Hotel Management Agreements and Leases - TA (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		18 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) agreement travelcenter	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) agreement travelcenter	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Management Agreements and Leases [Line Items]
Number of operating agreements | agreement	14		14
Rental income	$ 80,971	$ 77,293	$ 160,759	$ 153,552
Adjustments necessary to record rent on straight line basis	$ 3,113	3,693	6,121	7,445
Capital improvements from leased facilities, funded			$ 62,204	86,929
Travel centers
Management Agreements and Leases [Line Items]
Number of properties owned | travelcenter	199		199
TA agreements | Travel centers
Management Agreements and Leases [Line Items]
Number of properties owned | travelcenter	199		199
Number of operating agreements | agreement	5		5
Travel Centers of America LLC | Travel centers
Management Agreements and Leases [Line Items]
Rental income	$ 72,616	68,967	$ 144,141	137,084
Adjustments necessary to record rent on straight line basis	3,007	3,585	5,919	7,229
Accruals for unpaid rent, excluding any deferred rents	71,741		71,741			$ 65,332
Deferred rent	150,000		150,000
Capital improvements from leased facilities, funded			50,403
Increase (decrease) in minimum annual rent			4,284
Travel Centers of America LLC | Forecast | Travel centers
Management Agreements and Leases [Line Items]
Capital improvements from leased facilities, funded					$ 32,900
Travel Centers of America LLC | TA No. 5
Management Agreements and Leases [Line Items]
Deferred rent receivable from TA agreement, during the period	$ 346	$ 279	$ 949	$ 529