Qingshui and Guanxi Lost! The Strongest National Highway Service Area in Taiwan is 'Good Flow, Many Parking Spots, Affordable and Rich Souvenirs': First Choice for Long-Distance Travel

Highway service areas in Taiwan are no longer just pit stops for restrooms and refueling. With the promotion of the 'One Station, One Feature' policy by the Ministry of Transportation and Highways Bureau, various service areas have introduced local culture, food brands, and unique facilities. Many rest areas have become popular spots for people returning home or traveling. From Michelin-starred food, limited-edition souvenirs, to children's play areas, pet parks, and themed Starbucks, many netizens praise, 'The quality of Taiwan's highway service areas is truly something to be proud of.' This article compiles the top 10 most highly rated national highway service areas in Taiwan, with the champion not being the traditionally popular Qingshui Service Area, but the Nantou Service Area on National Highway 3.

2025 Top 10 Best-Rated National Highway Service Areas in Taiwan

1. Nantou Service Area 2. Qingshui Service Area 3. Zhongli Service Area 4. Guanxi Service Area 5. Xiluo Service Area 6. Dongshan Service Area 7. Hukou Service Area 8. Gukeng Service Area 9. Xihu Service Area 10. Xinying Service Area

TOP 1 | Nantou Service Area: Public Welfare, Food, and Indigenous Culture All in One

Location: National Highway 3, 231K

The Nantou Service Area, operated by Xin Dongyang, features Starbucks, Burger King, and San Shang Xiao Fu chain brands. It also introduces local brands such as Yi Zhen Zhai, Nong Qing Bi Lu Nong Chang, and Nong Tian Wei Sha Yu Mi, as well as a hand-shaken drink counter by Lin Ji Yuan Tea Factory. The area's largest feature is the 'Guan Xin Yuan Public Welfare Special Counter,' selling popcorn and agricultural products made by people with disabilities, allowing travelers to support public welfare while shopping.

Additionally, the Nantou Service Area won the 2025 Excellent Public Toilet Special Award, with its clean and comfortable environment highly praised by travelers. The overall space is themed 'Mountain Play, Owl Remote Travel, Paint Nantou,' integrating Bunun culture. The entrance features the 'LAMUNGAN' installation art symbolizing a mountain pass, which has become a popular photo spot.

Actual travelers also commented, 'Parking is very convenient,' 'The environment is very clean, and the prices of the food stalls are reasonable,' 'There are many local products and fruits for sale, the restrooms are very clean, worth a visit,' 'The parking lot has changed a lot, with solar panel carports for shade,' 'The planning is getting better and better,' 'The maintenance is very good,' 'Currently operated by Xin Dongyang, a service area near the mountains, the atmosphere is quite comfortable, with many parking spaces, less likely to be full, and many parking spaces have shade, as well as charging parking spaces, many stores, with hot pot available for a light meal or a full meal, with a bit of a department store feel, chain stores include Burger King and Starbucks. There are many local souvenirs, the dining environment on the second floor is quite comfortable, with many seats and charging outlets, very convenient, and self-service ordering machines. Overall, it's a well-planned national highway service area with a Bunun tribe theme feature,' 'Convenient, the dining area is also good,' 'Not many people on weekdays, many parking spaces, easy to park,' 'Clean and refreshing,' 'Cleanliness is perfect, which is the best evaluation of a service area,' 'The parking lot is equipped with many solar panels, which are good for shading from rain and sun,' 'A considerate place.'

Some netizens also said, 'The indoor flow is clear, with restrooms on both sides, which is very important for long-distance drivers. After all, the core function of a service area is not to let people take beautiful photos, but to let people, cars, and bladders restart,' 'The dining environment of the Nantou Service Area is clean and comfortable, with hot and fresh dishes served. This time, I ordered soup noodles, blanched vegetables, and braised tofu. The soup was smooth, the noodles were chewy, the vegetables were fresh and crisp, and the tofu was flavorful and delicious. Being able to eat such simple and delicious food during a trip makes one feel very satisfied, a good choice for resting and dining on the way north or south,' 'Good parking experience, all with rain shelters and diagonal parking spaces, making it easy to see where there are empty spots. When leaving, you can also clearly see if there are cars behind,' 'A must-stop place for northbound and southbound travelers, with clear and clean flow. On weekends, there are often car gatherings, and car enthusiasts can come here to visit. Most car owners are quite tasteful,' 'There are many local souvenirs, very characteristic, and worth promoting,' 'This should be one of the best service areas on National Highway 3 northbound, with a large area and spacious surroundings. Cars won't be sunburned, and currently, there are not too many crowds of people and cars.'

TOP 2 | Qingshui Service Area: Popularity Soars After Reopening

Location: National Highway 3, 172K

The Qingshui Service Area, after its renovation and reopening at the end of 2024, quickly became a hot topic on the internet. The entire area has 50 brand stalls, including Michelin Bib Gourmand-recommended Taikeh Congee, Miao Dong Qingshui Pork Ribs Noodles, Ah Ching Master, Xiao Lin Pancakes, Rose Pie, Hong Ding Snacks, and Taiyangtang, which are popular souvenirs in Taichung. The service area is designed with the concept of 'Qingshui Sails, Driving with Flying,' creating a brand-new three-story space. In addition to the High Beauty Wetland Fiddler Crab-themed Starbucks and 3D naked-eye wall, the restrooms have been completely renovated, and escalators have been installed to improve convenience, becoming a popular spot for many travelers to visit specially.

Actual travelers also commented, 'A bustling highway rest stop,' 'I came here temporarily just to have dinner. It's been a few years since I last came, and the whole place has been completely renovated. I had a comfortable dinner. There are many choices for meals, and the dining environment is comfortable. The updated electronic aquarium and signboards are amazing,' 'The night view is very beautiful, and the food is delicious,' 'A must-stop choice for midway rest during long-distance travel,' 'The largest rest stop in Taiwan,' 'The dining area is comfortable and not crowded,' 'A beautiful and convenient service area,' 'The environment feels simple, suitable for walking,' 'There are many small snack stalls,' 'It feels good after the renovation,' 'There are many restrooms, very convenient,' 'A renovated service area, with outdoor parking covered. It's more comfortable in hot weather and rainy days! On the first floor, you can buy souvenirs and food areas, the second floor is full of various foods, and the third floor has indoor and outdoor seating areas, with beautiful scenery, a comfortable rest stop,' 'A very beautiful place.'

TOP 3 | Zhongli Service Area: Taiwan's First Service Area, Baseball-Themed and Eye-Catching

Location: National Highway 1, 55K

The Zhongli Service Area is Taiwan's first national highway service area. The overall theme is 'Healthy and Active, Sports and Leisure,' incorporating baseball elements into the space design, with a large green park planned in the back. Inside, there are 24-hour convenience stores and fashion cafes, and you can buy Longqing Peanut Candy and Liao Xinlan Dried Beans, local specialties of Taoyuan. It also features Taiwan's first national highway spinning area, allowing travelers to exercise and relieve long-distance driving fatigue.

Actual travelers also commented, 'The small garden in the back is a big plus,' 'It's spring now, and the flowers on both sides of the walkway are in full bloom, very beautiful. I came in the evening, and the scenery was already very beautiful. It must be even more beautiful in the daytime! The interior of the rest stop is clean and spacious, with many seats for travelers to rest and dine. There's my favorite Starbucks, a store selling cute souvenirs, and a few small eateries that look very tempting!,' 'The specialty coffee from the store is delicious, the service staff are very good, and the restrooms are very clean,' 'Clean and tidy, great,' 'Good service, rich restaurants, clean environment,' 'Friendly, enthusiastic, and fun, very lucky,' 'Good parking,' 'There are many charging stations,' 'A very good rest area,' 'Many choices for rest,' 'A fully functional highway service area,' 'The food street in the service area is equipped with handwashing stations, with hand soap and hand sanitizer next to it, a very considerate design. For us who are used to bringing our own tableware, it's convenient and thoughtful,' 'The store has everything it should have, and this is also a transfer station for airport shuttles. A convenient and affordable choice for friends from central and southern Taiwan traveling abroad.'

TOP 4 | Guanxi Service Area: Hakka Culture, Food, and Popular Bento All in One

Location: National Highway 3, 76K

The Guanxi Service Area is the largest national highway service area in northern Taiwan. The service area integrates Hakka cultural elements, including the Flower Rain Scenic Elevator, Hakka Flower Fabric Hall, Sanhe Courtyard-style dining area, and Hakka creative products. In April and May every year, you can also enjoy the beautiful scenery of the paulownia flowers. The roasted corn, which has recently gone viral on Threads, and the once crisp guava, Fubo pineapple, and Ajin sister orange jam sold at the Nongqing Market have attracted many locals to make pilgrimages.

In addition, the Guanxi bento introduced by Xin Dongyang won the 'Best Taste First Place' in the 2025 National Highway Service Area Voting, including flavors such as plum juice chicken leg, plum pickled pork, salted pork, Hakka double, and orange sauce pork cutlet, with high cost performance and wide acclaim.

TOP 5 | Xiluo Service Area: Local Soy Sauce, Food, and Mazu Culture as the Biggest Features

Location: National Highway 1, 229K

The Xiluo Service Area is famous for Yunlin's local products and local culture. Inside, you can buy Xiluo soy sauce, Zhuoshui River rice, Tuku sesame oil, Shuilin sweet potatoes, Jitong garlic, and famous soy sauce brands such as Ruichun, Wanchuang, and Datong, as well as popular souvenirs such as Xiluo Tofu King and Ah Gan Sweet Potato Uncle. Every year, it also collaborates with Xiluo Guangfu Temple to hold the only 'National Highway Mazu Pilgrimage' event in Taiwan, where travelers can participate in passing under the palanquin and receiving incense bags to pray for safe travels.

The park also has the 'Mazu Arrives' photo wall and the 'Good Soy Sauce Jar' themed space, using soy sauce jars to create a characteristic seating area, fully presenting the Xiluo soy sauce culture.