10 Motorcycle-Friendly Hotels You Should Stay at in the US
A comfortable place to stay can be one of the highlights of a motorcycle tour. But not every hotel accommodates us riders equally well.
In RoadRUNNER’s ever-evolving efforts to give moto enthusiasts the best leg up on travel, we’ve compiled this list of our favorite motorcycle-friendly hotels in the U.S.
Plan to hit one of these excellent hotels, inns, and motels on your next tour. We guarantee you’ll get in the saddle well-rested the next morning.
How We Choose the Best Motorcycle-Friendly Hotels
Finding a good hotel as a motorcycle enthusiast isn’t rocket science—but you still should know what to look for. When choosing our favorite hotels, we aim to find a place with:
- Safe and secure (preferably covered) parking
- Room-side parking
- Spacious rooms for spreading gear out to dry
- Good food options on-site or within walking distance
- Multiple power outlets for charging devices
- Hot coffee and tea available in the lobby or room
- Motorcycle amenities like on-site air compressor for tires
- Wash rags in the lobby which can be used to clean the bike or dry your seat
Of course, there’s no such thing as perfection, but if the hotel you’re at ticks off the majority of this list, you’re in good hands.
With that in mind, let’s get to a few of our favorite hotels.
Mountain View Motel—Stratton, ME
As always, the label of “motel” promises ease of access and the ability to keep your motorcycle closeby. The Mountain View Motel (the name courtesy of its view of Cranberry Peak) is a small 10-room establishment with cozy log cabin styling in a relaxed country setting.
Family-owned and operated, the staff is keen on hospitality and ensuring your needs are met. The rustic rooms have knotted pine walls and there’s a fire pit on the grounds for exclusive guest use, as well as a nearby stream for cooling off in summer.
There are a number of motorcycle-friendly routes on hand that utilize the area’s many twisting roads that wind through the verdant landscape and rolling hills.
Route 19 Inn—Maggie Valley, NC
The West has Route 66, and the east has US 19. There’s an iconic vintage neon sign on US 19 that serves as an invitation to a retro hotel stay in the Great Smokey Mountains.
Make the turn and cross the bridge into a secluded enclave of Americana. This Maggie Valley icon conjures visions of vintage Chevrolets with Elvis and Patsy Cline on the radio.
Built in 1948, at the height of our country’s love affair with the automobile, Route 19 Inn was originally called the Rocky Waters Motel. This classic 30-room motel has been carefully and lovingly renovated, the artisans in charge ensuring the vintage, retro rustic charm was maintained and improved.
Situated near Waynesville, Cherokee, and Asheville, the Route 19 Inn puts motorcyclists directly at the epicenter of riding nirvana. Surrounded by trees where the Fie and Jonathan Creeks meet, the Route 19 Inn offers classic hotel rooms in the main building, as well as deluxe creekside suites and cabins.
Park your bike directly outside your room door for peace of mind.
Should you need anything more than the Blue Ridge Parkway for entertainment, there’s Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino, whitewater rafting, fishing, and shopping. Pay a visit to Wheels Through Time, a fantastic collection of vintage motorcycles.
The Harwood Hill Motel—Bennington, VT
Personally, anytime I see the word “motel” used to describe a property, I get intrigued. Motels are the offspring of the great American motorized vacation, after all.
A motel conjures visions of pulling your motorcycle right up to your room, and that’s exactly what the Harwood Hill Motel is all about.
With light and cheer incorporated into the motel’s refurbishing, the Harwood offers a simple, old-school charm. Each room has a patio, some with terraces, and there’s a continental breakfast in the mornings before heading out.
Located in western Vermont, skirting the border with New York State (the Albany Airport is 37 miles away), there are nearby green forests and rolling farmland. Small secondary roads weave in and through this region, making it ideal for spontaneous exploring on two wheels.
If your interests tend toward attractions, there are a number of spots within two miles of the Harwood—Old First Congregational Church, Park McCullough House and Museum, Bennington Center for the Arts, and the Bennington Battle Monument. Also fairly close is the Robert Frost Stone House Museum, celebrating the life and work of the Vermont poet.
Nordic Lodge—Steamboat Springs, CO
Having lived and ridden in Colorado Springs, the area surrounding the Nordic Lodge in Steamboat Springs is ripe with numerous mountain roads and high elevation passes, making it a highly entertaining motorcycle paradise. Situated on the western slope of the Rockies, there are dynamic views and plenty of uncluttered roads. Winters are long and frosty, so plan for spring and summer months to ride here.
The Nordic Lodge itself is a modest hotel situated in downtown Steamboat Springs. Of special interest to motorcyclists are the heated outdoor pool and an enclosed hot tub.
Each room has a refrigerator and a microwave. Also, there are a washer and dryer on the premises.
With parking, on-site your bike will be close by. Once parked for the night, there are 40 restaurants within a five-block radius.
Allegretto Vineyard Resort—Paso Robles, CA
Most motorcycle trips in California will take you within striking distance of Paso Robles, the gateway to Central Coast’s wineries and the famous SR 1. For a high-end lodging experience in one of the area’s top hotels, visit Allegretto Vineyard Resort.
Nestled on 20 acres of lush vineyard amidst the rolling landscape of Paso Robles, this Tuscan-style escape has a formidable main entrance and lobby, with private sitting areas and luxurious rooms. The hallways and alcoves of Italian architecture are augmented by museum-caliber artwork.
Venture into nearby Paso Robles for a choice of restaurants or stay on-site and dine at Cello Ristorante & Bar.
There’s plenty of secure parking on the private property, and there are several laundry rooms for washing and drying gear. The Allegretto (named specifically for a cheerful musical tempo) could easily serve as base for exploring the Central Coast, with numerous country roads, farmland, mountains and twisties to keep even the most insatiable riders entertained.
The Allegretto has a tasting room on-site, which makes for convenient and responsible sampling of the estate’s wine offerings.
Granville Inn—Granville, OH
Given life in 1924 with the intent of providing a luxury haven for the rapidly emerging automobile tourism segment, the Granville Inn is an elegant and surprisingly affordable stone refuge. All of the 39 rooms tilt toward the exclusive and are entertainingly named after notable locals.
Although the inn is located in downtown the Granville, it exudes a feel of privacy and quiet, removed from the surrounding world.
There are a number of riding possibilities within easy reach, mostly to the east, north, and south, that will wind you through gorgeous scenery, with slight elevation changes and plenty of two-lane roads under tree canopies. Autumn will see this area transformed with dramatic colors as the foliage changes.
When the bikes are parked for the day or night, Granville itself is a walking town, with streets of shops and restaurants. However, the Granville offers culinary delights on-site, keeping you close to your room for a relaxing evening.
Hotel Texan—Seagraves, TX
If your travels take you through northwest Texas (Lubbock area), Hotel Texan exudesold Texas charm and hospitality. This historic inn was built in 1917 and enjoys the status of the oldest building on Seagrave’s Main St.
The hotel walls are no doubt infused with a legacy of Wild West antics, having hosted cowboys, ranchers, and roughnecks over the years. A red carpet creates a path atop hardwood floors to take you into the past in one of seven small but quaint rooms, styled with antique furnishings to help transport you to the yesteryear.
For dining, the hotel likes to promote Main Street Pizza and Ice Cream (appropriate eats, given the tone of the stay). For things to do off the bike, there’s the Seagraves Walking Park and the Seagraves Museum. In nearby Lubbock, there’s the Buddy Holly Center, commemorating this influential Texan.
Hotel Floyd—Floyd, VA
A modern hotel, built with “green” thinking, Hotel Floyd is surrounded by the lovely Blue Ridge Mountains, home to the legendary Blue Ridge Parkway. Reasonably priced, Hotel Floyd makes for a comfortable stay to prepare for your Parkway ride or relaxing afterward.
While riding the Parkway, be sure to make a stop at Mabry Mill, the famous landmark still grinding flour a century since its construction. Nearby is Matthews Cabin where you can witness blacksmithing demonstrations and other Appalachian crafts. Summertime presents local folk and mountain music.
A small art and music enclave, Floyd has galleries, shops and live music, with the Floyd Country Store featuring a wide range of tunes from gospel to dance. The area offers day hiking, canoeing, and general exploring of the surrounding hills and forests.
For eats, Floyd has a wide selection of restaurants in town.
The Hotel Sturgis—Sturgis, SD
The name Sturgis is synonymous with motorcycles as this town in the Black Hills is home to the annual rally. If you happen to book into one of The Hotel Sturgis’ 22 rooms during the event and luck into a street-facing room, you’ll have a front row, balcony seat to one of the most famous, albeit somewhat unusual, riding experiences.
The only boutique hotel on Main St, Hotel Sturgis has its own coffee shop and ice cream parlor—the perfect cool down in summertime. There’s a cluster of local points to explore in the immediate surrounding area, with some decent motorcycle roads to be found.
Venture a little farther out and you will find Devil’s Tower (which featured in Close Encounters of the Third Kind) and Mount Rushmore, the impressive mountain carving of four U.S. Presidents. Visit nearby Deadwood to see its old Main St.
The hotel serves as a hub for Sturgis, with a host of restaurants and bars within easy walking. There’s also the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum.
For hiking, there’s an extensive series of trails in the Black Hills National Forest and Custer State Park.
The Switzerland Inn—Little Switzerland, NC
Located directly on the Blue Ridge Parkway—North Carolina’s premiere motorcycling destination—the Switzerland Inn is a little piece of an Alpine chalet. The Parkway is arguably America’s most scenic drive and a favorite among motorcyclists and sportscar enthusiasts. With multiple overlooks, there’s plenty of opportunity to stop and take in the beautiful landscape.
Surrounding attractions include Grandfather Mountain, home to the famous Mile High Swinging Bridge. The mountain offers visitors a chance to see an abundance of wildlife. There’s also the Orchard at Altapass, where visitors have picked and sampled bushels of fresh, homegrown apples for more than 100 years.
The Switzerland Inn consists of a main lodge with rooms and suites (some offer mountain views) and outlying rustic cottages. Accommodations range from casual to exclusive.
There’s plenty of safe parking, which places you within walking distance of your room. On-site fine dining, as well as shops and a relaxing spa with full amenities, are a real treat for rejuvenation after being in the saddle all day.