>>509690962That is a lot of gas stations, but I only see one fast food restaurant, a low-end regular restaurant, a convince store, a supermarket, and 4-5 hotels/motels. Also that's on the only real route from California (huge population) to Las Vegas (major tourism hub).
Hardly the normal case. Also, that picture is very old. Thrifty went out of business in 1996. Family road trips used to be more common.