Recommendations on trailer-friendly motels on the I81 corridor

newbury · Oct 24, 2013

I drive from Northern Virginia to Northeast Mississippi regularly. It's about 900 miles. I've gotten pretty good at doing it under 14 hours in my VW Jetta TDI. But now I'm starting to move more "stuff" so I'm hauling my trailer with my dually and going slower. SWMBO doesn't drive interstate. Add in the occasional traffic jam and sometimes it stretches into 16 hours or more. In the interest of safety I've got to begin stopping for some sleep.

The last several times we stopped and I was hauling a trailer it ended up being a royal pain. We'd call hotels at about the halfway point and ask if they had plenty of parking for a long truck and a 24' trailer. Every time the lying managers said yes, and we'd get there and I'd have to park in a in what seemed like a smart car space.

So I'm asking for recommendations for an inexpensive motel on I81 between Bristol and Knoxville that has nice long pull thru parking, relatively secure so I don't have to worry about my tractor on the open trailer.

Any help would be appreciated.

downsizingnow48 · Oct 24, 2013

I feel your pain. Have travelled the same route from the Reedville VA area to California. With a pickup and 24 ft cargo trailer or 20 ft equipment trailer. First night out I use the Hampton Inn at Cedar Bluffs (Knoxville West). It isnt the cheapest but it is very secure, located just a minute or two from the interstate, and if you get there by about 5pm I have always found good room for pickup and trailer. Have also used Google Earth to examine motel parking lots, works pretty good.

newbury · Oct 27, 2013

downsizingnow48 said:
I feel your pain. Have travelled the same route from the Reedville VA area to California. With a pickup and 24 ft cargo trailer or 20 ft equipment trailer. First night out I use the Hampton Inn at Cedar Bluffs (Knoxville West). It isnt the cheapest but it is very secure, located just a minute or two from the interstate, and if you get there by about 5pm I have always found good room for pickup and trailer. Have also used Google Earth to examine motel parking lots, works pretty good.

Thanks for the reply.

SWMBO found a Hampton Inn in Danville. We looked at the satellite imagery and it looked like beaucoup parking. I called them up the guy said no truck parking. She booked it anyways. We get there and they must have had about 30 car spaces out back and the same in front. I took up a block of 6.5 spaces. What had shown up on the imagery was a Shony's about 200 yards up the street.

Luckily we got there "early" about 1800. Shortly thereafter another guy with a trailer pulled in and had trouble finding a spot.

When I came out in the morning every spot was full, including a Fit in the half spot behind my trailer (I made sure no one could park in front of me). There were about 6 vehicles parked ACROSS the street.

I probably need to rejoin "Good SAM" for better info when taking a trailer on the road.