Stay at Carolina Motel, Franklin, NC, featuring simple rooms, rustic cabins, free Wi-Fi, parking, outdoor pool, and kid-friendly amenities near the Smoky Mountains.
Recent visitors highlight spacious, clean rooms and cabins with rustic charm, complemented by welcoming hosts and a relaxed, low-key atmosphere ideal for exploring nearby natural attractions.
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Rooms, shared spaces, dining and exterior — grouped so you can skim quickly.
Carolina Motel is a modest, low-rise property located on Route 23 in Franklin, North Carolina. Offering both simple motel rooms and rustic cabins with kitchen facilities, the accommodation provides practical options for travelers seeking straightforward, comfortable lodging. Facilities include an outdoor pool, free parking, free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, and designated kid-friendly areas, although pets and fitness centers are not accommodated here.
The setting offers a laid-back atmosphere with a focus on spaciousness and cleanliness, as echoed by numerous guest reviews praising the motel’s well-maintained rooms and friendly, attentive hosts. Guests have highlighted the comfortable, home-like feel of the cabins and ample common spaces such as a fire pit and picnic tables, which foster a sense of community during the stay.
Positioned approximately 1.5 miles from the Smoky Mountains Center for Performing Arts and within a short drive of notable natural attractions like Dry Falls and Cullasaja Falls, the location suits visitors interested in exploring Franklin’s outdoor scenery. The motel is also near several dining options, hiking trails, and local shopping areas, making it a practical base for both recreational and cultural activities.
While some guests have noted an occasional strong cleaning scent in the rooms, the overall feedback highlights the motel’s value and charm, appealing especially to travelers who prefer a quiet, family-friendly environment over more upscale or chain hotel offerings. Check-in is from 3 PM, with checkout by 11 AM, providing a convenient schedule for most itineraries.
The short version: what's available day-to-day, and the key practical details most travelers search for.
Reviews from travelers who stayed here in the last 12 months, grouped to help you spot the pattern quickly.
This is the second time we have stayed at the Carolina motel, and we couldn’t have asked for cleaner or more spacious rooms. Our room had a fridge , microwave, a table and three cushiony chairs to sit in for eating , television watching, or working. Compared to chain hotels, the rooms give travelers room to spread out and relax. There are also two cabins in the back with full kitchen and dining facilities. The larger cabin has two bedrooms and the smaller has one bedroom. Looking out of our room to the back of the motel we actually saw green grass and rolling hills in between us and the cabins . The motel has a swimming pool, fire pit, and picnic tables. It is close to shopping, historic downtown Franklin, many hiking trails, waterfalls, and local restaurants. David and his wife are great hosts and offered us true Southern hospitality.
Great place to stay. The owner is very welcoming and great at recommending things in the area. The motel is an older motel; however, it has been renovated. The rooms are spacious and very clean. My only complaint would be the Clorox smell of the room. I can definitely tell it was thoroughly cleaned which is wonderful but I would try some room freshener or fabric spray to help with the cleaner smell in the room. Overall a great stay and we will be coming back to stay again!
My friends and I had a cabin at the Carolina Motel. It was charming and clean and felt like home with everything we needed! Thanks to the staff for a job well done! Would most definitely recommend the Carolina Motel to anyone visiting Franklin, North Carolina and surrounding area. Faye, Marian and Mary Beth
Awesome motel! Rooms are extremely clean. Very comfortable and we will definitely be staying again. This motel has been taken care of. It's great to see people who still have such pride in their property. A+++
A really lovely little place. Coming from the UK, I was a little apprehensive not staying in a chain hotel, but I’m so glad I chose the Carolina motel! It was so charming, felt super safe and had so much character. Shoutout to David who was really helpful on the phone and reassured me regarding our late check in!
Repeat customers! This small roadside motel was just as charming today as a few years ago. Clean and comfortable, nothing fancy but absolutely the perfect place for a great price! The bonfire out front to offer community and conversation made for the perfect stay! We will be back! Thank you!
This place is fantastic. The rooms are clean. The staff is wonderful so nice. Any questions you have they’re happy to answer. They have a nice pool. They have a fire pit in the front that they light around seven in the evening and you can sit around and yak with the other Guest. I will definitely be staying here again.
We've stayed there 4 or 5 times. The rooms are comfortable and David is very helpful. He knows where all the good restaurants are located. They have an outdoor fireplace with chairs where one can enjoy meeting people from various locations.
Situated on Route 23 and 1.5 miles from the Smoky Mountains Center for Performing Arts, this low-rise motel is 2.8 miles from Franklin Golf Course.
Curated spots travelers usually pair with a stay in North Carolina. Distances are rough real-world times, not straight-line.
1,084 reviews North Carolina 28741, United States
389 reviews North Carolina 28741, United States
162 reviews North Carolina 28741, United States
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