Boone, North Carolina sits in the Appalachian Mountains. That’s appropriate since it is the home of Appalachian State University. When visiting the college and resort town, there are plenty of options for families and solo travelers to explore in terms of lodging.

Recently we traveled to the mountain town and stayed at Rhode’s Motor Lodge. The quaint hotel is located literally minutes from the App. State campus and while it may not offer what some of the bigger franchise hotels in the area does, it makes up for with great customer service, and restaurant you can’t miss.

Located off Blowing Rock road, one of the main roads in the area, a small uphill climb into the parking lot takes you off the busy street into a quieter atmosphere with a great overlook of the mountains.

Rhode’s Motor Lodge provides more than just a place to fall asleep

The overnight stay was one of the less expensive in the area. For one night on a Thursday, the price was just over $120.00. We paid for $25.00 for an extra hour before check out. The hotel’s check-in time is 3:00 p.m. but unlike most places, their check-out is 12:00 noon. That’s great for families who want some extra time in the morning.

Not everything was perfect, however. The rooms were cold and not because of the night air. Concrete floors with an area rug under the bed made walking without socks nearly unbearable. In our room, a crack in the floor went from one side to the other. It wasn’t necessarily bad, but the aesthetic wasn’t pleasing.

In addition, while the hotel provides a small refridgerator, they do not, or didn’t in this room, provide a coffee maker. Considering you can get single cup brewers for as low as $15.00 at the local Walmart, it’s surprising that any hotel/lodge would not provide one. Instead, you have to make your way down to the front lobby between 7:00 am and 10:00 am to get a cup. Not exactly a welcoming addition.

The hotel also doesn’t provide a breakfast option as many in the area do. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing considering most of the breakfast options are never really all that appealing.

On the other hand, there was a lot more that would bring me back to the hotel. For starters, the bed was one of the more comfortable ones I have slept in at a hotel, even moreso than a Hilton owned resort. I didn’t want to get up in the morning because of how comfortable it was.

The restaurant on site is small with few tables, but it isn’t bar food. On certain days there are 1/2 off entrees and drink specials that are better than most hotels offer as well. The food was good and better than driving around and overspending on some of the areas other eateries. The only downside was to take advantage of the 1/2 off specials, you have to eat in their dining area. You can’t take it back to your room. To me, that didn’t make much sense.

Overall, the lodge is a nice option if you are not looking for major frills in your room. You will likely get a balcony that has a great view of the mountains and the free parking allows you to pull up right to your door.

Star rating – A high three of five – While the room was comfortable enough and the food was good, the lack of coffee pot, cold floors, and dining out of the restaurant were drawbacks that couldn’t be overlooked. That being said, the property had a nice quaint rustic feel to it that outshines almost every other hotel in the area.

Book your stay – You can book your nights on Expedia or visit their home webpage: