RoadChef Maidstone Services
Arrived at 4.30 Friday afternoon and asked pretty much everyone coming into the services. Almost all were coming back from France, not heading there - lots of locals too. Had to sleep overnight in the Costa which the staff were okay with. Got a ride the next morning at 7 across the tunnel. No luck with the truck drivers who didn't want to talk to us. You've got to just talk to everybody. Lots of friendly people too.rating: 3/5, wait: 850 min, ride: 103 km ↘
―louie, March 2024
Waited 3 hours for a ride across the channel.
―Anonymous, July 2018
Took 5 mins to get a truck across the channel :)
―Karoel, July 2015
And go TALK with the drivers, some politely said that they wont give me a lift, some gave some tips. Very few stops just for the sign, although it helps a little, shows that you are more trustable.
―Strazdas007, June 2015
Do not try going up north around London from east side. I was going Sunderland from here, and after two hours I deicded to head back to Dover, then in 1 hour truck took me. Everyone seems to be going South.
―Strazdas007, June 2015
Me anf a friend spent about 4 hours in total near a petrol station (by the exit of the services) and then got a lift to folkestone. (April 2015)
―Anonymous, April 2015
Friday morning, waited 2 hours 30mins. Most traffic seemed to be heading to London at that time. Very easy to chat to drivers stopping for a coffee though, and was offered a lift through to Calais on the Eurotunnel.
―JoeMclo, March 2015
In 1 hour got 2 ride offers, one just to Folkestone, the other to Paris, which we accepted.
―Ewelinalucy, December 2014
Early in the morning it's not a good place - most of the traffic are local people on their way to work just stopping for a coffee.
―ICOS, November 2014
the spot seems ok, peole go slow because it's a rondabout and they can pull over to the petrol station; also you won't miss the ones just stopping for petrol or cigarettes. Anyway, we (2 people) waited there three hours without getting a ride, and met two guys who also got stuck there for half a day. Lucky for us, it's not a bad place to get stuck, even over night.
―Anonymous, November 2014
Good Spot, waited an hour, but got a Lift to the Belguim/Dutch Boarder.
―Benworm, September 2013
Was offered a ride to Dunkirk by a trucker although I was not heading that way. He said virtually ALL of the truckers there are heading to Calais (a few must be heading to London, and very very few to Dunkirk).
―Laonikoss, July 2013
Best place to hitchhike is not where this is marked on the map, but at the exit of the parking place near McDonalds.
―Laonikoss, July 2013
waited for an hour - right at the spot where the exit of the parking space is, onto the road that leads to the exit. Cars go slowly, people can see you from the distance and consider it, and you're close to the mcdonalds, for free wi-fi, toilet, water, etc.
―Laonikoss, July 2013
Found it hard to find somebody going towards Dover while asking at the petrol station. Most were going towards London.
―Koendev, February 2013
Agree, better than asking at the station or standing at the on-ramp where there's no space for cars to stop.
―Koendev, February 2013
Agree this would be my choice for going to the continent. Either outside the shops or at the exit road spot mention as well, depending on how you feel.
―Anonymous, August 2011
Stood here with a sign saying "North", after 10 minutes I got a ride to Hull.
―Anonymous, August 2011
I tried this spot to get a ride over the Channel Tunnel, because people are coming out of the parking lot very slowly and it is easy to stop for them to chat with me, but unfortunately most of them ride full cars or are locals or travelling in a different direction, so I only managed to get a ride after 2 hours.
―Anonymous, June 2011
The gas station is perhaps not the best place to hitch in Maidstone services, the people don't seem very comfortable with you approaching them and there is a lot of local traffic or people going in the opposite direction, so I only ended up receiving a few rude replies here, better try at the exit or the parking lots.
―Anonymous, June 2011
Had 3 lift offers over the course of an hour until the ideal lift across the channel came along. Great spot to wait on the exit road of the service station, cars go slowly and have room to stop and you don't have to exert yourself by approaching people in the service station itself.
―Anonymous, May 2011
I ask directly to the lorry drivers and between 15-20min I was already going to Dover.
Apparently every 45min there's a new round of lorries coming in waiting for the next ferry, so pretty good spot.
―Anonymous, March 2011
Traditionally the No 1 spot of choice for crossing the channel. Also check out the lorry park. Interesting fact: The staff are super nice and will let you sleep in the very comfy massage chairs.
rating: 5/5
―Anonymous
The best possibility to hitch a ride through the Tunnel to France, only negative aspect traffic are either going north or south
rating: 4/5
―Anonymous