Huntingdon Motor Inn

The Huntingdon Motor Inn is the kind of straightforward roadside lodging that suits a county where most of the appeal is outdoors. It is not trying to be a resort. A motor inn generally means a low-rise building, rooms that open close to the parking area, and a short walk from car to door, which is a real convenience when you are hauling kayaks, bicycles, camera gear or a cooler after a day around Raystown Lake. For travelers whose budget is better spent on railroad tickets, boat rentals and meals than on a fancy lobby, a modest place in the Huntingdon area makes sense. Huntingdon is the county seat and the practical hub of the Juniata Valley, with Route 22 running through it and the lake, the East Broad Top Railroad at Rockhill Furnace, the Swigart Museum and the cavern attractions all within an easy drive. Staying in or near town puts you close to groceries, coffee, gas and restaurants, and it keeps you from backtracking to a larger city each evening. Because the area has relatively few traditional hotels, a low-cost motor inn also gives travelers one more choice when the better-known chain hotels have sold out on a busy weekend.

Set expectations before you book. Motor inns tend to have simpler rooms, plainer decor and fewer on-site services than chain hotels or full-service properties, and room types and conditions can vary. Features such as breakfast, Wi-Fi, air conditioning, refrigerators, pet policies and parking arrangements differ from one property to the next, so check when you book and read recent traveler comments where you reserve. If a particular feature matters to you, such as a ground-floor room, two beds or a quiet side of the building, ask for it directly.

The best use of a place like this is as a base rather than a destination. A typical day might begin with an early drive to the lake for a paddle or a ride on the trails, continue with lunch in a small town along the way, and finish with a ride on the narrow-gauge railroad or an hour at a museum before you return for the night. Because you will be out much of the day, a clean bed, a hot shower and easy parking are the things that count, and a budget motor inn can deliver them for less than a chain hotel.

Plan around the busy dates. Summer weekends, fall foliage weekends and railroad event days fill the county's limited rooms quickly, and the lowest-priced properties are often the first to go. Booking several weeks ahead for those dates is wise. Midweek stays and winter visits are easier, with quieter roads and lower rates, though some lake services and seasonal attractions run reduced schedules outside the warm months, so confirm hours before you drive out. Arriving after dark on rural roads can be slower than expected, so build in extra time, especially in fog or snow.

If you want more amenities, compare this option with the chain hotels on the Route 22 corridor and with the larger properties in Altoona and State College, which offer more dining and evening choices. For a short, practical trip focused on the outdoors and railroad history, however, a simple, affordable room in Huntingdon keeps the costs down and the schedule flexible.