KENLY 95 TRUCKSTOP FAST FACTS
LOCATION: 923 Johnston Pkwy, Kenly, North Carolina, U.S.A.
HOURS: Open 24/7/365. Separate restaurant hours.
COST: Free
TIME TO COMPLETE: 30 minutes
BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT: Anytime
ACCOMMODATIONS: Huge parking lot, public restrooms, showers, food court, snack shop, clothing & accessories
With its iconic 65’ (19.8 m) Cape Hatteras Lighthouse replica dwarfing the skyline, the 100,000 ft² (9,290 m²) Kenly 95 Truckstop has been a North Carolina mainstay since it’s opening in 1980. Located just off the I-95 (Exit 106) the Kenly 95 Truckstop was recently ranked the #2 best truck stop in the United States. From the outside it appears to be just a gas station with a general store but it turns out to be a far greater adventure than you could imagine. While there are impressive 12-pumps for petrol, a trip inside reveals a potpourri of delights guaranteed to satisfy visitors from all walks. All of this makes the Kenly95 Truckstop the largest truck stop on the East Coast.
The Kenly 95 Truckstop has experienced multiple expansions over its existence. One could argue the 2009 construction of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse replica has done more to draw attention to the facility than any of the more substantive improvements. For the hundreds of thousands of truckers that pass through annually, the 2019 $10 million, 923,000 ft² (2,137 m²) expansion of the main building, truck service center and 900 truck parking spaces has proven as valuable as the recognition on display at the annual East Coast Trucker’s Jamboree, a three day on-site festival celebrating trucking. For tourists and casual passerby’s the Kenly 95 Truckstop offers an endless array of options . . .
Upon entering the Kenly 95 Truckstop you’re greeted by a classic Dodge Power Wagon and a 50+ seating area food court. Starting with the 2010 opening of the 163-seat Lighthouse Restaurant, the Kenly 95 Truckstop established itself as a worthy stopover for tired and hungry truckers. Over the years a wide variety of dining options were added to serve the growing number of annual visitors. The Lighthouse was quickly replaced by the popular Iron Skillet Restaurant soon followed by a Dairy Queen, Caribou Coffee, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Subway and even a Wendy’s with drive-thru service. You’ll also find service islands for snacks, sandwiches, souvenirs and almost half a city block of liquid refreshments to choose from.
Once you pass through the food/souvenir section the ceiling rises and you enter tourist trap heaven. But it’s not just the usual junk found in such places, though there’s plenty of that. There’s a cool military display with flags, medals, camouflage and various paraphernalia. You’ll find wood carvings, t-shirts, incense, puzzles, sunglasses, mugs, books and even slingshots. The spacious restroom facilities are clean and easily accessible.
The most impressive part of the Kenly 95 Truckstop is the amazing selection of semi truck chrome parts and accessories. There’s an entire section of replacement lenses for lights, Kenly Kustoms, a custom shop with laser tech, vinyl decals and embroidery for everything from DOT, T-shirts, business cards and caps. You can get train horns, sound systems, seats, grilles, stove pipe tip exhaust stacks, shifter knobs, CD antennas, floor mats, steering wheels . . . the list goes on-and-on. Other onsite amenities include a barber shop, showers, laundry facility, CAT scale, fuel center, driver’s den for relaxation and a 26,000 ft² (2,415 m²) 6-bay fully climate controlled TA Service Center.
Late 2016 saw the creation of a large Super Truck Showroom at the northwest end of the main building. Sitting atop a raised platform is a hot pink Peterbuilt truck cab coined “The Prowler”. You can walk up and around this impressive piece of machinery. If you aren’t necessarily a fan of semis you can still appreciate the artistic touches like the headlamps, the classic Peterbuilt swan hood ornament or the black panther sitting comfortably on the roof of the cab. Also featured is the Kenworth “Crown of the Coast” which occupies almost the entirety of the north wall. This red and white classic features a beautiful front grille, complete with the iconic red logo and eagle hood ornament. Just as impressive is the trailer artwork that pays tribute to the vital part trucks play in transporting America’s goods up and down I-95. The painting has some interesting touches like each of the Outer Bank lighthouses, Betsy Ross, Paul Revere and even Vollis Simpson’s Whirligig Park.
Sprinkled throughout the Kenly 95 Truckstop are little oddities that help make the experience even more fun. You’ll find a lineup of vintage trucks along the east wall alongside a smaller version of the Kenly 95 lighthouse. There’s a veritable light show of available exterior truck lights for sale. There’s plenty of sculptures to be discovered like a guitar playing Elvis, Marvel’s Ghost Rider, a swashbuckling pirate and even a Swamp Thing.
The Kenly 95 Truckstop offers something for everyone. A family outing, a restbit for a weary trucker, a quick stop for a clever tchotchke or fast snack, a petrol fill-up or just a close-up view of the lighthouse.
Do you have a favorite truck or roadside stop? We’d love to hear all about it!
I live 1 mile from the Kenly truckstop. Its a fun place to take your kids for a break.. Clean beyond belief, inside and out.
I visited to see the lighthouse and was blown away by the facility itself. Lots of fun!