Name: Best Budget Inn
Address: 13008 Missouri 96, Carthage, Missouri, United States of America, Carthage, Missouri, US
Price range: $90–$92 per night
Rating: 8.17

What guests think

At Best Budget Inn, travelers highlight its nostalgic Route 66 style, very clean rooms, and welcoming owners, along with a peaceful setting by Kellogg Lake that feels relaxing and safe while remaining an affordable, straightforward stop.

Guests appreciate the outdoor pool, easy parking right at the door, ground-floor access, and a handy on-site laundry. Rooms offer fun retro decor and comfortable beds, though space runs small and some showers are tight; Wi-Fi reliability and road or neighbor noise vary by room. Breakfast ranges from simple to unavailable, so expect an independent, characterful roadside stay with practical comforts.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Outdoor pool is appreciated, parking at the door and all ground-floor rooms make access easy, and several guests like the on-site laundry.

Related guest reviews

10

Tarrie

Oct 20, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Laundry close nice machines. Very clean. Quite. Kind staff.

10

Greg

Jul 26, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The 50s motif was fun. There was a nice outdoor pool out back. It was right off of route 66.

10

Margie

Jun 14, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Very clean. Cute decorations. Pool area very nice.

10

Ethan

Aug 22, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Super quaint, nostalgic spot! The woman who checked me in had immense knowledge of the area, and pointed me in the direction of some cool places to check out. The room was spacious enough, and very nostalgic in design. The pool was quite lovely too! At this price point and location, I would definitely choose this again if I'm ever in the area again.

10

Jenna

Jul 25, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

A very quaint motel right next to a beautiful lake. Our kids loved the pool too.

10

Bryan

Aug 14, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Beautiful lake to walk around by the property, easily accessible. All first floor level or ground level rooms. Just a great place.

10

Lauren

Jun 8, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Love the old school vibes, great attention to detail. Pool was refreshing and rooms were comfy

10

Matt

Jun 22, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Gorgeous landscaping and a clean pool!

10

Anita C

Feb 24, 2026

·

Stayed 21 nights

Nice room, dependable WiFi, convenient laundry, and nice place to sit outside and watch geese and ducks on lake across the road.

10

Lawrence

Aug 20, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The Best Budget Inn lives up to its name. The staff member who greeted me for my late arrival at 11:00 pm was very friendly and welcoming. Parking five feet from the door of my room was a real treat. The area was well lit and so I felt secure. Yes, rooms are small. But importantly they are clean, well maintained and thoughtfully decorated with “retro” style mini-fridge, microwave and matching phone - all teal in color. The bed was very comfortable. The only downside was a bit truck traffic and loud car/bike noise at the two lane highway intersection where the hotel is located. I definitely will stay here again when I am passing through the area in the future.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Cleanliness

Reviews consistently praise very clean, well-kept rooms and property. A few note odors or minor maintenance issues.

Related guest reviews

10

John

Mar 26, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

I enjoyed the retro look of the room, extremely clean and friendly and helpful staff, would stay again

10

Betty

Nov 5, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Room was spotless. Loved the 60’s decor!

10

Keith

Jul 24, 2024

·

Stayed 5 nights

This was probably the cleanest hotel that I have ever stayed in.

10

Tracy

Jun 8, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Amazing service. Easy check in. Very clean and neat. My go to place to stay in Carthage.

10

Jennifer

Oct 29, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Room was comfortable and clean. Owners were amazingly nice. Along old Route 66, motel is of the era and gives the vibe. If you want a clean, quiet room for a good price this is the place. Kellogg Lake across the road, walking trail and park.

8

Brent

Oct 6, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The room had a bad, dank odor. I think it was the old air conditioner.

4

Sara

Apr 9, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The odor of the carpet or the whole room and bath tub drain clogged.

10

Mary

Oct 16, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Clean room. Quiet area by a lake. Great price.

10

Jan

Jun 22, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Nice stay in a quiet hotel. The room was clean and beds comfortable. The setting is nice and best of all they are dog friendly.

10

Rachelle

Mar 31, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very well kept up but stayed true to the original Route 66 vibe. Extremely clean and the staff were super friendly!

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Rooms

Rooms feature retro decor and comfortable beds, but space is modest and some showers are tight. Wi-Fi performance and road or neighbor noise are mixed across reviews.

Related guest reviews

4

James

Mar 18, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very noisy and the room needs updating.

10

Rosemary

Jul 3, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Best Budget Inn is a very quaint hotel. We loved our room. Retro setting! Very clean. Extra Large shower. Not too far from stores and restaurants The owner is very friendly and welcoming. Highly recommend.

6

Judith

Jan 5, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Room was cute, decorated in 50’s Route 66 decor. But water pressure was very low. Motel was close to Carthage, which is an adorable town with amazing Holiday displays.

8

Jean

Nov 26, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Very good service when we arrived, friendly and informative. The decor was retro cute. The internet was VERY slow, unusable. We were told that there would be breakfast, including waffles. The morning staff informed us that, "He was sorry, but not the normal breakfast person." So, although there was cold stuff to eat, the breakfast was pretty disappointing. The morning staff was more about excuses than service.

10

John

Jul 17, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

It was a good room for a layover night. Simple, clean accommodations. Bathroom is small; resembles most people have at home.

10

Steven

Feb 15, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Unbeatable for the price. No frills. Simple room, but it does have a fridge, microwave and coffee maker. Clean blowing heater. Tight shower, but excellent shower head. I'd stay here again.

10

Christopher

Apr 16, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Quaint little hotel that has an old school style to it. The rooms are decorated as if they were from the 1970's. I loved it. The beds were quite comfortable as well. They are right next to a lake and a river. I need to bring my fishing pole next time.

10

Anita C

Feb 24, 2026

·

Stayed 21 nights

Nice room, dependable WiFi, convenient laundry, and nice place to sit outside and watch geese and ducks on lake across the road.

8

Donald

Oct 9, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Nice and quiet but not much within walking distance. I will not stay there again because the internet was not reliable.

10

Lawrence

Aug 20, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The Best Budget Inn lives up to its name. The staff member who greeted me for my late arrival at 11:00 pm was very friendly and welcoming. Parking five feet from the door of my room was a real treat. The area was well lit and so I felt secure. Yes, rooms are small. But importantly they are clean, well maintained and thoughtfully decorated with “retro” style mini-fridge, microwave and matching phone - all teal in color. The bed was very comfortable. The only downside was a bit truck traffic and loud car/bike noise at the two lane highway intersection where the hotel is located. I definitely will stay here again when I am passing through the area in the future.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Service

Owners and staff are warmly welcoming, helpful with local tips, and check-in is easy. A few guests mentioned weaker morning service around breakfast.

Related guest reviews

8

Helen

Oct 18, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Staff/Front Desk/Owner was very friendly. Check in was nice.The room was clean and comfortable. We will definitely stay there again. Thank you

10

John

Sep 28, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Kevin was a perfect host. Great room. We’ll be back!

8

Jean

Nov 26, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Very good service when we arrived, friendly and informative. The decor was retro cute. The internet was VERY slow, unusable. We were told that there would be breakfast, including waffles. The morning staff informed us that, "He was sorry, but not the normal breakfast person." So, although there was cold stuff to eat, the breakfast was pretty disappointing. The morning staff was more about excuses than service.

10

Patricia

Aug 7, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Excellent place to stay. Beautiful 1950s decor approprite for route 66. Friendly. Frequently checked in to see if we needed anything. Provided raised seat for toilet with rails to make it safe. Also provided shower handles for safety when we asked if they would consider them for future visits. We appreciated their attention to details for our safety. Special place to stay. Would return here to stay in a heartbeat if I come back here to visit. Wish other hotels would be as friendly and attentive to details. We stayed in several hotels in the last 3 weeks and this one ranked #1!

8

Amy

Jun 2, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Very clean, very efficient and easy to get into. Very helpful and kind staff.

10

Jacob

Sep 28, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Check in was easy and everyone was friendly.

8

Michael

Sep 14, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

The employees/owners were AWESOME! Checked on us everyday to see if we needed anything! Cute little retro place!

10

Christopher

Jul 11, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The owner did some upgrading to give it a vintage feel. It’s older but clean and not “smelly.” Checking in was quick and a friendly experience.

10

Charles

Nov 30, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

It was a step back in time. It was clean and very neat. The owner/receptionist was very kind and informational. I will be staying there agin when I am back in the area.

10

Jamie

Jul 15, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Everything here was fantastic! Friendly and helpful people, clean room, nice lake to walk around, convenient to downtown Carthage. Will stay there again when we are passing through. Thank you for the great stay!

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Location

Set on historic Route 66 beside Kellogg Lake, the area feels peaceful and scenic with a walking trail nearby. Most dining requires a short drive, and some highway noise is noted near the intersection.

Related guest reviews

8

Gary

Jun 9, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very friendly management, quiet location well away from the interstate, retro Route 66 motel vibe. A little heavy on floral scent for those sensitive to odors, but most people wouldn't mind. A fair value for the price vs. quality in that location. If you're looking for that classic highway motel experience, this should satisfy you.

10

Ila

Apr 12, 2023

·

Stayed 3 nights

Best Budget Inn is in a wonderful location just adjacent to Kellogg Lake in Carthage, MO. It’s peaceful, quiet, the sounds of nature are calming, the room I stayed in was comfortable and clean, not to mention that the manager is always so friendly and accommodating as I get checked in. When it’s time to check out, I’m already thinking about how soon I can come back. If you want a stay away from the interstate and heavy traffic, you gotta get here.

8

Tammy

Sep 1, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Nice, vintage motel. Located near Kellogg Lake so it is peaceful. Beds are comfortable. We've stayed here several times.

10

Don

May 5, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Retro motel on Route 66. Spotlessly clean and furnished for the theme. We liked that it was single storey and could park our car outside the door. Lovely location next to a lake. A few minutes drive into town with lots of dining options. Would happily stay again.

10

Bryan

Aug 14, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Beautiful lake to walk around by the property, easily accessible. All first floor level or ground level rooms. Just a great place.

10

Jamie

Jul 15, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Everything here was fantastic! Friendly and helpful people, clean room, nice lake to walk around, convenient to downtown Carthage. Will stay there again when we are passing through. Thank you for the great stay!

10

Christopher

Apr 16, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Quaint little hotel that has an old school style to it. The rooms are decorated as if they were from the 1970's. I loved it. The beds were quite comfortable as well. They are right next to a lake and a river. I need to bring my fishing pole next time.

8

Donald

Oct 9, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Nice and quiet but not much within walking distance. I will not stay there again because the internet was not reliable.

8

LaVane

Nov 12, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Quiet. Owners were very helpful with info about Carthage. Close to downtown if driving. Pretty lake across from the far end of the motel. Walking trail around it. Room was not cleaned after the first night. We had to go to the office to get clean towels and washcloths the next morning. The room was cleaned well after that.

10

Lawrence

Aug 20, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The Best Budget Inn lives up to its name. The staff member who greeted me for my late arrival at 11:00 pm was very friendly and welcoming. Parking five feet from the door of my room was a real treat. The area was well lit and so I felt secure. Yes, rooms are small. But importantly they are clean, well maintained and thoughtfully decorated with “retro” style mini-fridge, microwave and matching phone - all teal in color. The bed was very comfortable. The only downside was a bit truck traffic and loud car/bike noise at the two lane highway intersection where the hotel is located. I definitely will stay here again when I am passing through the area in the future.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Dining

Breakfast ranges from simple continental to not available, and expectations from third-party listings have caused confusion. No on-site restaurant is mentioned.

Related guest reviews

10

Michael

May 15, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

This is the perfect place to rest your tired travel bones if you are doing Old Route 66 thru Missouri. We felt we got a true experience of Route 66 from back in the day. Motel was clean and comfortable. Not a lot of fancy stuff but wonderful for the experience travel of the past. Owners were pleasant. They gave us keys to 2 rooms to check which one we preferred. The mint green appliances in the room, even a rotatory phone may you feel you were back in the 60's & 70's. Breakfast is simple continental breakfast. But the owners told us all about the things to see of the Old Route 66 in the area. The Red Oak II is a horse shoe shape drive thru an old town that existed on Route 66. You can get out walk around, however the day we were there it was raining. Battle of Carthage State Historical site and they have Drive-In that is still operational.

8

Jean

Nov 26, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Very good service when we arrived, friendly and informative. The decor was retro cute. The internet was VERY slow, unusable. We were told that there would be breakfast, including waffles. The morning staff informed us that, "He was sorry, but not the normal breakfast person." So, although there was cold stuff to eat, the breakfast was pretty disappointing. The morning staff was more about excuses than service.

10

Donald

Apr 11, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

We were traveling back home to Kentucky from a week long stay in Oklahoma. We decided to spend the night here on Route 66 at this Awesome retro vibe, back in time hotel. The lady at the check in office was very friendly & nice offering us a Great place to eat breakfast at the next morning. The room was very clean & peacefully quiet. We really enjoyed our stay!

8

Martin

Sep 6, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Family run, retro motel recreating the route 66 of the past. Themed rooms, good facilities let down by a poor breakfast.

10

Don

May 5, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Retro motel on Route 66. Spotlessly clean and furnished for the theme. We liked that it was single storey and could park our car outside the door. Lovely location next to a lake. A few minutes drive into town with lots of dining options. Would happily stay again.

6

Albert

May 16, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Two key problems: Expedia promised that a breakfast was included, but it is not. Secondly, the cooling system is inadequate. We could not cool down our room. Room is quaint but in excellent condition. Sorrounding area is very beautiful.

10

Valerie

Sep 11, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

This little gem is tucked away on Route 66. It takes you back into 1980’s theme. The hotel was clean and staff was extremely friendly. It’s not a chain, so don’t expect to stay at a 5-star Hilton. It’s a cute ma and pa Inn. Breakfast is served like it would be in your kitchen; cereal, banana and bagels. Was super clean and made me feel like I was at my grandmas again. Property is quiet and was nice to stay in some place different. Highly recommend when wanting some place original to stay.

10

Mary

Nov 15, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

No breakfast, Friendly and Quiet

4

Scott

Apr 14, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Two dead birds on the property. Noisy neighbors (other guests). Limited breakfast options (bananas, prepackaged pastries. That's it: not even coffee or tea).

10

Peggy

Nov 12, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very quaint little motel…. Very clean.,.. no breakfast available

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1 $92	2 $92	3 $92
4 $92	5 $92	6 $92	7 $92	8 $92	9 $92	10 $92
11 $92	12 $92	13 $92	14 $92	15 $92	16 $92	17 $92
18 $92	19 $92	20 $92	21 $92	22 $92	23 $92	24 $92
25 $92	26 $92	27 $92	28 $92	29 $92	30 $92	31 $92

Best Budget Inn

About this property

Location

Room options

Basic Single Room, 1 King Bed

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds

Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed

Guest reviews of Best Budget Inn

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property Policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

Optional extras

FAQs about Best Budget Inn

Prices for upcoming dates

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20	21 $90	22 $90	23 $90	24 $92	25 $92	26 $92
27 $92	28 $92	29 $92	30 $92