Super 8 by Wyndham Litchfield

The 2021 renovation upgraded every room in the property, replacing all beds, mattresses, linens, carpets, drapes, televisions, and bathroom fixtures. The new beds use a medium-firm pillow-top mattress that is noticeably better than the chain's previous standard, and the new carpets are a darker, more forgiving pattern that holds up to the heavy traffic of road-trip travelers. The bathrooms received new vanities, tile, and tub-shower combinations with grab bars. Wifi was upgraded to a high-speed business-class system across the property at the same time, with speeds adequate for streaming on multiple devices in a room.

Standard queen rooms run roughly 250 square feet, with one queen bed, a work desk, and the standard refrigerator-microwave-coffee setup. Two-queen rooms add a second bed and slightly more floor space. King rooms are essentially the same as queen rooms with a larger bed in place of the queen. Accessible rooms with roll-in showers are on the ground floor. Connecting rooms are available for families. All rooms have individually controlled HVAC, blackout curtains, and the chain-standard alarm clock with USB charging ports.

The 2021 work did not touch the building exterior or the lobby, both of which look much as they have since the property opened in the 1990s. The lobby is small and functional, with the front desk, a coffee station available 24 hours, and a small breakfast room with five tables. The exterior corridors are open-air on the second floor, with stair access only on the ends; there is no elevator. Travelers with mobility limitations should request a ground-floor room when booking.

The complimentary Super 8 SuperStart breakfast is served daily from 6am to 9am in the small lobby breakfast room. The buffet is genuinely continental rather than full hot - waffles cooked to order on a self-serve iron, fresh bagels and English muffins, a yogurt and fruit bar, cereals, juices, and coffee, with a rotating hot item (usually a breakfast sandwich, an egg cup, or a sausage biscuit). The cinnamon rolls are good. The breakfast is sufficient to start a driving day and does not cost extra. Coffee is available 24 hours in the lobby for guests heading out early.

Other amenities are limited but functional. Wifi is free and adequate for streaming. A small business corner in the lobby holds a printer for boarding passes. There is no pool, no fitness room, and no on-site restaurant. Vending machines on each floor sell soft drinks and snacks; an ice machine is on the ground floor. Parking is free, ample, and well-lit, with several oversized spaces at the back of the lot suitable for RVs, motorcycle trailers, pickup-with-trailer rigs, and the occasional tour bus. Truckers and over-the-road drivers are common guests; the property is friendly to commercial vehicles.

For travelers who want a pool, a fitness room, or a full hot breakfast, the Holiday Inn Express across the interchange is the better fit. For travelers who simply want a clean bed, a hot shower, and a coffee in the morning before getting back on Route 66, the Super 8 is excellent value. Many returning Route 66 motorcyclists choose the Super 8 specifically because the rates allow them to extend their trip by a day or two on the same budget.

Rates are best through the Wyndham Rewards program, with members receiving a 10 to 20 percent discount on the standard rate and free wifi enhancements. Advance-purchase non-refundable rates run another 10 percent below member rates. The property is reliably available on most weeknights and most off-season weekends; April through October weekends can sell out during major Litchfield events, Skyview Drive-In premieres, and the 2026 Route 66 Centennial weekends, so book 30 to 60 days ahead during peak season.

Check-in is at 3pm and check-out is at 11am, with the front desk staffed 24 hours. Early check-in and late check-out are generally accommodated for free on weekdays and for a small fee on busy weekends. The hotel hosts youth sports team blocks several weekends a year, particularly in spring soccer season and fall football season - if a tournament is in town the property will fill earlier and the breakfast room will be busier in the morning. Pets are welcomed in designated rooms for a nightly fee.

Practical tips: the staff at the front desk includes several long-time employees who are happy to recommend restaurants, share Route 66 advice, and point out the route to the Ariston, Jubelt's, and the Skyview. Coffee is available 24 hours. The breakfast room is small, so on busy mornings the line can back up around 8am - eat early or late to avoid the crowd. The property is half a block from Cracker Barrel and three blocks from Steak 'n Shake for travelers who want a sit-down dinner without driving into downtown. The Old Route 66 alignment and the Ariston are a five-minute drive east.