Feel safe stopping at truck stops, where are they between San Diego and Chandler, AZ?

There is one in Quartzite.

It's not really that long of a drive and since there are a few places along the way (el centro, yuma, gila bend) on I-8 you probably won't need them, but the rest stops on WESTBOUND I-8 are:

CALIFORNIA
exit 155 - sand hills rest area (restrooms, picnic tables)
exit 108 - sunbeam rest area (restrooms, picnic tables)
exit 51 - buckman springs road (restrooms, picnic tables, phones)
exit 24 - turnout (phones)

ARIZONA
exit 150 - turnout (picnic tables)
exit 85 - sentinel rest area (restrooms, picnic tables, phones, vending machines)
exit 56 - mohawk rest area (restrooms, picnic tables, phones, vending machines)

no matter what truck stop you go to you need to keep an eye out. Try to stop and fill up during the day when it's light out. If you have to stop at night try to stop at a well lite truck stop that has several people at it. Always be aware of your surroundings and pay attention to peoples actions, if they look fishy or suspicious don't stop or if your already pumping gas stop and get back in your car and find another gas station ahead. here are a few great tips that were e-mailed to me. It is kinda long but worth reading:

Everyone should take 5 minutes to read this. It may save your life or love one's life.

Crucial Because of recent abductions in daylight hours,refresh yourself of these things to do in an emergency situation...

This is for you, and for you to share with your wife, your children, everyone you know.

1 Tip from Tae Kwon Do :

The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!

2. Learned this from a tourist guide in New Orleans

If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM Toss it away from you....chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won't see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives.

4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc). DON'T DO THIS! The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR , LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE.
a. If someone is in the car with a gun to your head DO NOT DRIVE OFF,
repeat:
DO NOT DRIVE OFF!
Instead gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car. Your Air Bag will save you. If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it . As soon as the car crashes bail out and run. It is better than having them find your body in a remote location.

5 A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:
A.) Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor , and in the back seat
B..) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door . Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting
to get into their cars.
C..) Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)

6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot. This is especially true at NIGHT!)

7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control,
ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; And even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN, Preferably ! in a zig -zag pattern!

8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP !
It may get you raped, or killed Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked 'for help' into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted
his next victim.

************* Here it is *******

9. Another Safety Point: Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch the night before last, and she called the police because it was late and she thought it was weird. The police told her 'Whatever you do, DO NOT open the door.' The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window, and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The policeman said, 'We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, DO NOT open the door.' He told her that they think a serial killer has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby's cries outside their doors when they're home alone at night. Please pass this on and DO NOT open the door or a crying baby ---- This e-mail should probably be taken seriously because the Crying Baby theory was mentioned on America 's Most Wanted when they profiled the serial killer in Louisiana

If you're making this trip in the day time, you will find the scenery between El Cajon and Ocotillo (where the mountains end and the desert begins) strangely beautiful.

If I recall there are a couple nice Truck Stops along I-8 at El Centro, a fairly nice one just east of Yuma, and a so -so mini mart / Truck Stop in Gila Bend on Az-85. If you are just stopping for gasoline or to grab something to eat you would probably be safe. When you approach Gila Bend take the first exit and go through town. The by-pass just takes you a couple miles out of your way, but there are a couple truck stops at the second (by-pass) exit. I never felt too safe stopping at them, because they're out in the middle of nothing.

The only problem with Truck Stops is that local prostitutes roam around the part of the parking area where the trucks are parked, but they will rarely bother any one in the automobile parking area.

There's nothing wrong with Trucks Stops! they are perfectly safe. In-fact, if you are stranded or in an accident, a trucker is usually the first to help or call for help. Just because most travel alone, are big and mean looking doesn't mean that they are crazy lunatics. I would be cautious at the rest stops at night.

god no!

Truckstops are safe but I wouldn`t stop at those highway rest stops at night (very dangerous)...New Mexico rest stops are dangerous too.