get some quick exercise and blood flowing into your legs. All the paths are paved and seem to connect. Dog designated areas. Plenty of garbage and recycle cans throughout.
Lots of shaded areas and even shaded parking!
Water fountains, pay phones and maps under the awning between the men’s and women’s restrooms. Clean too.
Its an easy off and easy on to Interstate 5 heading North or South.
No food services. You’ll have to drive another 10 to 15 minutes for that.
Wheelchair accessible.

This verdant oasis along Interstate 5 is a nice place to walk off the sore back and stiff knees after a long drive. The bathrooms are clean and well maintained. There’s even a generous swath of grassy lawn for man’s best friend. Hats off to whoever designed this rest area.

If the Maxwell Rest Area was the second stop, the Dunnigan Rest Area is as nice, if not better. Be ready to run into and fall into conversation with a bunch of other wayward travelers out from Oregon and Washington.
The generic cement buildings that houses the restrooms are concealed from the freeway by a grove of tall trees. The parking here is twice that of Maxwell and there are more places to sit and relax. Feel free to walk the dogs too. They have a great stretch of grass for our furry footed friends.
Interstate Rest Areas. True roadside saviors.

Full blooms at the rest area! It’s beautiful and one of the nicer rest areas I have been to. Large pet area with doggie bags for your use. Bathroom? it’s ok. clean and clean.

Since the state of California is putting a boat load of tax payers dollars into our rest areas along our highways I feel it appropriate to give my review to those who may be on the road looking for the next place to stop and rest.
Stop here! This place is so relaxing and nested in a large patch of trees that give the rest area a somewhat oasis feel. Let the dog out of the vehicle, let the kids run around and burn off that energy, let the seniors stretch their everything. ENJOY!

A very nice rest stop — it is BIG, with an area for dogs that could be a dog park if it was just fenced in on the 3^rd and 4^th sides. Clean, recycling, tons of parking… and lots and lots of grass. Benches, a covered area with maps and area attractions. A definitely stop for us with an 8 month old puppy.

By far one of the nicest most cleanest rest areas. I make this a routine stop on my road trips.
Restrooms are always clean and stocked. I’ve taken some of my road trips with my dad, and he loves this place because he can jog around the perimeter. During the day you’ll see families having a picnic or people stretching out the old joints like my dad.
At night the rest area is very very well lit, so it feels safe.