The carpet and couch have seen better days

When I pulled off I-80 in Clearfield, Pennsylvania  on my way to NYC past midnight two weeks ago, I was happy to have a room—-any room, at the Days Inn.

Good thing. At the check-in counter I found out that our room wasn’t the one with two double beds my husband had booked for us, but it was a room. Sure, it was a king-sized room that had seen better days–way better days, but lodging is slim pickings along I-80 past Clearfield, and I was bleary-eyed.

I wasn’t so bleary-eyed that I didn’t notice  the pull out couch was too dirty to use as a bed, or that placing the  AeroBed we brought with us on a clean sheet stretched out on the carpet seemed like a sound idea. The carpet and the couch must have been purchased at the same time eons ago.

The paths leading to the pool are lined with lush foliage

On the plus side: the sheets on the bed were clean; the pillows were fine; and the bathroom was in good shape.  Basically, we’re merely talking about dire need for new carpeting and removal of that couch. Oh, yeah, and a working ice machine. The one near our room didn’t work so no ice to make the one beer I bought with me any colder– the one beer I was so looking forward to savoring after a long drive.

In the morning I had a better look at where we had landed. Once upon a time, this Days Inn would have been a gem. The landscaping consists of lush plant-lined paths that meanderto the ample-sized pool. Plus, there’s a lounge bar for nighttime entertainment. The bar was buzzing when I was waiting to check-in, by the way. 

Real Half and Half is Key

What else is going for this hotel? It’s right off I-80, it has free Wi-Fi and the breakfast is fine. And, there is real half and half for coffee. That’s a plus for me.

Although the desk clerk forgot to write down the room request when my husband called ahead for me (she was friendly, but new), and she gave away the last two-double bed room to the single person who was checking in right before me–a woman who did not have a reservation,  she did shave off a few dollars from the room rate and handed us a pile of sheets when I told her that the reason we needed two beds is because we were four people. (One adult, one kid and two teens) The other staff we saw were also friendly.

Still, luckily we were traveling with an Aerobed. And, luckily, we only needed to stay here for one night and the price was right–under $80. In a pinch, though, when one is bleary-eyed, any room will do.

If you’re driving along I-80 on the way to New York City like we were, a better bet is to stay at the Best Western Plus Inn in DuBois like we did last December. Or have reservations ahead of time and don’t rely on a spouse to make calls from the comfort of your home an hour before you decide to stop. Cell phone service along I-80 periodically cuts out –at least ours did.

I do have to give kudos to hubby for making those calls so his wife, two kids, and one kid’s friend didn’t have to drive 180 miles longer to Hazleton. Hotels were booked solid everywhere else.

Days Inn Clearfield
14451 Clearfield-Shawville Hw,
Clearfield, PA 16830
(814) 765-5381

Photos courtesy of Jamie Rhein

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The Days Inn in Clearfield does not fit the dirtiest hotel theme–not by a long shot.