Kinston Hotels: Where to Stay in North Carolina
Best hotels in Kinston, North Carolina: a retro motor lodge, chain hotels and motels, with addresses, check-in times and pet rules we checked.
Sammie O
Kinston is a small city in eastern North Carolina with a short lodging list. This guide covers the best hotels in Kinston, North Carolina, with every detail we could confirm. You will find a retro motor lodge, three chain hotels, and a few budget motels. We flag every detail we could not verify and we do not quote rates, because prices change daily.
Compare Kinston, North Carolina hotels on Expedia
Compare places to stay in Kinston, North Carolina
Live prices and availability on Expedia, for the dates you choose.
Check hotel prices →Booking is handled by Expedia. We may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Hotels in Kinston NC: Where to Stay Now
Table of Contents
Mother Earth Motor Lodge
Mother Earth Motor Lodge is the most distinctive of the Kinston hotels. The lodge stands at 501 North Herritage Street, Kinston, NC 28501. Call 252-520-2000 to reach the property. Visit NC describes the lodge as a revival of the Mid-Town Motor Lodge, which was built in 1963. The new owners named the lodge after their sister company, Mother Earth Brewing.
Visit NC lists 45 rooms in standard economy, economy plus, and suite styles. The suites have a refrigerator and a microwave. A center courtyard holds a three-ring pool, shuffleboard, and a nine-hole mini golf course. The front desk sells beer, wine, and snacks. Trip.com adds a children’s pool, a table tennis room, and a picnic area.
Trip.com lists check-in from 3:00 PM and check-out before 11:00 AM. The front desk runs around the clock. The main guest must be at least 21 years old. Trip.com says pets are allowed on request for an extra fee. Call the lodge to confirm the pet rules and the exact fee before you bring a dog.
This is the best pick if you want a retro motel with real character. The brewery sits close by, and the arts district is a short walk away. Marriott lists Mother Earth Brewing at 311 North Herritage Street. We did not measure the walk, so check a map before you plan your evening.
Hampton Inn Kinston
Hampton Inn Kinston stands at 1382 US 258, Kinston, NC 28501. Hotelguides and HotelPlanner both list the hotel. Hotelguides lists an outdoor pool for summer, an exercise room, a microwave and refrigerator in every room, free Wi-Fi, and a free hot breakfast buffet. The listing also shows free parking with space for trucks.
Hotelguides lists check-in at 3:00 PM and check-out at 12:00 PM. The same listing says the hotel is smoke free and does not allow pets. We could not reach the Hilton site to confirm those details, so call the front desk before you rely on them. We also did not find a phone number we could verify from two sources.
Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott Kinston
Fairfield Inn and Suites sits at 667 Sheffield Drive, Kinston, NC 28504. The Marriott page lists the phone number as 252-208-7878. Marriott lists a fitness center for guests and one indoor pool. Hotelguides adds a heated indoor pool, a microwave and refrigerator in every room, free Wi-Fi, and a free hot breakfast buffet.
Marriott lists these places as nearby: Mother Earth Brewing, Lions Water Adventure, Grainger Stadium, and the CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretive Center. Marriott also names Tryon Palace in New Bern and Cliffs of the Neuse State Park near Goldsboro. We did not confirm any drive times, so check a map for each trip.
Hotelguides lists check-in at 3:00 PM and check-out at 12:00 PM. The page says the hotel does not allow pets. The Marriott page says the hotel will not take reservations from guests with an ID from within 30 miles. Locals should read this rule before they try to book.
Holiday Inn Express and Suites Kinston
Holiday Inn Express and Suites is at 1156 Hill Farm Road, Kinston, NC 28504. A meeting industry listing gives the phone number as 252-559-8888. Two sources list 74 rooms. The property has an outdoor pool, a fitness room, and a free hot breakfast buffet.
The meeting industry listing shows check-in at 3:00 PM and check-out at 11:00 AM. Hotelguides agrees on both times. The rooms include a coffeemaker, a microwave, a refrigerator, and wireless internet. The hotel also has a business center, laundry service, and wheelchair access to public areas. One meeting room holds up to 30 people.
Hotelguides says the hotel does not allow pets. This is a solid choice for a family, a work trip, or a stop on the way to the coast. Confirm the pool season before you pack swimsuits.
Motels in Kinston NC for a Simple Stay
Several budget motels line the main roads. We list each one with the details we could confirm. Call each property first. Small motels change owners and brands often.
Quality Inn Kinston
Quality Inn is at 200 West New Bern Road, Kinston, NC 28504. Hotelguides and HotelPlanner both list the property. Both list check-in at 4:00 PM. Hotelguides lists check-out at 11:00 AM, a seasonal outdoor pool, a microwave and refrigerator in every room, free Wi-Fi, free continental breakfast, and free parking with space for trucks. Hotelguides says the hotel does not allow pets.
Americas Best Value Inn Kinston
Americas Best Value Inn is at 4774 US 70 West, Kinston, NC 28504. Hotelguides and HotelPlanner both list the property. HotelPlanner lists 72 rooms, a continental breakfast, Wi-Fi, and parking. Hotelguides lists check-in at 3:00 PM, check-out at 11:00 AM, and no pool. The same page says some rooms allow smoking and the motel does not allow pets.
Country Hearth Inn and Suites Kinston
HotelPlanner lists Country Hearth Inn and Suites at 410 East New Bern Road, Kinston, NC 28504. The listing mentions an on-site gym, a free continental breakfast, free wireless internet, and in-room microwaves, mini fridges, and coffee makers. HotelPlanner also calls the motel pet friendly.
We found only one source for this property. Treat the details as unconfirmed. Call before you book, and ask about the pet policy and any pet fee. Our old guide also named this motel, and we kept the name only because a current listing still shows the address.
Red Carpet Inn and Suites Kinston
HotelPlanner lists Red Carpet Inn and Suites at 208 East New Bern Road, Kinston, NC 28504. The listing calls the property a two-star highway motel with a free breakfast. We found no second source. Confirm the property is open, the room types, and the policies by phone before you plan a stay.
The O’Neil and Other Places to Stay in Kinston
The official Kinston visitor site lists a single lodging on its places to stay page. The name is the o’neil. The page gives no address, phone number, or amenities, and we found no second source. We cannot describe the rooms, the restaurant, or any bar. Our old guide described a rooftop bar and a spa-style setting. We could not verify any of those claims, so we removed them.
Call the Lenoir County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 252-523-2500 for current lodging help. The office is at 101 East New Bern Road, Kinston, NC 28504. Staff can tell you which properties are open and which events fill the town.
Where to Stay in Kinston Near CSS Neuse and Downtown
Most visitors come for the history, the food, and the arts district. The CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretive Center is at 100 North Queen Street. The Confederate Navy built the ironclad gunboat CSS Neuse. Its crew sank the ship in March 1865 to keep the vessel from Union forces. Crews raised the hull from the Neuse River in 1963 with roughly 15,000 artifacts. The site belongs to the North Carolina Historic Sites system. Check the state site for current hours.
Mother Earth Motor Lodge is the natural base if you plan to spend your days downtown. A day-trip itinerary from the Wake Forest Historical Museum starts at the lodge and calls the arts district about three blocks away. The itinerary names the Boiler Room, the O’Neil, CSS Neuse II, the Caswell Number 1 Firestation Museum, Harmony Hall, and the farmers market.
Chef and the Farmer is the restaurant from chef Vivian Howard and her husband Ben Knight. The restaurant uses local ingredients and appeared on the PBS series A Chef’s Life. An article in our research places the restaurant on West Gordon Street. Reservations are strongly recommended, so book a table before you book a room.
The chain hotels sit farther out along US 258, Hill Farm Road, Sheffield Drive, and the US 70 corridor. Plan to drive from these hotels to downtown. We did not verify drive times, so use a map app on the day. The motels along New Bern Road also need a short drive.
Old Guide Listings We Removed
Our earlier guide named several places we could not confirm. We dropped them on purpose. Honest guides serve you better than long ones.
The old guide listed a Courtyard by Marriott and a Hilton Garden Inn in Kinston. The addresses attached to those names pointed to Kingston, New York, and Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Neither belongs in Kinston, so both are gone.
The old guide also named the Nation’s Inn and an Art Deco Inn. We found no current listing for either one in Kinston. The guide described features such as a rooftop bar, an award-winning restaurant, and an on-site spa. We found no source for any of these claims. We removed them to protect your trip.
How to Choose Among Kinston Hotels
Start with your goal. If you want character and a short walk to downtown sights, choose Mother Earth Motor Lodge. If you want a brand name with a free hot breakfast, look at Hampton Inn, Fairfield Inn and Suites, or Holiday Inn Express and Suites. If you want the simplest stay, call Quality Inn or Americas Best Value Inn.
Check the pet rules first if you travel with a dog. Several listings say the hotel does not allow pets. Mother Earth Motor Lodge and Country Hearth Inn appear to accept pets, but both need a call to confirm the fee and the rules.
Check the pool season next. Hotelguides describes several outdoor pools as summer pools. Fairfield Inn and Suites lists an indoor pool, which works in any season.
Finally, read the booking rules. Fairfield Inn and Suites says the hotel will not take reservations from guests with an ID within 30 miles. Mother Earth Motor Lodge requires the main guest to be at least 21 years old.
We do not quote rates here. Prices move with events, weather, and the day of the week. Use the Expedia links on this page to compare current prices for your dates, and then call the front desk with any questions.
Getting to Kinston and Planning Day Trips
Kinston sits in Lenoir County in eastern North Carolina. The Marriott page names several nearby places. Tryon Palace is in New Bern at 529 South Front Street. Cliffs of the Neuse State Park is near Goldsboro. East Carolina University is in Greenville. Lions Water Adventure is at 2602 West Vernon Avenue in Kinston. Grainger Stadium is at 400 East Grainger Avenue in Kinston.
Hotelplanner also lists hotels in Goldsboro, Greenville, New Bern, Winterville, and Mount Olive. Those towns offer more rooms if every Kinston hotel is full. We did not compare drive times, so check a map before you pick a base outside town.
A tip for event weekends: call early. A small town with 45 rooms at the lodge and a handful of chain hotels can fill fast during a festival or a ball game.
What We Checked and What We Could Not
We checked Mother Earth Motor Lodge against Visit NC and Trip.com. We checked the Fairfield Inn and Suites against the Marriott site and two hotel directories. We checked Holiday Inn Express and Suites against a meeting industry listing and two hotel directories. We checked Hampton Inn, Quality Inn, and Americas Best Value Inn against two hotel directories.
We could not reach the Hilton, Choice, or IHG sites, so the Hampton Inn, Quality Inn, and Holiday Inn Express details come from directories. We found only one source each for Country Hearth Inn and Suites, Red Carpet Inn and Suites, and the O’Neil. We could not confirm phone numbers for several hotels. We could not confirm any rates.
Hotels change brands, owners, and policies. Call each property to confirm the name, the room type, the pet rules, and the check-in time before you travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best hotels in Kinston North Carolina?
Our confirmed options are Mother Earth Motor Lodge, Hampton Inn, Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott, and Holiday Inn Express and Suites. Quality Inn and Americas Best Value Inn serve travelers who want a simple motel.
Where should I stay in Kinston for downtown sights?
Mother Earth Motor Lodge at 501 North Herritage Street is the best base for downtown. A local itinerary describes the arts district as about three blocks from the lodge.
Are there pet friendly hotels in Kinston NC?
Trip.com says Mother Earth Motor Lodge allows pets on request for a fee. HotelPlanner calls Country Hearth Inn and Suites pet friendly. Hotel directories say Hampton Inn, Fairfield Inn and Suites, Holiday Inn Express and Suites, Quality Inn, and Americas Best Value Inn do not allow pets. Call to confirm.
What time is check-in at Kinston hotels?
Check-in is 3:00 PM at Holiday Inn Express and Suites, Hampton Inn, Fairfield Inn and Suites, Americas Best Value Inn, and Mother Earth Motor Lodge. Quality Inn lists 4:00 PM. Confirm with the front desk.
Which Kinston hotel is near CSS Neuse?
Marriott lists the CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretive Center at 100 North Queen Street as a nearby attraction for Fairfield Inn and Suites. Mother Earth Motor Lodge is also close to downtown. We did not verify distances.
Does Mother Earth Motor Lodge have a pool?
Yes. Visit NC lists a three-ring pool in the center courtyard. Trip.com adds a children’s pool and mini golf.
Conclusion
Kinston offers a small and honest list of places to stay. Mother Earth Motor Lodge gives the most character, and the chain hotels give a free breakfast and a pool. Use the Expedia link above to compare current prices for the best hotels in Kinston, North Carolina, and call ahead to confirm the details we flagged.
Where else to stay in North Carolina. Browse every North Carolina guide we have.
Sammie O publishes Germ Trips, a travel guide covering hotels, restaurants, airport transfers and chauffeur services. The guides aim for practical detail and a clear recommendation rather than an undifferentiated list. Where a town has no good option, the guides say so and point to the nearest one that does. Guides are AI drafted. A small number have been checked against official listings, and those say so on the page.
View All Articles