Evaluation and Improvement Strategies for Korean Highway Service Areas Based on Restorative Environment Theories (ART and SRT)

Highway rest areas are essential restorative spaces that support drivers’ recovery from psychological and cognitive fatigue due to long-distance driving. This study aims to investigate how restorative environmental characteristics of highway service areas influence users' environmental satisfaction, fatigue recovery (healing effect), and re-visit intention. Field observation and a questionnaire survey were conducted, and questionnaire items were developed based on conceptual definitions derived from Attention Restoration Theory (ART) and Stress Reduction Theory (SRT). A total of 181 questionnaires were collected and analyzed using SPSS 28. The results indicate that environmental satisfaction is most strongly predicted by artificial noise exposure (negative effect), facility layout suitability, and wayfinding clarity, whereas fatigue recovery is primarily influenced by artificial noise exposure (negative effect) and sensory restorative cues, such as the perception of natural sounds. Fatigue recovery emerges as the strongest predictor of revisit intention, supporting a shift from service-oriented improvements toward restoration-centered planning in highway rest areas.