New Kent East Coast Gateway Safety Rest Area and Welcome Center

Typical Safeway store and kept clean.
Aisles are clean to navigate the cart and the cashier was very friendly and efficient.
Came in and out to grab whatever I need and parking was spacious. Deal signs are properly displayed for customers.

Whether you need to stop or not, STOP! This will be one of the nicest rest areas you possibly have been to. But it’s not just a regular pit stop. This is a state welcome center. Most states provide the best of everything at there welcome centers, so take advantage and use them.
I have probably been stopping here for over eight years. It always seemed new to me and I assume it probably is around 10 years old. Signage is very good for the pull off and provided a few miles out on 64 EB. Parking for cars is in the front and trucks to the rear.
The building is all brick and provides a Colonial feel fitting with the Old Dominion and Williamsburg a mere 35 miles East. Like other visits I found the little to no debris and the trash cans up front within their boundaries. It was not too busy on a Monday early afternoon, believe me this is unusual. This is typically pretty busy all of the time, especially weekends. Holidays are pretty crazy and would not recommend a stop unless you really need it.
What you will find on the inside is one of the most modern and technological of any rest area I have been to. Touch screen traffic, along with touch screen area of interest with info. Tons of brochures and the areas are divided by geography. Of course welcome center are know for help of the humankind and this is no different. They do have a desk with hours. I found an older woman assisting travelers when last there. I talked with here a little bit and she was so friendly, much like other times I had done the same.
So what else, well of course restrooms. They are updated and maintained nicely. The only issue that I had was that someone put religious boocklets all around the top of the sink that were wet and messy. Everything else was perfect. There are also vending machines, I think you will find anything you would want. But a big bonus to this center is a back room with tables, a TV and counter for lap top plug-​ins. There was no one even using it… holly cow! I assume that this may be used more for truck drivers.
Not to be forgotten outside there are picnic tables. It is not a serene setting as others may have, but gets the job done. There is also a toddler play area, just something that is enough to run a little ones energy out so you can head back to the road.
I highly recommend a slight detour off the highway to enjoy this terrific welcome center. If your a tourist it’s a must, don’t pass it by.

I’m not a fan of road trips, nor am I a fan of rest stops. Most of the rest stops are nasty and smelly. No amount of bleach can make it feel sanitary.
So, giving this place not a 3 or 4 but 5 stars is really saying something. We were on a bus heading from DC to Norfolk, and stopped here to stretch. It must be a Welcome Center, because inside had maps and souvenirs.
There was also many vending machines selling Pepsi and Dr. Pepper products, water, energy drinks, snacks, and even Virginia souvenirs like a reusable cup. The vending machines also had hygiene products in case you wanted to shave, and even a corkscrew if you had a bottle of wine. If you didn’t have change, you could also use Apple Pay to pay. Talk about convenience!
They had an area inside to eat, as well as outside tables.
The bathrooms were plentiful, and the ladies had 2 restrooms, each with 10+ stalls in each room. They were clean, and sanitary.
Its one of the best rest stops I’ve been to in the USA. California can really take note from a place like this.