New Kent Safety Rest Area (Westbound)

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