Hello fellow hikers,
I will be doing a section hike in late August and will be arriving by bus in Marion, Virginia. Does anyone know a good inexpensive motel in the city center? The bus arrives at about 7:30 pm so I’ll have to start my hike the next morning.
Also, does anyone know anyone in Marion who could give me a ride to the trail? I understand it’s about 10 miles away. I would pay gas money of course.
Thanks
Christian “Carefree”
Christian
marion is a great trailtown, though not many hikers hitch in. The hitch out of town, up to partnership shelter is easy if you know where to start hitching from. Leave the bus terminal, walk left down the main drag for 15 minutes, then turn left onto south commercial st (rt 16), walk a couple minutes, and you will come to a small bridge with a creek. From the far side of the bridge you can hang out your thumb and get an easy hitch up to partnership shelter at the top of the mtn 6-7mls away. Ive done this hitch many times.
If your intent on a hotel leave the bus terminal and walk right, walk by walmart along the main drag, on the same side as the walmart about 7 1/2 minutes after is a small chain motel which name escapes me, however they were always the cheapest. i think its called travel lodge. Note that partnership shelter is only 150yds down trail
ldh
The “Moterinn” is where I stay whenever going in or out of Marion. Its across from the best western, maybe a mile or so from the bus station. Go out to the main road and take a right. Your about 1/2 way there when you pass Wal-Mart. Its sort of up a hill and behind a bank, a little hard to see from the sidewalk coming that way. With “hiker discount” its about $50.00 a night. I’ve never priced the chain motels near-by, so don’t know if thats the best deal or not. In any event, its where most hikers stay if they go into Marion.
As for a ride up to the trail, I’ve never had good luck hitching from town early in the morning and its a long walk to the road junction which leads up to the trail head. For 15 bucks or so you can call a taxi who will pick you up at the motel and drop you off at the trail. Maybe a little more with todays gas prices, but sure saves a lot of time and effort.
slo-go’en
We stayed at the Rode Way Inn in May, hiker rate is $35, also past Wal-Mart on the left. OK room. Several days later I stayed across the street at the Econo Lodge, they were going to charge me $55 but when I told them I could get it for $35 at the Rode Way Inn, they gave me a special of $45 to keep me from going there, ha! For $10 it was a much better room, felt safer since I was alone that time. There is a cheap hotel north on Main, I took Chewy and Colby there before they took the bus. The rooms were very small and stunk of smoke really bad, all the rooms that way.—We ate at Macao’s, very good and great atmosphere.
Lipstick
Half of the Best Western is now the Econo Lodge. Also the Motor Inn hasnt been called that in years. It was the Virginia House Inn, but now I think that they have changed their name again. Then there is the Budget Host, its probably the farthest away from the bus terminal though.
It is a long walk to the trail from the bus station. But, then again, “a long walk” is a relative term to a hiker! 
I see hikers hitching quite often. I dont always have time to pick them up though. Commercial street is actually called Commerce street.
If you need more detailed info, let me know.
Dan
I did a section hike in 2005 starting at Partnership Shelter outside Marion, and took the bus into town like you are planning. The bus trip and getting to the shelter made for an interesting day. You can read about it at the link below, if interested.
CBiscuit
Thanks CBiscuit.
I am coming into Marion from the north, after flying into Roanoke, VA, and the bus is scheduled to arrive at 7:30 pm. I remember Partnership Shelter from when I did another section three years ago, and it’s a very nice one (that’s the one with the shower and phone booth, if I remember correctly).
But by the time I get to Marion I will have been travelling since 6am and I think I would prefer to sleep in town and take my time the next morning to make sure I don’t miss anything. I also don’t want to start hiking in the dark.
I think taking a taxi to the trail will probably be my best bet. I have not had much luck in the past with hitchhiking (I’m a big fellow and I’m told I can look a bit intimidating).
Thanks a lot everyone.
Christian
Christian