With about an hour left before I hit Scranton, Pennsylvania, after midnight, I had a decision. Stop for the night or drive two more hours past Scranton to my destination. At a rest stop, I checked out hotel possibilities on Hotels.com using the app on my phone. Dunmore Inn, a little past Scranton, seemed the most promising because of its price and reviews.
A Welcome Beacon Off I-81 Past Scranton
Of course, checking into a chain hotel felt like the safe bet. However, I am fond of family-owned, road-trip-type motels. Giving business to folks making a go of it where there’s a razor-thin profit margin is satisfying. Regardless of which hotel, I wasn’t ready to commit. I drove on, yawned, and decided stopping for the night was wise.
I called the Dunmore Inn. “Do you still have a room for one person available?” There was a room, and yes, someone would check me in after midnight. As I headed down the exit ramp off I-81, minutes past Scranton, I saw the Dunmore Inn sign lit up in the distance. What a welcome beacon.
An Easy Breezy Check-in
There were several cars parked in the lot of this one-story motel, each in a space in front of a guest room door. At first, I wondered if the woman I talked with had given up on me because no one was behind the check-in desk and the light was off behind the counter. The lobby door was unlocked. Yay! When I stepped inside, the light behind the desk came on, a door opened, and a man came out from the back to complete my reservation and check me in.
Check-in was simple. After my “no smoking” and “no pets” affirmations, I filled out the short check-in form, paid with a credit card, and was given the receipt and an electronic key card room key. “Turn in the key after you check out,” the man said, then gave me directions to my room, which was around the other side of the building.
My Room, a Sweet Respite Near Scranton
I found a parking spot right in front of 104, my room. Sweet! No schlepping luggage down a hall. Sleep was just steps away. My one queen room was perfect. Cozy, comfortable, and spotless in a compact package of well-placed furnishings and decor. Here is where thought has gone into the color scheme. The dark blue accent wall and grayish blue of the rest of the room worked well together. The patterned bedspread and curtains picked up on those colors, creating a tasteful place to rest on a road trip.
The black refrigerator and microwave fit perfectly where they are placed, with space between them and the dresser. The bed faced the dresser with the mounted flat-screen TV centered perfectly above that. Each piece fit exactly where the lines between them felt clean. Sometimes hotel rooms feel a bit off. Too much space on one end and randomness of placement of items that don’t flow that well. This Dunmore Inn room did not have that issue.
Other Guest Room Details
The alcove space created by the wall to the bathroom had a just-the-right-size table and two chairs. Because it was just me, I slept on the side of the bed with the nightstand. A 2nd nightstand could fit, but the room might feel crowded with that addition.
As I eyed the room’s details, I noticed everything looked brand new. Not a ding, not a scratch, not a smudge anywhere. Even the wall air conditioner and the heater were spotless. The bathroom was equally pristine. For a large person, the shower stall might feel a bit small, but it’s a well-done space of dark sand colored tile and a shower curtain. Bath towels are thick and also in great shape. Bath amenities include bar soap and a small bottle of shampoo/conditioner. There is a hair dryer, also in perfect shape.
Although there is a refrigerator with a microwave on top, there isn’t a coffee maker. No worries, though; there are several coffee options close by. More on that.
Check-out was a breeze. As I headed out of my room to pack my car, the couple who own the Dunmore Inn were cleaning the room next door. The husband is the person who checked me in. I assume I talked with the wife on the phone. I gave the key to them, then checked out the property in the daylight.
What is Nearby the Dunmore Inn?
In the morning, from the vantage point of the Dunmore Inn’s parking lot, I could see the Pocono Mountains in the distance. Flower beds, including a vegetable garden of peppers and eggplants, and ornamental trees on the Dunmore Inn’s grounds add to the homey feeling of the motel. Next door, there’s Bud Schultz Garden Center, a lush garden store with a bounty of shrubs and plants.
- Get a Car Rental
- Buy Travel Insurance
This section of Dunmore, Pennsylvania is a busy intersection of Starbucks, a Wendy’s, chain hotels, and gas stations. I filled my tank at the convenience store Sheetz, plus grabbed a banana and coffee for breakfast before heading out.
Downtown Dunmore, Near Scranton and the Poconos
With a bit of time before I planned to reach my destination, I drove to downtown Dunmore to see what’s there. This is a town where hometown heroes are immortalized on lamppost banners and family-owned businesses fill most of the town’s storefronts. There are several places to eat and some shops to browse. Unfortunately, I was too early for Dunmore Candy Kitchen. It’s a business that’s been going strong since 1904.
For anyone traveling with kids, Sherwood Park with a splendid playground and sports fields is just minutes from the Dunmore Inn. If you want a vacation near the wealth of the Poconos’ outdoor offerings, plus the rich history of Scranton, Dunmore Inn is a perfect hub location.
My one-night stay was less than $100.00. You can book directly from the Dunmore Inn website. I just showed up at the door after calling first. There are rooms with two queen beds and one king as well. There is an ATM in the lobby, and Wi-Fi is free.
Check rates for Dunmore Inn online at Expedia, Booking.com, Agoda.com, or Hotels.com.
