The Richmond Visitors Center (tel. 888/742-4666) makes same-day reservations for walk-in visitors, often at a discount.Note that rooms can be scarce here on NASCAR weekends at Richmond International Raceway.
Chain motels are scattered throughout the suburbs. The Executive Center area, on West Broad Street (U.S. 33/250) at I-64 (Exit 183), about 5 miles west of downtown, is a campuslike area convenient to the major attractions. The best of its hotels is the California-style Sheraton Richmond West (tel. 800/325-3535 or 804/285-1234), which provides a free shuttle to downtown. Nearby are the Colonial-look Comfort Inn Executive Center (tel. 800/228-5150 or 804/672-1108), a Courtyard by Marriott (tel. 800/321-2211 or 804/282-1881), a Days Inn (tel. 800/329-7466 or 804/282-3300), an EconoLodge (tel. 800/553-2666 or 804/672-8621), the Hampton Inn West (tel. 800/426-7866 or 804/747-7777), the Holiday Inn West (tel. 800/465-4329 or 804/285-9951), a Shoney's Inn (tel. 800/222-2222 or 804/672-7007), and a Super 8 (tel. 800/800-8000 or 804/672-8128).
All of the hotels listed here provide free shuttle service to attractions and restaurants within a 3-mile radius, which covers all of downtown.
At Fort Lee -- National chain motels near I-95 and Washington Street (Exit 52) include Best Western (tel. 800/528-1234 or 804/733-1776), Howard Johnson (tel. 800/654-2000 or 804/732-5950), Ramada Inn (tel. 800/272-6232 or 804/733-0730), Super 8 (tel. 800/800-8000 or 804/861-0793), and Travelodge (tel. 800/578-7878 or 804/733-0000).
As you tour Old Town, you can fuel up on pastries and caffeine at Java Mio, 322 N. Sycamore St. (tel. 804/861-1646), a trendy coffeehouse offering sandwiches and salads for lunch plus dinner and live music on Friday night.
