Wild Rivers Motor Lodge

I especially liked how hot the water got. Everyone was welcoming, and I really enjoyed my three nights. The room was clean, with a TV, microwave, and a mini fridge/freezer. I asked for a ground-floor room, and they upgraded me to make that work, which was great. The only small downside was not having a coffee maker in the room.

The manager or owner was really kind at checkout. He even gave me a box and printed a shipping label for free so I could send something from town. I felt safe here and would definitely return. The rooms were basic, but very clean, and the price was good. A few little cosmetic things caught my eye when I checked in, nothing serious, and I mentioned them to the staff when I left. There are a few restaurants within walking distance, along with a cute old part of town.

I slept well, the bed was comfortable, and the in-room heater warmed things up fast after I arrived to a chilly room. It was an easy walk around the corner to a good dinner spot. The room was basic but had what I needed, including coffee and a pot, a microwave, refrigerator, and hair dryer. The young man at check-in and checkout was efficient and answered my local questions kindly. I wish the single-use items could be replaced with refillable shampoo, soap, and conditioner, and real coffee cups, to cut down on plastic waste.

The road noise was the dealbreaker for me. Rooms sit about 60 ft from the 101, and trucks, sports cars, and motorcycles go roaring by loudly and often. It eases around 1 AM, then starts up again before 6 AM. There’s also easy foot access for homeless people to the unsecured parking lot, and it feels like law enforcement has left this stretch to hide behind the supermarket. On the plus side, the rooms are clean, beds adequate, parking lot big, and the price appealing. If you can sleep through frequent noise like tractor pulls, this might suit you. Otherwise, I’d choose somewhere else.