Picnic areas along route 81north PA and NY

I travel that road a lot.

I racked my brain for a few hours and I cannot think of a non full facility rest area picnic area on or near 81 or I90.

The problem with rest areas without facilities is the usually smell of urine and feces.
If you want to try some none facility rest areas and avoid Syracuse get on 17/I86 in Binghamton and take it to 390 which brings you to Thruway near Rochester

You might be best off to look for parks in some of the towns you go near.

For example, Newton Water Works Park in Homer, NY, on 281 just south of 41, looks like a possibility. (It's just after the Super Cream Dairy Bar, if Google street view is to be trusted.) I haven't set foot there myself, though having an ice cream stand next door does have its advantages and disadvantages.

There are no suitable rest areas on the thruway. The few that do exist are as described, littered with those yellow trucker bombs and worse. The service areas have giant lots and many have picnic tables. While not a pristine idyllic picnic spot,the convenience of rest rooms and running water should ease the angst.
Exiting and reentering the thruway will add an extra 15 cents to your toll.
If you are not in a hurry rt 20 closely parallels the thruway,good road for the most part, great scenery, some interesting attractions. Probably add 90 minutes to 2 hrs to your trip.

Route 81 is rural all the way from Binghamton to Syracuse so a wide spot in the road at any exit would be readily found,
I wonder if I-86/Rt 17 to I 390 to I 90 to be a better choice than 81?
Certainly in my mind would be a more relaxing drive.

Thanks guys! I think we are going to stop at the full service area just before Syracuse. Hopefully that one will have the picnic tables otherwise we will find a spot on the ground under a tree to throw down the outdoor blanket...after checking the ground for dog (or Human) waste. We plan on leaving North Jersey early in the morning,. This seems like a logical place for a linch break. Thanks again

That rest area is nice. Has tables