Plattekill Travel Plaza

This is the place for: Gas + bathroom break + Coffee before heading back to your destination

When I travel north on the Thruway, this is an inevitable stop for me, if only because of the restrooms. They’re not fantastic (is there such a thing as a «fantastic» restroom?), but they’re reasonably clean. Part of the attraction of this place is that it’s far less congested than the nightmare down south at the Sloatsburg Thruway rest stop, which of course makes sense, given how much further north this one is. But the reality is– it is less congested, it is less of a migraine inducer, it is less stressful. Even if I have to make water (or worse) by the time I reach Sloatsburg on my trek north, I hold my water until I hit this place, even if it’s a struggle. I always liked Roy Rogers, and this has a Roy Rogers, which I always partake of, although the quality seems to have gone down in recent years. For old times sake, I get the chicken sandwich, the cheeseburger, a bottled water, and a cookie, which is always way-​too-​sweet. It’s not cheap, and the food is just not all that good anymore (or maybe I’m looking back at my memories through rose colored glasses). There’s another fast food place right next door to Roy’s (Cinnebun? Cinnabun? Nathan’s?), but I’ve never been inclined to investigate it. Also a «gift shop» (not at all cheap), a place for tourists seeking information about upstate attractions, and usually a kiosk selling cheap sunglasses. There may be more here, but that’s all that I’ve ever been able to internalize on my many stops here over the years. It’s a highway rest stop, and it adequately serves that function.

This road stop was crowded, dirty and the service was slow at Nathan’s (!) The condiments were empty. Very small– try another! Bathrooms were clean but the exterior smelled like s garbage dump.

While driving on Easter Sunday from Long Island to Cooperstown for a short spring break with the family, I noticed while driving the NY Thruway, there was a sign for a rest stop that had a ROY ROGERS??? I haven’t had this chicken in over a decade! I had thought they were extinct! What a treat, I had to stop here and get a 12 PC meal! Wow! $ 37, but worth every penny!
In and out, a full belly and a tank full of gas! Very convenient, clean and easy pit stop when you’re on a schedule!

«I don’t want a hot dog.» These are words that my chaffeur/​compatriot in line at Nathan’s would regret uttering. This tragic sentiment led him to join me in line at Roy Rogers, where we both ordered the Chicken Gold Rush sandwich. Surely there was a twinkle in my eye when I spotted it on the menu; crispy chicken nestled betwixt a classic bun, paired with the tried and true power duo of bacon and cheese, with a promise of a tangy sauce to pull it all together. This preview belied the true nature of this foul concoction.
My partner in suffering was done with his when I returned with my beverage. (Two stars because they have the futuristic soda machines with several flavor syrup options. Mr Pibb with cherry was a succulent nectar. Sprite with raspberry was characterized by a disappointing medicinal tang). With a sullen haze clouding his gaze, he informed me «I ate it quickly to get it over with.»
I consumed the sordid meal driven only by an unfortunate biological need for calories. Is it the worst chicken sandwich I’ve ever eaten, or the worst chicken sandwich I will ever eat?
There were a bunch of sprouted raw potatoes near the toppings counter for decoration. We should have eaten those instead.

This is a full service travel plaza/​rest area on Interstate 87 (I-87)/New York State Thruway Northbound.
I stopped in here for a bio break, bottled water, and some coffee.
Restrooms were clean and well maintained.

we stopped here for roy rogers on our way to Woodstock. it was delicious! the workers there were also awesome & just having fun. great start to our trip :) love this rest stop.

When I went into this travel plaza coming home from a trip south to Woodbury Commons, we ended up stopping here. Although I knew this stop wouldn’t be more than a snack and a bathroom break, I investigated a little further. I didn’t actually know until I stopped there about the historical significance of the place and I was glad to have stopped there. I ended up going into the «gift shop» only on this portion of the trip. I wanted something to snack on during the trip home. Although I paid a few more dollars than most of the same brand and quality, what I ended up getting was a bigger Drumstick ice cream. However, look around this shop. It’s mostly geared to the tourist needing to gather just a few things and the prices are there to match. I did end up finishing it before the other members reached the car.
Employees within the store were good enough, though the information center wasn’t open. I wasn’t in the bathrooms, and I definitely didn’t notice the Roy Rogers or other few things that Matt W. said were there (though I didn’t travel too far when I got inside the doorway).

The finest service plaza on the I-​87 section of the Thruway, bar none. Northbound only.
There’s a Starbucks, a Brioche Dorée that has a really good variety, a non-​skeezy Roy Rogers, a well-​above-​average Nathan’s, and even the Travel Mart convenience store has good food selections (salads, hummus and raw veggies, and some decent pre-​made salads). Roy’s is the only 24-​hour facility, though, but the others are all open into the evening hours. (There’s also a New York travel kiosk which never seems to be open.) Facilities relatively clean although not huge, and there’s a decent seating area. Limited outdoor amenities: no dog walk area or playground.
Relatively easy-​on and easy-​off. The gas is the usual not-​such-​a-​bargain Thruway pricing, via Sunoco, and it’s a smaller physical building and the pumps aren’t as numerous as the megastops, but we’ve never found a backup.
The historical markers are a little removed from the actual places to which they refer, but if you’re not familiar with the Newburgh encampment, you will be edified.

This is often a rest stop for Greyhound on my travels north. I usually take the midnight bus on Friday nights.
There is also a Sunoco with a convenient store. They have a good supply of drinks for on the go.
The food court inside is standard fare. There is a news stand, Starbucks, Roy Rogers (yes!), and Nathans. The only thing open during my late travels is Roy, and the food is pretty decent. I love me some fried chicken, although I don’t like to bring that on the bus because it gets messy.
Restrooms are pretty clean all the time. Naturally I am here during off peak hours, so I honestly don’t know what it is like during the day shift.
Stop here by all means. If you gotta go you gotta go!

Very clean and the staff in the convenience store were super friendly. Almost too friendly, like they’d been taken over by aliens or something. But maybe that’s just because they’re not from NYC.
Also, they had some local merchants outside selling backed goods and fruit. The pumpkin cookies were excellent!
If you gotta go while you’re on the Thruway, this isn’t a bad place to stop.

One of many NY rest stops along the Thruway, it has the regular accomadations of the average rest stop. (However, like all the NY rest stops, at least the ones I saw, all boast free wifi!) From the token fast food and mini-​mart/​tourist trap and starbucks, there’s the normal variety to refuel and get back on the road.
As Tina said, there is also a local farmer’s market (Gray Mouse Farm, I believe) that frequents the outside area on weekends.

Owned and operated by NY State Thruway Authority, this travel plaza presents many fast food options for travelers. It sits directly on the NY State Thruway and contains the standard tourist souvenir coin machine and tourist information booth. Outside of the façade (weather permitting) is a local farmer’s market and some local food cart vendors.
Facilities are ample and relatively clean.