Management Agreements and Leases - TA Leases (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) travelcenter agreement property	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Number of properties owned | property			522
Number of operating agreements | agreement			14
Rental income			$ 323,764	$ 309,600	$ 280,935
Capital improvements from leased facilities, funded			$ 131,120	187,652	180,703
Travel centers
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Number of properties owned | travelcenter			199
Travel Centers of America LLC | Travel centers
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Rental income			$ 293,273	279,175	250,582
Straight line rent adjustments			11,966	13,132	9,100
Accruals for unpaid rent, including deferred rents			$ 78,513	65,332
Increase (decrease) operating leases annual rent fixed interest rate			8.50%
Increase (decrease) operating leases annual rent basis spread on variable rate			3.50%
Capital improvements from leased facilities, funded			$ 84,632	109,926	99,896
Increase (decrease) in annual minimum returns and rents			$ 7,194	9,344	8,491
TA agreements | Travel centers
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Number of operating agreements | agreement			5
Travel Center Nos 1, 2, 3, and 4 | Travel Centers of America LLC
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Percentage increase in non-fuel gross revenue to be paid by lessee			3.00%
TA No. 5 | Travel Centers of America LLC
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Percentage increase in non-fuel gross revenue to be paid by lessee			3.00%
Amount of annual percentage rent waived				372	1,121
Annual amount of cumulative rent waived	$ 2,500
Amount of percentage rent recognized			$ 2,106	$ 1,303	$ 2,048
Forecast | Travel Centers of America LLC | Travel centers
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Capital improvements from leased facilities, funded		$ 51,494