Late night at the rest stop

I'm quite familiar with the highway rest areas in New York, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.  Over the
years I've probably been in every one across the stretch of I-90 crossing those states.  I've seen them remodeled and refurbished, the food options expand, the restrooms improve.  Inside they represent a microcosm of American society.  At any time you will meet people from different ethnic groups all anxious for at least one of three things--a toilet, food, or gas.  Like Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the rest stop places us all at our most basic level.

The rest stop late at night is a different scene.  The diversity is the same, but the groggy faces convey the exhaustion of late night travel.  Small children stumble in their half awake state.  Mothers ask for hot water at McDonald's to warm bottles.  Hyped up toddlers race around or collapse in tears.  Rest stops are not usually places for fun and games, but at midnight there are few smiles.  I wonder why these people are traveling at this time.  Is it a jump start on vacation?  Easier traveling while children sleep?  Emergency trips or last minute plans?