Anyone with knowledge, please share your thoughts.
I don’t know the area, so all info will help.
Proximity to race site tops the list.
I’m told that there is a Ramada and a Super 8 on the side of town near the race park, ~15min drive.
A Days Inn and Comfort Inn on the far (east) side, 30+mins drive.
Is this accurate?
If you’ve had experience with any of these joints, your $.02 would be appreciated.
This ridiculous weekend of fun is starting to get real…
Your information is correct. Aside from the lodging at the park, which has long been sold out, the Ramada is your best bet.
Take a look at the campgrounds. They are right down the street.
Stayed at the Super 8 two years ago. Worst hotel I’ve stayed at in a long time. They called mid afternoon to see if I still wanted my reserved room (should have been reserved until 8pm or so) good thing I had cell reception cause I didn’t most of the day.
Got checked in, the electronic lock was dead. They told us if we needed to get in, just come to the front desk. The one time I did have to leave, it took 20 minutes to get the front desk person to come up.
They may be better now, but it was a pain in the ass I didn’t need before a race. And i was glad I was only doing the HIM cause they didn’t sound like they were fixing the door any time over the weekend and we weren’t the only room with trouble.
On the up side, it wasn’t too far from the park…
I stayed at the Ramada last year. It was about $79/night as I recall. Free high-speed wireless, a great free breakfast, and only about 15 minutes drive to the race site. Plus, an indoor pool if you want to swim even more than you’re going to in the races!
Highly recommend it.
Looks like it’ll be the Ramada, $90+ a night.
Well worth it for a nice bed and some creature comforts to ease my aching bod over the weekend.
You camping folks are tough.
On the way back to the hotel on Saturday afternoon, I stopped at a little ice cream join and got a huge chocolate shake. You’ll see it about a mile before the Ramada.
The Ramada is nothing fancy but. The place seems pretty old but I slept well. It is too late for you now, but staying at the park would have made Saturday better.
Looks like it’ll be the Ramada, $90+ a night.
Well worth it for a nice bed and some creature comforts to ease my aching bod over the weekend.
You camping folks are tough.
3 years ago when I raced, a woman told my now fiancee that they were held (robbed) up on the Sunday morning while bringing out all their stuff to the car at the Ramada. It was likely a fluke, but I try and spend as little time as possible in Portsmouth. Seems a little scary to me. 
M~
Re Sat. - You mean better by having my base nearby between races (and too late because park is now full eh?) ?
I’ll have to figure out how to best use the time btwn the races Sat.
I also need to check the race web site for details on any overnight security for leaving my bike etc in trans area, would be nice not to have to schlep everything in and out repeatedly.
Edit - no info on this on the race site. I’ll email them. Meanwhile, anyone here have the scoop?
Never would I have expected to see “Portsmouth OH” on Slowtwitch…I was born there…
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Re Sat. - You mean better by having my base nearby between races (and too late because park is now full eh?) ?
I’ll have to figure out how to best use the time btwn the races Sat.
I also need to check the race web site for details on any overnight security for leaving my bike etc in trans area, would be nice not to have to schlep everything in and out repeatedly.
Edit - no info on this on the race site. I’ll email them. Meanwhile, anyone here have the scoop?
I just took a nap in my rental car in between races. Didn’t want to do the 30-minute round trip back to the Ramada. Plenty of food at the race site, so I didn’t have to leave to eat or anything.
Sleep in your car! Actually, I know a number of people who actually do that. I think the campsites or hotel(s) in Portsmouth are your best bet.
Also, if any of you guys are interested, I’m running a TTT tune-up camp May 1-3. PM or email jkenny5150@gmail.com for details.
Call the park and check availability. We were able to get into a cabin the Friday of the race.
don’t leave your bike on the rack overnight or between races period. It’s VERY loosely controlled if at all. And good luck getting an email reply…not HFP’s strong suit! I was able to finish, pack up, get back to the hotel on 23 (HI express), eat, get my legs up for a few and back to the second race with no problem. It’s best if you are highly organized with all groceries, drinks etc bought on Friday before the sprint so you don’t have to worry about extraneous BS at all after the races start.
Last year on Saturday between races our friends pitched and awning type shelter near their car where we realaxed and ate our groceries. That was pretty carefree.
I actually got a quick reply from the race folks.
AMEN re having all food, gear etc. all organized for the entire weekend before the Fri, fun starts.
All you car sleepers and campers are tough.
nah, camping for TTT is not tough. sleeping in the back of your saturn for 5 hours at 01:30 somewhere in MD on your way back home after the race … now that’s hardcore. never has a few hours made my bed at home seem so attractive. my favorite part of TTT (this will be my 3rd year) has come to be stopping for some tex-mex in athens, OH on the way back. i don’t know if its the post-race hunger, the desire for spice after all the sugar+carbs of the weekend, or if its just plain good food, but damn, that is a great eating experience. its about 90mins drive from the race site, and i’ve looked forward to it all year. the students are gone, the town is just the hardcore hangers-on, and the food is plentiful. this year, my wife gets to try this out so i’ll have a 2nd opinion.