Driving through St Louis. Looking for cheap safe hotel (St. Louis: how much, hotels)

[IShootNikon]

We'll be driving through St Louis and just sleeping for the night. Next morning will do a quick drive by the Arch and be on our way. We want a basic cheap safe place to stay, preferably on west side of Mississippi. Any hotels or general area in St Louis or western suburbs that are cheap and relatively safe.

By cheap we are talking at max $60 hotel rooms. Thanks

[FrankMiller]

I don't know about cheap hotels, aside from searching using travelocity or hipmunk.com or something and picking whatever. Further out from the city will be cheaper, in general.

I will say that I-64 is probably the best scenery overall when passing through the city (goes by Clayton, Forest Park, Cortex, Busch Stadium, various other noteworthy buildings), if you have that option. Although I-70 takes you across the new bridge.

[IShootNikon]

I looked at a few places by the main airport and from reviews they were very sketchy. I don't expect the best at $60 but just don't want my car broken into.

East St Louis, IL is out of the question. Thinking of O'Fallon or St Charles. How far a drive would these be to the Arch?

[RubyJune]

Originally Posted by IShootNikon

I looked at a few places by the main airport and from reviews they were very sketchy. I don't expect the best at $60 but just don't want my car broken into.

East St Louis, IL is out of the question. Thinking of O'Fallon or St Charles. How far a drive would these be to the Arch?

Those are far out suburbs and will be around 30 minutes to the Arch.

The area around the airport is hit or miss, but there should be relatively decent level of security.

To be perfectly honest, in this city, car break ins are possible anywhere. Don't leave stuff in your car no matter where you stay.

Since you touched on those cities, I'm guessing you're coming down 70? If so, the airport is the absolute closest to the Arch you're going to want to stay. From the airport to downtown along 70 is nowhere you want to be.

Look into Westport and Maryland Heights too. Those are closer than St. Charles and O'Fallon. I don't know prices, but I've always had good luck with Hotwire.com. I've gotten some real bargins.

It also depends on how much driving around St. Louis you want to do. If you want to stay along 70, you're limited. If you don't mind taking a detour down to 64 or 44 (which will all merge together downtown by the Arch anyway), you have many more possibilities.

[STLCityMike]

Red Roof Inn - I think there is one near Westport. There is also one on Hwy 44 and Hampton in the city. Another option would be the Americas Best Value Inn in South County - I-55 and Lindbergh area.

[IShootNikon]

I'm not married to I-70. Other roads are fine as long as it isn't too bad a detour. I'm coming from Denver travelling to NC and doing an overnight stay in St Louis. Want to get to the Malcolm W Martin Memorial Park to see the Arch.

I-64 is also an option

[FrankMiller]

At that price I'd be leery of basically anything in the immediate St. Louis area. I'd stay out in Wentzville (west of StL) and catch StL on the way out.

[billiken]

When I was in college 5-10 years ago, we'd find stuff by the airport & Maryland Heights for that price that was fine. Not sure on the prices anymore.

[IShootNikon]

Thanks for all your suggestions. I will look into them.

Wentzville has a Super 8 that is reasonable. Google maps says 45 minute drive to Arch

[Squeamish]

Motel 6 near Mehlville is cheap, and the neighborhood is much nicer than most cheap motel neighborhoods. Much closer than Wentzville. I never figured out why people think they need to drive THAT far out to get to a safe neighborhood.

I doubt anything along the I-64 corridor would be within your budget.