Queen City Inn

Queen City Inn is the kind of place you stay when the math matters more than the amenities. A motel on Odlin Road less than a mile from Bangor International Airport, it's built for people with a specific need: a clean bed, a hot shower, and a price tag that doesn't sting. The rooms are clean and spacious - guests consistently praise the beds and linens. Breakfast is genuinely good, with fresh waffles, hard-boiled eggs, bagels, and strong coffee. But the building is aging, and that shows in ways both obvious and subtle. The exterior has the look of a property that's been fighting entropy for years. Inside some rooms, you'll find dated fixtures, occasional smells, and the kind of wear that comes with thousands of nights of use. It's not a terrible place to land; it's a pragmatic one. The staff works hard to help, and the location is genuinely convenient.

Unbeatable price for families. Quadruple rooms and family rooms keep costs down while giving you actual space. Multiple guests note they'd stay again specifically because the value justifies the dated bones. One family called it "the best value in BGR."

Free airport shuttle that actually works. You're 0.6 miles from Bangor International Airport, and the hotel runs a free shuttle. For early mornings or late arrivals with luggage and kids, this alone saves stress and taxi fare.

Breakfast is the real draw. A hot breakfast comes with the room - waffle iron, hard-boiled eggs, bagels, fresh-baked muffins, cereals, juice, and genuinely good coffee with unlimited refills. Several guests noted it's thoughtfully stocked for the price point. One family said the breakfast area was "bright, roomy, and clean."

Staff go the distance. While personality varies by shift, the front desk team repeatedly gets credit for being helpful, polite, and willing to solve problems - from handling booking mistakes to dealing with noise complaints.

Rooms are actually clean and spacious. Even guests who dinged the property for its age praised the linens, towels, and overall cleanliness of the rooms themselves. One reviewer noted new linens and towels; another said the room was "very clean and nice" despite the dated exterior.

The inn offers mostly double and quadruple rooms in a traditional motel layout - park directly in front of your door. Rooms include air-conditioning, a private bathroom, a desk, TV, and a microwave and refrigerator. Most have comfortable beds and decent water pressure, though a few guests reported weak showers or temperamental plumbing. Family rooms and quadruple configurations are best for groups; they give you real square footage.

• Double Room with Private Bathroom - Standard motel double, compact but adequate for one or two guests.
• Quadruple Room with Private Bathroom - Larger layout, multiple beds, good for families or groups on a budget.
• Family Room with Private Bathroom - Extra space, sometimes with a pullout sofa (condition varies; one reviewer noted a torn unit).
• Comfort Quadruple Room - Mid-range step up; still dated but slightly better finishes.
• Quadruple Room with Disability Access - Accessible bathroom with grab rails; note that tub sides are high, per one reviewer.

Honest note: The carpeting in rooms is worn and shows stains; several guests mentioned musty or stale-smoke smells. Bathrooms lack some conveniences - towel bars, in-room phones - that justify asking housekeeping or the front desk for solutions. Ceiling paint in older sections is peeling. These aren't deal-breakers for a one-night stay at this price, but they matter if you're staying longer.

Parking & Access - Free on-site parking, accessible spots available, direct parking in front of rooms, free WiFi in all rooms.

Practical Services - 24-hour front desk, free airport shuttle, private check-in and check-out, laundry facilities, concierge available.

Outdoor Spaces - Picnic area, outdoor fireplace, outdoor seating (though one guest noted the exterior AstroTurf carpeting on balconies detracts from curb appeal).

Room Amenities - Air-conditioning, heating, tea/coffee maker, microwave, refrigerator, flat-screen TV, desk, private bathroom with towels and hairdryer.

Family & Accessibility - Family rooms, quadruple rooms, designated rooms for guests with disabilities (accessible bathroom with grab rails and toilet), non-smoking rooms available.

The complimentary breakfast is a legitimate strong point. A bright, roomy dining area stocks waffles (with syrup and toppings), hard-boiled eggs, bagels, bread with a toaster, cereals, muffins, fruit, yogurt, orange juice, and excellent coffee with 24/7 refills. One group visitor noted the breakfast ran out of waffles and eggs an hour before posted closing time - if you're an early riser, arrive soon after service starts. Another couple found no food available at 9:10 a.m., so timing varies.

Summer (June–August) - Peak travel season; rates climb on concert nights at Cross Insurance Center. Rooms fill quickly; book early. Good weather for the picnic area and outdoor fireplace.

Fall (September–October) - Shoulder season; foliage peaks in late September through early October. Fewer visitors than summer. Pool is typically closed by October.

Winter (November–February) - Slowest season; best rates. Cold and dark, but the motel is a practical stop for holiday travel or business trips to Bangor.

Spring (March–May) - Mild weather returning; moderate booking. Good for road travelers heading to Acadia or the Midcoast as days lengthen.

"Clean, comfortable, convenient, great and friendly staff." - Andy, United States · Family · 8/10

"The location was excellent, the staff was excellent, the shuttle bus experience was excellent." - Don, Canada · Family · 7/10

"The breakfast was good and the staff were really friendly." - Crystal, United States · Family · 8/10

"This place is the best value for money in the area." - Joseph, Canada · Solo traveler · 6/10

"Really liked the pancake maker." - Reese, United States · Couple · 7/10

"Our room was spacious and clean, and the bed was comfortable. Such a good value for a quick one-night stay." - Diane, United States · Couple · 8/10

What trips up guests: A recurring theme across reviews is the property's age and wear. Stained or musty-smelling carpets, peeling ceiling paint, dated fixtures, and occasional mold in bathrooms show up in about 30% of negative comments. Noise is another pattern - some guests report loud neighbors, people loitering outside rooms, or noise from the highway and people working on vehicles in the parking lot. One family mentioned homeless individuals near the entrance. These aren't universal complaints, but they happen often enough that solo travelers and quiet-seekers should know it's not a tranquil setting. The motel serves a mix of short-term travelers and longer-term residents, which shapes the atmosphere.

Queen City Inn sits on Odlin Road, directly off Interstate 95, making it a logical pit stop or overnight for road travelers. Bangor itself is a working city with a small downtown and cultural venues, rather than a tourist destination.

• Bangor International Airport - 0.6 mi (the main draw; free shuttle)
• Downtown Bangor - 1.5 mi (few restaurants and shops; quiet in evenings)
• Cross Insurance Center - 2.4 mi (concerts, sporting events, conventions)
• Kenduskeag Stream Trail - 2 mi (walking and biking along water, good for stretching legs)
• Bangor Public Library - 1.2 mi (historic building; open to visitors)
• Paul Bunyan statue and park - 0.8 mi (quirky photo stop)
• Hiking and outdoors - Acadia National Park is 2.5 hours south; Baxter State Park (Mount Katahdin) is 90 minutes north; Penobscot River kayaking and fishing are accessible from nearby towns

Is the airport shuttle free? Yes. The Queen City Inn runs a complimentary shuttle to and from Bangor International Airport. Book it through the front desk, especially for early-morning flights.

Is breakfast really included? Yes, a hot breakfast with waffles, eggs, bagels, cereals, juice, and coffee comes with every room, available daily. Availability can tighten near the end of service hours.

Is there air-conditioning and heat? Yes. All rooms have both. The air-conditioning can be loud - one guest compared it to a lawnmower - but it cools the room effectively.

Are pets allowed? Yes. The pet-friendly designation appears in the facility list, though pet policies (fees, size limits, designated rooms) should be confirmed when booking.

What's the parking situation? Free on-site parking. You can park directly in front of your room. Accessible spots are available. The lot can feel crowded, and potholes were noted by one guest.

Is the hotel remodeling? Yes. Management has posted replies mentioning ongoing renovations to bathrooms and rooms. Progress seems slow, but the front desk can tell you which room categories have been recently updated.

Is there a phone in the room? Not always. At least one guest noted the absence of an in-room phone; rely on your cell or the front desk.