Management Agreements and Leases - Annual Minimum Rent and Deferred Rent Balance (Details) - Travel Centers of America LLC - Travel centers $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) travelcenter
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Number of real estate properties under property management agreement | travelcenter	198
Annual minimum rents	$ 274,117
Deferred rent receivable	$ 150,000
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 rents	$ 51,435
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 rents	$ 52,327
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 rents	$ 52,665
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	39
Annual minimum rents	$ 50,117
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 rents	$ 67,573
Deferred rent receivable	$ 42,915