The drive across Interstate 10 in North Florida can feel like a long, hypnotic tunnel of pine trees. It’s a major artery for RVers, connecting the Gulf Coast to the Atlantic, but services can sometimes be spread out. That’s why seeing the familiar red heart logo of a Love’s Travel Stop come into view is such a welcome sight. The location at Exit 343 in Jacksonville, #761, is a classic example of one of these roadside oases. It’s more than just a gas station; it’s a place to reset. You can refuel the rig, empty the holding tanks, let the dog have a good run, and even grab a hot shower before tackling the next leg of your journey. For a fee that’s usually around ten dollars, it breaks up the monotony of the road and provides all the essentials in one clean, well-lit package.
Jacksonville, or "Jax" as the locals call it, is a massive, sprawling city, but its real charm for RVers lies in its natural landscapes. This Love’s is a great staging point for exploring the area’s incredible coastline. You’ve got 22 miles of Atlantic beaches to choose from. A short drive east takes you to places like Hannah Park, which is incredibly RV-friendly with beautiful beachfront campsites shaded by old, mossy oak trees. We’ve spent many a happy afternoon there. If you’re a history buff or a nature lover, you have to visit the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve on the north side of the city. It’s a huge expanse of pristine salt marshes and fascinating historical sites, including the ruins of old Spanish missions. And you can’t talk about this area without mentioning Amelia Island State Park, a more rustic and wild beach experience perfect for surf-fishing and hunting for shells. This Love's is perfectly positioned to be your first stop after coming off the beach, or your last stop to get provisioned before you head out.
Using a truck stop dump station like this one has a certain rhythm. Love’s locations are generally very well organized and designed with big vehicles in mind. They are open 24/7, which is a lifesaver if you’re pulling in late at night after a long travel day. The RV dump station is often located away from the main truck diesel lanes, usually near the car fuel islands or in a dedicated RV lane, which makes it much less intimidating to access. You’ll pay at a digital kiosk with a credit card, so you don’t even need to go inside to get started. This particular location is quite large, with nearly a hundred truck parking spots, which helps keep the traffic flow organized and prevents the semi-trucks from creating a bottleneck near the RV facilities.
The amenities are what really make a stop like this valuable. The pay-per-use showers are a game-changer. After a sandy, salty day at the beach, being able to get a proper hot shower is pure bliss. You just go to the counter inside to get a code. They also have a laundry facility, which is perfect for dealing with a load of wet towels and swimsuits. The fuel lanes are wide and can easily accommodate even the biggest Class A coaches, and they have DEF at the pump. But perhaps the best feature for many of us is the fenced-in dog park. After hours of being cooped up, giving your dog a safe, enclosed space to run off-leash is fantastic. It’s a thoughtful touch that shows they understand the needs of travelers. The one critical thing to remember is that the water at the dump station itself is non-potable. It’s for rinsing your hose only. If you need to fill your fresh water tank, you’ll need to do that elsewhere, perhaps by filling jugs inside.
When it comes to cost, Love’s doesn’t have a single, universal price for their dump stations. It can vary by location. Most of the time, the fee is posted right on the kiosk and is typically around ten dollars. Sometimes, they run promotions where you can get a free dump with a minimum fuel purchase, usually 50 gallons or more. It’s always a good idea to call ahead or check the Love’s Connect app to confirm the current fee and any special offers. When you consider the whole package, the price is more than fair. The convenience of bundling a dump with a shower, laundry, a dog break, and a fuel stop is immense. It saves you from having to make three or four separate stops, which gets you back on the road to your vacation much faster.
A few insider tips for this particular stop. The Jacksonville beaches and Amelia Island are major weekend destinations for both locals and tourists. If you’re planning to stop here on a Sunday afternoon, be prepared for longer lines for things like showers. A stop early in the morning or mid-week will be much more relaxed. To add a bit of culture to your stop, take the short side trip to Fort Caroline, which is part of the Timucuan Preserve. It’s a replica of a 16th-century French colonial fort and offers a fascinating glimpse into the area’s deep history. And just like with other travel centers, it pays to join their loyalty program. You can earn points on fuel and merchandise that can be used to offset future purchases, including dump fees over time.
My final word on Love’s #761 is that it’s a slam-dunk for convenience on the I-10 corridor. It’s a clean, safe, and efficient place that delivers exactly what an RVer needs. It’s the perfect pit stop to prepare for a North Florida beach adventure or to clean up and reset before heading west. Just be sure to confirm the dump fee and the water situation before you pull in. Then, you can relax and enjoy the beautiful beaches, marshes, and history of the Jacksonville area, knowing that your holding tanks are ready for whatever comes next.