The only lodging actually located in the town of Pennington Gap is the Convenient Inn Motel, which is just on the edge of town by the Powell River. While there's only a small amount of commerce in the small town, the River Bend Shopping Center is located across the street and there are several fast food restaurants within walking distance. The inn is a privately owned country motel with comfortable decor, including a fireplace in the lobby. The rooms, which are accessible from the parking lot, provide full-sized beds and table sets. The motel also offers refrigerators upon request, free of charge. Pets are allowed at the Convenient Inn for an additional fee.
The next closest motel, the Travel Inn in neighboring Duffield is a fairly distant second. The small town is just over 15 miles southeast of Pennington Gap and sits at the southern edge of the Jefferson National Forest. The Travel Inn, which is also privately owned, features two stories and rooms with views of the nearby wilderness. Rooms include full-sized beds, large wooden dressers and cable television. Other features include a common area for guests and an outdoor swimming pool, which is open during the summer months. The biggest attraction to the area would be the "Natural Tunnel" rock formation, a natural wonder located just outside Duffield.
The Comfort Inn, which is 26 minutes northeast of Pennington Gap in Big Stone Gap, is one of the few chain motels in the area. Big Stone Gap is surrounded by forest hills, with the Appalachian Mountains on both sides of the valley town. The Comfort Inn provides rooms with queen-sized beds and the option of a microwave and refrigerator. The inn has an indoor pool and a small fitness center. As for local attractions, there are several local history museums in Big Stone Gap, such as the Southwest Virginia Museum, the John Fox Jr. Museum and the Harry Meador Coal Museum, each in the main section of town, just a few minutes drive from the Comfort Inn.
The Mount Aire Motel, located in Harlan, Kentucky, is only 20 miles down the road. Like most towns in the general vicinity, Harlan is a small-sized town, and the Mount Aire is another privately owned establishment. The standard smoking or nonsmoking rooms include full-sized beds, microwaves and refrigerators. The cabin-like lobby contains a small eating area for breakfast as well as a local gift shop that, along with souvenirs, sells mountain trail park permits for guests who wish to venture out. Many who purchase the permits do so in order to ascend the nearby Black Mountain, also known as the highest point in Kentucky.
