Segment Information - Schedule of Segment Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) segment	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Segment Information
Number of reportable segments | segment			2
Hotel operating revenues	$ 488,477	$ 471,910	$ 896,064	$ 868,413
Rental income	80,971	77,293	160,759	153,552
FF&E reserve income	1,155	1,096	2,382	2,452
Total revenues	570,603	550,299	1,059,205	1,024,417
Hotel operating expenses	339,549	324,922	622,272	601,227
Depreciation and amortization	95,155	88,782	188,606	176,053
General and administrative	30,347	37,365	62,693	53,388
Acquisition related costs	0	117	0	729
Total expenses	465,051	451,186	873,571	831,397
Operating income (loss)	105,552	99,113	185,634	193,020
Dividend income	626	749	1,252	749
Interest income	122	40	379	138
Interest expense	(45,189)	(41,698)	(88,755)	(83,284)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	0	0	(70)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of an investee	61,111	58,204	98,510	110,553
Income tax expense	(786)	(2,160)	(1,142)	(2,535)
Equity in earnings of an investee	374	17	502	94
Net income (loss)	60,699	56,061	97,870	108,112
Total assets	6,973,448		6,973,448		$ 6,634,228
Corporate
Segment Information
General and administrative	30,347	37,365	62,693	53,388
Acquisition related costs				116
Total expenses	30,347	37,365	62,693	53,504
Operating income (loss)	(30,347)	(37,365)	(62,693)	(53,504)
Dividend income	626	749	1,252	749
Interest income	122	40	379	138
Interest expense	(45,189)	(41,698)	(88,755)	(83,284)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt				(70)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of an investee	(74,788)	(78,274)	(149,817)	(135,971)
Income tax expense	(786)	(2,160)	(1,142)	(2,535)
Equity in earnings of an investee	374	17	502	94
Net income (loss)	(75,200)	(80,417)	(150,457)	(138,412)
Total assets	196,018		196,018		145,029
Hotels | Operating segments
Segment Information
Hotel operating revenues	488,477	471,910	896,064	868,413
Rental income	8,355	8,326	16,618	16,468
FF&E reserve income	1,155	1,096	2,382	2,452
Total revenues	497,987	481,332	915,064	887,333
Hotel operating expenses	339,549	324,922	622,272	601,227
Depreciation and amortization	59,403	56,004	117,506	111,088
Acquisition related costs		117		613
Total expenses	398,952	381,043	739,778	712,928
Operating income (loss)	99,035	100,289	175,286	174,405
Dividend income
Loss on early extinguishment of debt
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of an investee	99,035	100,289	175,286	174,405
Net income (loss)	99,035	100,289	175,286	174,405
Total assets	4,279,973		4,279,973		4,005,481
Travel Centers | Operating segments
Segment Information
Rental income	72,616	68,967	144,141	137,084
Total revenues	72,616	68,967	144,141	137,084
Depreciation and amortization	35,752	32,778	71,100	64,965
Total expenses	35,752	32,778	71,100	64,965
Operating income (loss)	36,864	36,189	73,041	72,119
Dividend income
Loss on early extinguishment of debt
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of an investee	36,864	36,189	73,041	72,119
Net income (loss)	36,864	$ 36,189	73,041	$ 72,119
Total assets	$ 2,497,457		$ 2,497,457		$ 2,483,718