Just as the name says, this hotspot is one of the many rest areas maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) on Virginia highways. This stop is located along I-64 in New Kent County, not quite halfway from Richmond to Williamsburg at mile marker 213. Like most rest areas in the state, it has a building with restrooms, vending machines, and travel information, as well as paved walkways and a pinic area. Open to all classes of vehicle, the facilities here are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Like many of the state’s rest areas, this one features some landscaped areas near the building with a sparsely wooded picnic area. At this particular location, the picnic area has a stand of tall pines that could be a good spot for species like Pine Warbler or Brown-headed Nuthatch. The back side of the rest area adjoins a more substantial woods. Birders can expect the typical suite of woodland and edge species, though as with all highway rest stops, road noise is a near-constant issue here. Nonetheless, for a traveler looking to fill in some color on their eBird profile, throwing in a quick checklist during a bathroom break is worthwhile!
Owner/Manager: Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)
eBird Hotspot: New Kent Safety Rest Area (Westbound)
—Matt Anthony