Dirty Restrooms are Costing Transportation Hubs Billions in Food and Beverage Revenue
Clean restrooms have a direct impact on customer satisfaction, revenue and public health.
The 2026 Invisible Sun Summer Travel Index™ found 72% of travelers will avoid using an unacceptable restroom, and 80% will avoid purchasing food and beverages at transportation hubs with dirty facilities. The data also reveal that inconsistent restroom cleanliness—not a lack of cleaning standards—is driving lost spending and diminished customer trust.
Food and beverage accounts for 26% of the $65 billion in annual non-aeronautical revenue for airports. Nearly eight out of 10 (79%) of respondents avoid restaurants when restrooms aren’t clean. Travel organizations are missing out on revenue because of inconsistent cleaning and substandard hygiene compliance.
For airports, highway rest stops and transit operators, maintaining consistently clean and hygienic restrooms is no longer simply a facility management issue; it is a business imperative that directly influences customer behavior and financial performance.
Nearly three out of four summer travelers (72%) will leave a restroom without using it if they find a restroom unacceptable. In terms of what makes a restroom unacceptable, consumers ranked “a dirty toilet area” as number one, followed by “dirty floors” and “foul odors.”
Nearly eight out of 10 (79%) consumers avoid eating in restaurants in airports, highway rest stops or train stations with dirty restrooms.
“The message from summer travelers is clear: Make sure the restrooms are clean, or we will take our money elsewhere.”
Three out of four summer travelers (75%) find a dirty toilet area the most offensive or disgusting aspect of a dirty restroom, followed by dirty floors (64%) and foul odors (55%)
More than 50% of summer travelers plan to travel by car.
Highway Restrooms vs Airports
Restrooms in highway rest stops are the least acceptable to summer travelers — they are more than 3 times as likely (3.2x) to view restrooms in highway rest stops as unacceptable compared to airport restrooms
Highway Restrooms vs Train Stations
Restrooms in highway rest stops are nearly 3 times as likely (2.7x) to view restrooms in highway rest stops as unacceptable compared to train station restrooms.
Airport, Train Station and Rest Stop Cleanliness by the Numbers
Airport Results
Airports are busy hubs with variable timetables and volumes. We compared the positive and negative response for a clean opinion. Dallas and Orlando airports topped the list as #1 and #2 for restroom cleanliness.
Detroit and Philadelphia rated lowest in the survey.
Train Station Results
The Union Station train stations topped the list with Chicago and DC taking position #1 and #2.
New York and Philadelphia train stations are some of the busiest and dirtiest according the survey.
Highway Rest Stop Results
The Florida and Pennsylvania Turnpikes are putting toll money to good use. They took the #1 and #2 spots with the highest overall score.
I-10 and 1-80 ranked lowest in the survey.
Travelers don't lose confidence because a restroom is always dirty – they lose confidence because they never know what they'll encounter. When restroom cleanliness is inconsistent, customers are less willing to stop, dine or shop because they can't trust the experience.
The problem isn't the location – it's inconsistent cleaning. Every time a traveler walks into an unacceptable restroom, operators risk losing not just that purchase, but future visits as well. Consistent restroom standards protect customer confidence, and customer confidence drives revenue.
The 2026 Invisible Sun Summer Travel Restroom Index™
The most comprehensive survey of consumer views of the quality of restrooms across airports, highway rest stops and train stations across the United States, the 2026 Invisible Sun Summer Travel Index surveyed 788 consumers in May and June 2026. The survey is statistically significant, with a +/- 5% margin of error at a 95% confidence level.