Segment Information - Schedule of Segment Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) segment	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Segment Information
Number of reportable segments | segment			2
Hotel operating revenues	$ 495,550	$ 464,981	$ 1,392,995	$ 1,334,656
Rental income	80,896	77,470	240,274	229,760
FF&E reserve income	1,142	1,065	3,524	3,517
Total revenues	577,588	543,516	1,636,793	1,567,933
Hotel operating expenses	343,274	322,012	965,546	923,239
Depreciation and amortization	98,205	90,139	286,811	266,192
General and administrative	13,404	37,739	76,097	91,127
Acquisition related costs	0	156	0	885
Total expenses	454,883	450,046	1,328,454	1,281,443
Operating income	122,705	93,470	308,339	286,490
Dividend income	626	626	1,878	1,375
Interest income	211	89	590	227
Interest expense	(46,574)	(41,280)	(135,329)	(124,564)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	(158)	0	(228)
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of an investee and gain on sale of real estate	76,968	52,747	175,478	163,300
Income tax expense	(619)	(948)	(1,761)	(3,483)
Equity in earnings of an investee	31	13	533	107
Income before gain on sale of real estate	76,380	51,812	174,250	159,924
Gain on sale of real estate	9,348	0	9,348	0
Net income	85,728	51,812	183,598	159,924
Total assets	7,144,467		7,144,467		$ 6,634,228
Corporate
Segment Information
General and administrative	13,404	37,739	76,097	91,127
Total expenses	13,404	37,739	76,097	91,127
Operating income	(13,404)	(37,739)	(76,097)	(91,127)
Dividend income	626	626	1,878	1,375
Interest income	211	89	590	227
Interest expense	(46,574)	(41,280)	(135,329)	(124,564)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt		(158)		(228)
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of an investee and gain on sale of real estate	(59,141)	(78,462)	(208,958)	(214,317)
Income tax expense	(619)	(948)	(1,761)	(3,483)
Equity in earnings of an investee	31	13	533	107
Income before gain on sale of real estate	(59,729)		(210,186)
Gain on sale of real estate	0		0
Net income	(59,729)	(79,397)	(210,186)	(217,693)
Total assets	167,990		167,990		145,029
Hotels | Operating segments
Segment Information
Hotel operating revenues	495,550	464,981	1,392,995	1,334,656
Rental income	7,617	7,604	22,854	22,810
FF&E reserve income	1,142	1,065	3,524	3,517
Total revenues	504,309	473,650	1,419,373	1,360,983
Hotel operating expenses	343,274	322,012	965,546	923,239
Depreciation and amortization	61,996	56,397	179,503	167,485
Acquisition related costs		156		885
Total expenses	405,270	378,565	1,145,049	1,091,609
Operating income	99,039	95,085	274,324	269,374
Dividend income
Loss on early extinguishment of debt
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of an investee and gain on sale of real estate	99,039	95,085	274,324	269,374
Income before gain on sale of real estate	99,039		274,324
Gain on sale of real estate	9,348		9,348
Net income	108,387	95,085	283,672	269,374
Total assets	4,490,298		4,490,298		4,005,481
Travel Centers | Operating segments
Segment Information
Rental income	73,279	69,866	217,420	206,950
Total revenues	73,279	69,866	217,420	206,950
Depreciation and amortization	36,209	33,742	107,308	98,707
Total expenses	36,209	33,742	107,308	98,707
Operating income	37,070	36,124	110,112	108,243
Dividend income
Loss on early extinguishment of debt
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of an investee and gain on sale of real estate	37,070	36,124	110,112	108,243
Income before gain on sale of real estate	37,070		110,112
Gain on sale of real estate	0		0
Net income	37,070	$ 36,124	110,112	$ 108,243
Total assets	$ 2,486,179		$ 2,486,179		$ 2,483,718