Urban sprawl, cross-country conferences, and Las Vegas extravaganzas are each associated with hotels, but a motel is where you might stay if traveling with your family through the Sequoia National Forest, the vast Montana countryside, or the sweet woods of Virginia. Motels are roadside lodgings that are often quaint and privately owned, though motel chains also exist. Motels first appeared along the highways of America not long after Henry Ford started rolling Model T’s off the assembly line, from 1908 to 1930. Tin Lizzy, as it was called, was the first affordable car offered to the masses. Once people got a set of wheels, they wanted to use them, and the humble motel sprang up to help motoring folks get from point A to point B.

One of the distinguishing features of a motel is that it is U-shaped or square, with an inner courtyard that serves as the parking lot. Doors face the lot, with ground doors opening directly to their own parking spaces mere feet away. This is extremely convenient for unloading suitcases. It is also reassuring to have your vehicle parked right outside the door where you can keep an eye on it, especially if it contains valuables.

Hotels serve a different purpose than motels, and as such, they are located in or near cities. The basic design of a motel differs significantly from hotels, where rooms face inward with doors opening to interior hallways. A guest might stay at a hotel for a week or longer on business or pleasure, and “extras” are expected. Hotels commonly offer Jacuzzis, gyms, pools, restaurants, room service, cable television, Internet connectivity, and other luxuries. Hotel parking lots are separate, and in many cases, the walk from the lot to the lobby can be a trek. Some hotels provided shuttle service.

While the average motel may not have the accoutrements found at hotels, it offers easy access, reasonable rates, and a less complicated experience. This makes a motel ideal for a night’s sleep as travelers make their way through the country’s less traveled roads to an ultimate destination. Some motels even feature individual cabins set among picturesque woods, perfect for a longer stay to get away from it all.

Motel 6 is one of the largest motel chains in the United States, offering an experience somewhat similar to that of a budget hotel. Motel 6’s are multi-story chains with direct access parking and are usually located just off a freeway or highway for convenience. The more typical motel is found in mountain towns and along smaller, more picturesque highways.