Garden Inn & Suites

Garden Inn & Suites is at 8500 Pine Forest Road, on the west side of Pensacola a short drive north of Interstate 10 exit 7. Five Flags Speedway is less than two miles away, and the Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds is also close, which makes this stretch of Pine Forest Road busy on race and fair weekends. Expedia lists the John R. Jones Jr. Athletic Complex about five miles away and University Town Plaza about eight miles away, with Pensacola International Airport roughly 15 minutes by car.

The two-story motel has 100 rooms. Standard rooms have two queen beds and sleep four, and kitchenette rooms are available for guests who want to prepare simple meals. Rooms have cable TV, a desk and air conditioning, and there is TV in the common area and a 24 hour front desk. The outdoor pool is seasonal, and WiFi is free.

Parking is free. Small dogs are allowed, up to two per room, for a nightly fee.

The motel sits among newer chain hotels on the same road, including a WoodSpring Suites and a Studio 6, and its appeal is a lower rate with a pool and kitchenette option. Guest feedback praises the staff but also raises cleanliness and upkeep concerns, so travelers should read recent reviews and look at current photos before booking, and it is better suited to short stays than extended ones.

Garden Inn & Suites works for speedway crowds, youth sports families playing at the athletic complexes and budget travelers passing through on Interstate 10. Pine Forest Road has grocery stores, fast food and gas stations within a few minutes, and Perdido Key and the Alabama Gulf Coast beaches are each about half an hour away for a day trip. Uncle Sandy’s Macaw Bird Park, a small family attraction, is also a few minutes’ drive along Pine Forest Road.