Rodeway Inn

When planning a trip through the scenic Appalachian Mountains of Eastern Kentucky, finding suitable accommodation is often a key consideration. The Rodeway Inn in Harlan, KY, located at 355 Skidmore Dr, is a hotel that appears on many travel platforms as a budget-friendly option for those visiting the area. Part of the Choice Hotels family, Rodeway Inn is typically positioned as a basic, no-frills lodging choice designed to provide essential amenities for travelers on a budget.

The hotel is marketed as a "simple stop on the road through Southeastern Kentucky," offering a convenient place to stay with "basic amenities you need while on a budget." The official description also mentions a recent renovation in 2022, aiming to provide updated and comfortable spaces for guests. However, it's important for prospective guests, especially fellow Kentuckians, to approach their expectations with caution and to consider a wider range of recent guest experiences.

While the Rodeway Inn brand generally aims for consistency, individual hotel experiences can vary. For those considering a stay at the Rodeway Inn in Harlan, it's prudent to look beyond the surface-level descriptions and dive into specific feedback from previous visitors to gauge what to truly expect from a stay here.

The Rodeway Inn in Harlan, KY, is situated at 355 Skidmore Dr, Harlan, KY 40831, USA. This location positions it conveniently off Highway 412, making it a relatively accessible stop for travelers by car. It's about three miles from the center of Harlan town, offering a degree of quietness away from the immediate downtown bustle while still being close enough for local conveniences.

Its placement in southeastern Kentucky, nestled within the Appalachian Mountains, makes it a potential base for exploring the region's natural beauty and outdoor recreational opportunities. The hotel is noted as being just 15 miles from the iconic Cumberland Gap, a historically significant mountain pass, and within a 15-minute drive into Tennessee, indicating its proximity to state borders.

For outdoor enthusiasts, the Rodeway Inn is approximately 11 miles from the Black Mountain Adventure Area, and just over 20 miles from both Kingdom Come State Park and Pine Mountain State Park. These nearby parks offer opportunities for hiking, scenic drives, and experiencing the unique ecosystems of the Kentucky mountains.

In terms of local amenities, the hotel's location provides access to several dining options nearby. The official site lists Rax Restaurant and Dairy Hut as adjacent, with Panda Garden, Subway, and Arby's about 1.61 km away. Other nearby points of interest include Carmike Cinema (1.61 km), National Guard Armory (1.61 km), Kentucky Community College (1.61 km), and Harlan ARH Hospital (1.61 km), indicating that essential services and local attractions are within a short driving distance. While offering convenient access to both natural attractions and local services, it's important to remember that a car is likely necessary to fully explore the surrounding area from this location.

The Rodeway Inn in Harlan, KY, is part of the Choice Hotels network and, according to its general brand standards and public information, aims to offer a set of basic services to ensure a functional stay for guests on a budget. However, it's crucial to acknowledge that recent customer reviews indicate a significant discrepancy between advertised or expected services and actual delivery.

Based on standard Rodeway Inn offerings and general public data, the following services are typically associated with this hotel:

• Free WiFi: Complimentary wireless internet access is generally available throughout the property, including in guest rooms and common areas, allowing guests to stay connected.
• Free Self Parking: The hotel usually offers complimentary self-parking for guests, which can include space for trucks.
• Pet-Friendly Accommodations: The Rodeway Inn brand is often pet-friendly, allowing guests to travel with their animals, though additional fees and restrictions typically apply. Public information confirms this Rodeway Inn is pet friendly.
• 24-Hour Front Desk: A 24-hour front desk service is usually available to assist guests with check-in, check-out, and any inquiries they might have during their stay.
• Vending Machines: For convenience, vending machines are typically on-site for snacks and beverages.
• Guest Laundry Facilities: Self-serve laundry facilities are often available for guests, which can be useful for longer stays.
• Complimentary Coffee: Some Rodeway Inn locations offer free coffee in the lobby.
• Basic In-Room Amenities: Rooms are generally equipped with air conditioning, heating, a private bathroom with toiletries, a TV with cable channels, and sometimes a microwave and refrigerator.

Important Note on Service Delivery: It is critical to balance the above general information with recent guest feedback. Reviews from June 2025 explicitly detail a severe lack of basic services, including "no soap, no wash cloths, no towels, no toilet paper." Guests also reported issues with getting extra amenities like pillows and a complete lack of apology or effort from staff to rectify significant cleanliness and maintenance problems. This indicates that while the hotel may nominally offer certain services, the actual quality and availability of these services can be severely compromised, leading to a highly unsatisfactory guest experience.

Based on general brand information for Rodeway Inn and what is typically expected from a budget hotel, alongside the very specific and concerning details from recent guest reviews, here's a look at the features and highlights of Rodeway Inn in Harlan, KY:

Advertised/Expected Features (Based on brand and typical amenities):

• Budget-Friendly Accommodations: Rodeway Inn is positioned as an economical option for travelers seeking basic lodging without high costs.
• Recently Updated Rooms (Claimed): Some information indicates the hotel was recently updated in 2022, suggesting an attempt to refresh the property and its guest rooms. (Note: This is contradicted by guest experiences).
• Accessible Location: Situated off US-119, the hotel offers relatively easy access for those traveling by car through Southeastern Kentucky.
• Proximity to Outdoor Attractions: It's conveniently located near significant natural landmarks like Cumberland Gap, Black Mountain Adventure Area, Kingdom Come State Park, and Pine Mountain State Park, making it a potential base for outdoor activities.
• Pet-Friendly Policy: For travelers with pets, the hotel generally accommodates furry companions, which can be a key feature for many.
• Basic In-Room Comforts: Rooms typically feature air conditioning, heating, a private bathroom, TV with cable, and sometimes a microwave and refrigerator.

Critical Real-World Highlights (Based on recent customer reviews - these are significant negative highlights):

• Severe Cleanliness Issues: The most alarming highlight from recent reviews is the pervasive and unacceptable lack of cleanliness. Guests reported human feces in the toilet, facial hair on the sink, dirty pillowcases with hair, stained mattresses (including what looked like urine stains), and a dirty fridge in a supposedly "cleaned" room.
• Lack of Essential Supplies: Guests frequently noted the absence of fundamental items like towels, washcloths, and toilet paper upon arrival.
• Poor Maintenance and Unresponsive Staff: A leaking bathroom ceiling during rain and black mold under the sink were reported. When these issues were brought to the office's attention, guests found staff to be uncaring and unhelpful, even refusing to provide another room without extra payment despite the initial room's deplorable condition.
• Absence of Basic Courtesy/Apology: Guests reported that staff offered no apologies or attempts to "make things right," instead instructing them to clean their own room and change their own bedding, providing only bleach and a toilet brush, and clean sheets.
• Subpar Amenities Provided: Reports of "no soap, no wash clothes" and "cold coffee in the mornings" suggest a failure to deliver even the most basic of promised amenities.

Given the stark contrast between standard brand expectations and recent guest experiences, the "highlights" for this specific Rodeway Inn in Harlan, KY, are unfortunately dominated by severe service and cleanliness deficiencies. Prospective guests should be acutely aware of these reported issues.

As part of the Rodeway Inn brand, which belongs to the larger Choice Hotels family, the Rodeway Inn in Harlan, KY, would typically participate in the Choice Privileges rewards program and potentially offer various standard promotions. However, specific, current, and verifiable promotions beyond the general Choice Hotels framework are not detailed in the provided information or readily available from customer reviews.

Prospective guests, particularly Kentuckians looking for value, might generally look for the following types of offers associated with Choice Hotels properties:

• Choice Privileges Member Rates: Enrolling in the free Choice Privileges loyalty program often grants access to exclusive member-only discounts and the ability to earn points for free nights, gift cards, and other rewards.
• Advance Purchase Rates: Booking a room a certain number of days in advance can sometimes lead to reduced rates.
• AAA/AARP Discounts: Members of organizations like AAA or AARP are frequently eligible for special discounted rates.
• Government/Military Rates: Choice Hotels typically offers special rates for government employees and military personnel.
• Seasonal or Package Deals: During various times of the year, Choice Hotels may run broader promotional campaigns or offer packages that could apply to Rodeway Inn locations. These might include discounts for longer stays or special event packages.

Important Consideration: While these promotions are standard for the brand, given the extremely negative and concerning recent guest reviews regarding cleanliness and service, it is highly advisable for any potential guest to consider if any discount would outweigh the reported issues. It would be prudent to directly contact the hotel to inquire about any specific offers and, more importantly, to verify the current state of the rooms and the availability of basic amenities before committing to a reservation.

For those who still wish to contact the Rodeway Inn in Harlan, KY, despite the concerning reviews, here is the direct contact information:

Address: 355 Skidmore Dr, Harlan, KY 40831, USA

Phone: (606) 573-4660

Mobile Phone: +1 606-573-4660

It is strongly recommended that if you choose to proceed with a booking or inquiry, you speak directly with the hotel staff using these provided numbers. This will allow you to ask specific questions about room conditions, recent cleaning protocols, and the availability of essential amenities before your arrival.

As Kentuckians, we pride ourselves on hospitality and value for our hard-earned money. When it comes to choosing a place to stay, whether for visiting friends, a quick overnight stop, or even temporary accommodation due to unforeseen circumstances, we seek reliability and a certain standard of comfort and cleanliness.

However, based on the recent and extremely concerning feedback from fellow travelers, it is regrettably difficult to recommend the Rodeway Inn in Harlan, KY, as a suitable option for locals or anyone else. The documented experiences of human feces in the toilet, dirty linens with hair, black mold, leaking ceilings, and an utter lack of essential items like towels and toilet paper, coupled with an unhelpful and unapologetic staff, present a picture that is far from acceptable by any standard. Being given cleaning supplies to sanitize your own room, as reported by one guest, is simply not what anyone expects from a paid lodging establishment.

While the appeal of a "budget-friendly" option near outdoor attractions like Black Mountain and Kingdom Come State Park might initially seem enticing, the overwhelming evidence suggests that the cost savings come at an unacceptable price in terms of hygiene, comfort, and basic guest service. For families, children, or anyone seeking a clean and safe environment, the risks highlighted in these reviews are severe.

As locals, we understand the importance of supporting businesses in our communities. However, our primary concern must be for the well-being and satisfaction of our fellow Kentuckians and all visitors to our beautiful state. In this instance, the repeated warnings from past guests, including the direct plea of "Please, please, do not go to this inn," are too significant to ignore. There are other lodging options in Harlan and nearby communities that will undoubtedly offer a more appropriate and respectful experience. For now, until verifiable and consistent improvements in cleanliness, maintenance, and customer service are demonstrated, it appears this particular Rodeway Inn is not suitable for the standard of stay Kentuckians expect and deserve.