Truck drivers running Interstate 17 through central Arizona are getting more legal rest options as the Arizona Department of Transportation opens a newly built truck parking lot at the Sunset Point Rest Area. The expansion is part of a broader statewide effort to address chronic parking shortages on major freight corridors.
Sunset Point sits between Black Canyon City and Cordes Junction, a stretch of highway where drivers routinely report full rest areas and limited safe places to stop. The new lot directly targets that pressure point.
What Was Added at Sunset Point
The new parking area adds 19 additional truck spaces to a rest area where capacity has consistently been strained.
“The new lot on Interstate 17 between Black Canyon City and Cordes Junction features 19 spaces at a rest area where demand is high for truck parking, as the existing 27 spaces for commercial vehicles are often at or near capacity,” ADOT said. “The $4.1 million project also added waterless vaulted toilets and covered ramadas.”
For drivers, this means more room to park legally and access basic amenities without risking violations or unsafe roadside stops.
Why ADOT Used a Different Construction Approach
To stretch funding and accelerate delivery, ADOT used a lower-cost surface design instead of traditional pavement.
“The lot was constructed with gravel supported with a grid, which costs about half as much as asphalt pavement,” ADOT said. “The surface is permeable, which maximizes the space available for parking because no water retention areas are needed.”
This approach allowed the state to add parking faster while still supporting heavy truck use, a key factor as Arizona works to close its truck parking gap.
More Truck Parking Coming Across Arizona
Sunset Point is only one piece of a larger plan. ADOT is building hundreds of new truck parking spaces at rest areas where demand is highest along Arizona’s interstate system.
The following projects are scheduled to come online next:
- I-40 Parks Rest Area, west of Flagstaff
Reopening in spring 2026 for truck parking only, adding 21 new spaces to the 18 already in place. - I-17 Christensen Rest Area, south of Flagstaff
Reopening in spring 2026 for truck parking only, restoring 21 spaces. - I-10 Burnt Wells Rest Area, west of Phoenix
Adding 125 truck parking spaces in late 2026. - I-40 Meteor Crater Rest Area, west of Winslow
Adding 133 spaces in winter 2027.
These projects follow the opening of 57 new truck parking spaces at the Haviland Rest Area on I-40 west of Kingman in December.
How the Parking Locations Were Chosen
The current buildout is based on Arizona’s 2023 Statewide Truck Parking Implementation Plan, developed through public feedback and direct coordination with the trucking industry.
The plan prioritizes rest areas along Interstates 10, 17, 40, and 8 where overnight demand is highest and alternative parking options are limited. Most of the new capacity is being added at existing facilities, along with two proposed truck-only lots.
Study documents and maps outlining recommended truck parking locations are available through ADOT’s implementation plan materials here.
Why This Matters for Drivers
For drivers moving freight through Arizona, additional parking at known choke points like Sunset Point means fewer end-of-day scrambles, lower risk of hours-of-service violations, and safer rest opportunities. While the total shortage has not disappeared, each added space reduces pressure across the system.
As more of these projects open over the next two years, drivers should see incremental improvements along some of the state’s busiest freight corridors.
