Hotel Management Agreements and Leases - TA (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) agreement travelcenter	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Management Agreements and Leases [Line Items]
Number of operating agreements | agreement	14
Rental income	$ 79,788	$ 76,259
Adjustments necessary to record rent on straight line basis	3,008	3,752
Capital improvements from leased facilities, funded	$ 32,731	32,716
Travel centers
Management Agreements and Leases [Line Items]
Number of properties owned | travelcenter	198
TA agreements | Travel centers
Management Agreements and Leases [Line Items]
Number of properties owned | travelcenter	198
Number of operating agreements | agreement	5
Travel Centers of America LLC | Travel centers
Management Agreements and Leases [Line Items]
Number of properties owned | travelcenter	198
Rental income	$ 68,581	68,117
Adjustments necessary to record rent on straight line basis	2,912	3,644
Accruals for unpaid rent, excluding any deferred rents	68,920			$ 65,332
Deferred rent	150,000
Capital improvements from leased facilities, funded	24,908
Increase (decrease) in minimum annual rent	2,117
Travel Centers of America LLC | Forecast | Travel centers
Management Agreements and Leases [Line Items]
Capital improvements from leased facilities, funded			$ 53,769
Travel Centers of America LLC | TA No. 5
Management Agreements and Leases [Line Items]
Deferred rent receivable from TA agreement, during the period	$ 604	$ 250