Big Walker Motel

american owned and operated will get me every time. great location. rustic. clean. nice people. friendly. would stay again in a minute. it’s not fancy and that’s perfect.

Exit 47 on I-​77 is the place for gas, Premium Coffee, quick road food, and the exceptional, All American Big Walker Motel. The sign says only MOTEL.
Gas is circle K … quick, as cheap as any, and the convenience store has most things you’ll need. The Coffee is Exceptional. .. Choices included five sustainable, premium types when I visited. My choice was the Peruvian.
Circle K has a major chain chicken and burger place too. Fast friendly service, good road food, quiet compared to the other exits. You’ll be in and out in less time than it takes to be seated at Crackerbarrel.
The Subway is on the other side of the exit. It’s the standard sub place.
Big Walker Motel is a gem. Prices around $ 50 a night. Recently renovated rooms: new paint, new wall paper. New shower/​tubs … new sink area, with easy charging outlet; new mid-​sized refrigerator (you’ll have to turn it on); and new micro wave ovens. Two comfy sitting chairs, the standard desk and chair Two beds with new bedding and linens.. .. All on one floor, you park right at your door, no elevator needed.
The patio area overlooks a 180 degree view of the valley and the mountain range. The Fall Colors are amazing. The perfect place to recover from a long days drive.. .. You can walk down to the Circle K and back. It’s good exercise.. .. Rooms are quiet, I barley heard the I-​77 road noise.
The ice machine is at the south end, and there is a drink machine. There is a pizza delivery service … and a shuttle for Appalachian Trail hikers … Contact the motel for info.
Free WiFi. .. It’s fast, almost as fast as my premium service at home. No password needed, just connect and go.. .. Yes, you can drive in, use the WiFi, and then leave. . but you are missing staying at the original, all american Big Walker Motel.
Bicyclists could enjoy some interval hill climbs before turning in: no road traffic on the hill.

After reading the reviews I was hesitate to stay at Big Walker Motel. To my surprise the room was super clean and roomy. All the plumbing and lighting fixtures are upgraded and worked as expected. I met the owner Willie who is a 2^nd generation owner. He conveyed that there has been a large investment of time and money in the last year. I personally give the place high marks and would recommend you try staying with them.

I stayed here for a night while hiking through the area on the Appalachian Trail. It’s not a Hampton Inn but I had no problems or issues with the room or the cost. Check-​in was quick & painless and the sheets & towels were clean. If you want to spend $ 100 on a room, there are plenty of places along the interstate. If you want a $ 50 room and a good night’s sleep, the Big Walker should fit the bill.

I just read the previous review of the Big Walker Motel, and I can hardly believe it’s the same place. Maybe the current manager wasn’t there back in 2011.
We stayed at the Big Walker the night before beginning a backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail. The room was basic, but very clean, with a faint smell of bleach in the linens. After 3 days of hiking in cold, wet weather, we lucked into a ride into town, and we spent another night back at the Big Walker, warming up and drying out. The manager and her husband were friendly and helpful. We ended up staying at the motel for 3 nights, and paying the husband to give us a ride to and from different points along the trail each day, for a very reasonable fee. I’d recommend the Big Walker to other hikers, or to any budget minded traveler who just wants a decent place to take a shower and get a good night’s sleep.

If there was a way to give this motel ZERO stars I would have…
I have never been to a more disgusting motel in my life. I have stayed in hostels all around the world and it’s scary to think the biggest dump I have ever seen is right here in the United States.
It’s high atop a hill overlooking the expressway. Greeted by a mute staff member with the social IQ of stone blind mule… she couldn’t express the room (s) available but was quick to point out that the room was non-​refundable … got to the room, which turned out to be the only room available that night and we were greeted by dozens of flying bugs and crickets and spiders all over the room. There was feces in the toilet, a dead mouse in the tub and all the towels were stained with dirt and blood and rust from the water.
Getting through the foul odor in the room was a challenge all in itself.
All of the bedding was disgusting and had cigarette burns covering a large portion … pillow cases, duvee, sheets… all of it. What the hell!!!
Air conditioning didn’t work but did blow out another wonderfully foul odor when turned on.
We called 2 dozen other hotels all within 50 miles and due to a NASCAR race in Bristol there was nothing available anywhere.
This place should be burned to the ground!