Driver friendly lodging: hotels with truck parking & more
If you're a truck driver or work in the transportation industry then you know: driving a truck is a challenging job, even when things are going smoothly. So when unexpected problems arise, drivers need to adapt quickly.
Unfortunately, one common problem truck drivers face on the road is finding hotels with semi truck parking.
We're here to help. In this article we'll explore what makes a hotel truly truck friendly, and what you should look for when choosing a hotel or motel.
We'll also highlight popular hotel chains that offer special amenities and services for truckers, as well as how to maximize your savings and rewards.
Let's get started.
What makes hotels trucker friendly?
The best hotels cater to the trucking industry by building their hotels in accessible locations, and providing ample parking spots for semi trucks.
They should have overnight check-in for truckers who mainly drive at night, and are usually close to major highways, fueling stations, rest stops or late-night food options.
They also usually offer free breakfast, sometimes even in the early hours when many travelers aren't up yet, and coffee 24/7.
On-site amenities like laundry facilities or pet friendly rooms may not feel critical, but they can make a major difference to drivers who are out on the road for long stretches at a time.
What are the best hotels with truck parking?
While it’s difficult to definitively choose the best hotel with truck parking since availability and amenities vary between properties and are affected by personal preference, Choice and Wyndham properties tend to be the most frequently mentioned.
Choice Hotels are perhaps better known among drivers, possibly because of their unique Choice Privileges loyalty program, designed to reward truckers with points as part of their Thank a Trucker program. (Points they can earn can be redeemed for free nights, gift cards, and extra amenities.)
But the well-known Wyndham chain also includes several hotels with semi truck parking and other driver-focused amenities — and they’re not alone.
Let’s explore the top hotels for truckers across the Choice and Wyndham hotel chains — and beyond.
Booking Complex Stays For Drivers Or Employees?
Hand off the hassle of group trips and extended stays to Engine and save big.
Learn more
Choice Hotels with Truck Parking (and more)
Choice Hotels do their best to understand the needs of truckers on the road, offering convenient truck parking facilities and comfortable accommodations.
Sleep Inn
Driving across the U.S. or Canada? There’s probably a Sleep Inn available on your route.
Sleep Inns typically boast affordable business rates, clean rooms, and convenient parking. It’s also common to find them within walking distance of Walmart and other 24/7 stores.
Comfort Inn
This hotel chain is well-known and considered family friendly.
Nice bedding, free WiFi, and complimentary hot breakfast makes it easy to get back on the road fully ready to drive Plus: the hotel is 100% smoke-free, which could be a pro or a con, depending on your preferences.
Rodeway Inn
Rodeway Inn is popular in trucker forums for a number of reasons. With budget-friendly rates and convenient last-minute availability, it’s a great choice for middle-of-the-night lodging.
They provide free coffee, premium movie channels, WiFi and extra-large parking lots, usually in convenient locations just off major highways.
Quality Inn
This hotel is a household name with a consistent level of comfort and amenities.
Usually conveniently located, Quality Inn hotels will sometimes have fitness centers, hot tubs, and pools for a bit of luxury on an economy budget, and almost always have free breakfast.
Big-rig parking is also easy thanks to their large parking areas.
EconoLodge
Another great option for affordability, EconoLodge has many properties close to major highways, and free hot breakfast daily. They tend to be walking distance to dining and shopping options, and provide in-room amenities like refrigerators, microwaves, and coffee makers.
EconoLodge is also frequently pet friendly, for drivers traveling with furry friends, and individual hotels will make a note of semi truck parking (if they have it) on their website.
Other Choice Brand Hotels with Truck Parking (Usually)
Of course, these well-known brands aren’t the only Choice Hotels with truck-friendly options. If your route takes you past a Clarion, Clarion Pointe or MainStay Suites, pull off to check it out.
While they may be more expensive than some of the other hotels on this list, they should have parking for your big rig and rooms that can earn you Choice Privilege points.
Wyndham Hotels That Are Truck Friendly
Wyndham’s multiple brands range from economy hotels, like Howard Johnson and Ramada, to upscale hotels that include Wyndham Grand and Club Wyndham — and many of them offer great amenities to truckers, including great rewards points.
Super 8
Super 8 is a great choice for truckers in need of a convenient place to rest. It’s well-known as the largest budget hotel chain globally, and always affordable.
Along with ample truck parking, guests are offered amenities such as high-speed Wi-Fi (although it may not always be complimentary) and a complimentary breakfast item.
Days Inn
If you’re looking for motels or hotels with truck parking, look no further than the Days Inn. Sometimes considered the Wyndham version of Choice’s Quality Inn, the Days Inn is an affordable and family-friendly option for anyone on the road.
Guests at Days Inn are provided with complimentary Wi-Fi and a breakfast item at no additional cost. Additionally, several Days Inn hotels offer additional amenities such as pools, hot tubs, and fitness centers for guests to enjoy after a tiring day of travel.
Other Wyndham Hotels
If you’re unable to locate a Days Inn or Super 8 and need a place to rest, consider these other brands, as the properties are often motels or hotels with truck parking:
- Ramada Inn
- Howard Johnson
- Travelodge
- Microtel
They also usually have 24-hour lobby availability and convenient locations.
When you book a stay at a Wyndham brand, you can count on comfortable rooms, hot showers, and free coffee — the three things almost every trucker is looking for.
Other Motels and Hotels That Allow Truck Parking
Outside of these large brands, there are two other hotels chains that stand out for their truck friendly design: Motel 6 and Studio 6.
Technically the same brand, their wide spread across the United States means you can find them almost anywhere, and especially near major highways or rest areas.
You can expect someone to be at the front desk 24/7, offering a comfortable stay along with free Wi-Fi and lobby coffee.
These are also almost always hotels with truck parking attached or nearby, making them a frequently safe bet for any driver looking for a place to pull off the highway.
How Drivers Can Maximize Their Hotel Savings and Rewards
Once you find some accommodations that allow truck parking, you can start taking full advantage of your trucker perks.
We recommend signing up for every free hotel loyalty program you encounter, though you should expect to have to give out your email address. These programs offer benefits like discounted rates, free Wi-Fi, and sometimes even free nights.
Choice Hotels offer Choice Privileges to truckers, and Wyndham’s Rewards program accumulates points quickly.
Make sure to be careful where you book hotel bookings, though. Many popular online travel agencies (or travel apps) can only accrue their own type of loyalty points — not the hotel loyalty points, and only have public rates to offer.
Make sure you’re booking with an app that offers exclusive discounts for truck drivers and other business travelers. and that allows you to accrue both for double the rewards.
Are there specific apps or websites for booking hotels with semi truck parking?
Definitely. Trucker-friendly accommodations can easily be found using specific apps and websites like DC Book Company’s Truck Stops and Services website (and mobile app) or Allstays.
However, these platforms focus on providing information on hotels that allow truck parking, and other nearby driver-friendly services — not on actually booking rooms.
The best hotel booking platform for truckers is Engine.
Engine Makes It Easy to Book Hotels with Truck Parking
When you’re a trucker looking to grab a shower and a few hours of sleep, it can be exhausting to spend time finding a hotel with a big enough parking lot for your truck.
Skip the lengthy hotel hunts or overnights spent in unsafe rest areas. With Engine you can save up to 60% on hotels stays of all kinds with our exclusive rates for transportation companies and other business travelers.
With our easy-to-use website and app, finding a hotel with the amenities drivers need is a cinch. Find nearby hotels with the Truck Parking filter and map view search, and confidently book with our platform, which features late-night booking methods for travelers who need to check in after 12am.
Users earn Engine Rewards on every booking, as well as loyalty points from 15+ top loyalty programs on eligible rooms. Filter by your loyalty program to find convenient accommodations nearby and double your rewards.
Plus, every driver can trust that our US-based Member Support team is standing by to help with any issues 24/7.