The Lodge at Pensacola

The Lodge at Pensacola is at 7220 Plantation Road, among the budget motels between University Town Plaza and Interstate 10. The three-story building previously operated as an Econo Lodge, and some booking sites still list it under that name. University Town Plaza is about a ten minute walk away, and chain restaurants on North Davis Highway are a block east.

The motel has 59 rooms and no elevator, so guests with heavy bags may want to ask for a ground floor room. There is an outdoor pool, a guest laundry, a business center and coffee and tea in the lobby, and WiFi is free throughout. Microwaves and refrigerators are available on request rather than in every room. The front desk is open around the clock.

Parking is free, and the lot has space for RVs, buses and trucks.

Expedia lists the University of West Florida about five and a half miles away, the Saenger Theatre downtown about seven miles away and Naval Air Station Pensacola about 13 miles away, with Pensacola International Airport about nine minutes by car. The location between Interstate 10 and Interstate 110 makes it easy to reach most parts of the city quickly.

The Lodge is a basic, low-cost option for short stays. Management reports ongoing renovations, and guest reviews have raised maintenance and cleanliness concerns, so reading recent reviews and asking for an updated room is sensible. Travelers who need breakfast or a fitness room will find those at other properties on the same street, including the Rest and Relax Inn and the SureStay Studio next door. The motel’s main advantages are its price, its free parking for large vehicles and its location a minute from the interstate, which make it a workable overnight stop for drivers passing through on Interstate 10 who want to be back on the road early.