Management Agreements and Leases - Annual Minimum Rent and Deferred Rent Balance (Details) - Travel Centers of America LLC - Travel centers $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) travelcenter option
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Number of real estate properties under property management agreement | travelcenter	199
Annual minimum rent and return	$ 284,413
Deferred rent receivable	$ 150,000
Number of renewal options available | option	2
Term of renewal options	15 years
TA No. 1
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Number of real estate properties under property management agreement | travelcenter	40
Annual minimum rent and return	$ 52,763
Deferred rent receivable	$ 27,421
TA No. 2
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Number of real estate properties under property management agreement | travelcenter	40
Annual minimum rent and return	$ 53,681
Deferred rent receivable	$ 29,107
TA No. 3
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Number of real estate properties under property management agreement | travelcenter	39
Annual minimum rent and return	$ 54,005
Deferred rent receivable	$ 29,324
TA No. 4
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Number of real estate properties under property management agreement | travelcenter	40
Annual minimum rent and return	$ 54,437
Deferred rent receivable	$ 21,233
TA No. 5
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Number of real estate properties under property management agreement | travelcenter	40
Annual minimum rent and return	$ 69,527
Deferred rent receivable	$ 42,915