Always wondered about the Iowa 80 Truck Stop. We have never stopped there, thought about it once, but there was a backup on the exit ramp so drove on. Is it a tourist trap like Wall Drug, or is it pretty good?
As to road trips, yes, we tend to prepare ahead of time. Full tank the night before, and a good breakfast before setting out, and the aforementioned meals/snacks in the car (we have an plugin cooler we position strategically). Our longest trip together was from Cody, WY to SE MI. We tried to take an extended break at rest areas in Southern WI, and also SW MI (just inside the state line), but the most we could get was 20 minutes before we gave up and kept driving. I bring along a good sleep mask so I can catch a few zzz’s when my wife is driving, and that usually works.