waystation

Waystation is a stopping point or intermediate station along a journey, used to describe places that provide rest, shelter, food, and logistical services for travelers or goods. The term combines "way" and "station" and has historically applied to networks of roads, railways, and maritime routes. In the pre-automobile era, waystations were often inns or taverns spaced at regular intervals to accommodate travelers, mail coaches, or troop movements; they furnished stabling, meals, and message exchanges and served as local hubs for information.

In modern transportation, the concept persists in different forms. On highways, service areas or rest areas function as waypoints for motorists, offering fuel, food, and facilities. In railways, a way station refers to a stop along a line where trains halt to pick up passengers or freight, and crews can change shifts or perform repairs. On ships and ports, intermediate facilities and relay hubs can play a similar role in maintaining continuity of service along a route.

In literature and media, waystation commonly denotes a mid-journey hub or sanctuary, especially in science fiction where it may be an artificial habitat or a neutral relay point for spacefaring vessels.

While the term is less common in formal contemporary planning, the underlying idea of a controlled, accessible stopping point remains a key element of travel infrastructure and logistics.