Oak Tree Inn Vaughn

It was quiet and inexpensive, and the room was clean, though a little cramped. Mine opened directly to the outside, while most rooms seem to be reached from a shared hallway. Smoking isn't allowed inside, but there's a gazebo with benches and an ashtray off to the side. The rear parking area is unpaved.

The staff were friendly, the price was good, and getting in and out was easy. It's a quiet little town, and the hotel was clean and updated. The water pressure was so strong it felt like stepping into a shower from the '60s. I had a great time, though I wanted to swim and there wasn't a pool, so that's why I gave it four stars.

I had paid ahead for a room for myself and my three-month-old son, but when we arrived at 12:12 a.m., the woman at the desk stayed on her phone for about 14 minutes. Then she said there was no room for us because we'd arrived after midnight. I was too exhausted to keep driving, so my son and I slept in the car. I'd recommend staying somewhere else.

Vaughn isn't a vacation spot, but for a stop while passing through, this place had what we needed. The bed was comfortable and the Wi-Fi was far. Reception was next door at Penny's Diner, a chrome-filled diner with a 1960s look. The hotel mostly serves BNSF and UP railroad crews, but that didn't cause us any trouble. One thing to know: it's no longer Oak Tree Inn, it's now Travelodge by Wyndham.