Hotel Management Agreements and Leases - TA (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) agreement travelcenter	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) agreement travelcenter	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Management Agreements and Leases [Line Items]
Number of operating agreements | agreement		14		14
Rental income		$ 80,896	$ 77,470	$ 240,274	$ 229,760
Adjustments necessary to record rent on straight line basis		$ 3,087	2,932	9,208	10,377
Capital improvements from leased facilities, funded				$ 89,955	122,239
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		$ 73,279	69,866	$ 217,420	206,950
Adjustments necessary to record rent on straight line basis		2,988	2,823	8,907	10,053
Accruals for unpaid rent, excluding any deferred rents		75,231		75,231		$ 65,332
Deferred rent		150,000		150,000
Capital improvements from leased facilities, funded				62,888	75,314
Increase (decrease) in minimum annual rent				5,345	6,402
Deferred rent receivable from TA agreement, during the period		$ 435	$ 408	$ 1,384	$ 937
Travel Centers of America LLC | Forecast | Travel centers
Management Agreements and Leases [Line Items]
Capital improvements from leased facilities, funded	$ 16,090