Elbe Safety Rest Area

Hours: The Elbe Safety Restarea is a clean and convenient public facility located next to the Elbe gas station. It provides a useful place to stop, with clean toilets and automatic hand sanitizer available. The parking lot is very small, but parking is easy. The area includes picnic tables out front with a view of the Elbe Mt. Rainier Scenic Train across the roadway, and there are trash containers. It is not clearly identified as a public rest area. Some visitors report issues with the restrooms, describing the toilets as unsettling or like something from a nightmare. A specific problem involves the motion-sensor lights in the family toilet, which turn off too quickly, leaving the windowless room in complete darkness. This can be a creepy or problematic experience. The small lot also means there is no dedicated dog rest area, so pets must be kept on a leash at the roadside. The broader area includes a well-maintained caboose for staying in and a restaurant in a train car setting with good, if slightly overpriced, food.

1. Elbe, Washington