Motel 6 lets up to two well-behaved dogs or cats stay in your room for free. There is no pet fee, no deposit and no breed list, and the combined weight of the two pets should not go over 150 pounds. You must declare your pets at check-in, keep them leashed outside the room, and you should not leave them alone in the room. The free policy covers Motel 6 locations in the United States and Canada. Studio 6, the extended stay brand that shares the Motel 6 website, is different: some Studio 6 locations charge a pet fee.
This guide is built from Motel 6's own pages, read in October 2026: the Pets Stay Free page with its FAQ, and the pets section of the Motel 6 reservation policies. We also checked a spread of individual Motel 6 and Studio 6 property pages. Rules can change, and a few cities restrict pets by local law, so call the motel if anything about your trip is unusual.
Motel 6 pet policy at a glance
The table sums up what Motel 6 publishes, next to the extended stay Studio 6 brand.
| Rule | Motel 6 | Studio 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Pet fee | None, pets stay free | A pet fee may apply at some locations |
| Number of pets | Up to 2 per room | Up to 2 per room |
| Weight | Combined weight not over 150 lb | Check the property page |
| Species | Dogs and cats | Dogs and cats |
| Breed list | No strict breed or size rules | Check the property page |
| Declare at check-in | Required | Required |
| Left alone in room | Not allowed, with a crate exception | Same rule |
| Housekeeping | Rooms serviced daily | Twice a week on extended stays |
| Service animals | Always welcome, free | Always welcome, free |
Do pets really stay free at Motel 6?
Yes. Motel 6 says every location across the United States and Canada welcomes up to two pets per room for free, and its FAQ answers the fee question directly: Motel 6 does not charge any pet fees. That makes it one of very few US chains where a dog costs nothing at all, with no per night charge, no one-off cleaning fee and no refundable deposit. Compare that with the USD 75 to USD 150 per stay that many Hilton and Marriott hotels charge, or the USD 10 to USD 40 per pet per night common at Wyndham's budget brands.
The one caveat is local law. Motel 6's reservation policy notes that some state and local municipalities forbid any pets other than service animals. In those places a motel cannot accept your dog even though the brand would. It is rare, but it is the reason Motel 6 says pets are permitted unless they are prohibited by law.
How many pets and how big?
The limit is two pets per room. Motel 6's FAQ adds that the combined weight of the two should not exceed 150 pounds, which comfortably covers a pair of Labradors or one very large dog. The FAQ also says Motel 6 generally does not enforce strict breed or size restrictions, so a large or bully breed dog is welcome as long as it is calm, non-aggressive and under control.
Managers keep discretion. The policy says an animal may not stay if, in the manager's view, there are too many for one room, it causes damage, it is too disruptive, it is not properly attended or it shows undue aggression. If you travel with three dogs, call ahead and ask, but expect the answer to be two.
Cats are welcome too
Motel 6 accepts cats on the same terms as dogs: free, up to two per room, declared at check-in. Bring a litter box and litter, keep the cat in a carrier when you open the door, and set the carrier up as a hiding place in the room. A cat that slips out of a motel room door onto an outdoor walkway is hard to catch. Our road trip with a cat guide covers motel nights with a cat in more detail.
Declaring your pet at check-in
All pets and service animals must be declared at check-in. Motel 6 says this matters because it tells staff who is in each room. You can also note your pet when you book on motel6.com or in the My6 app, which helps the motel put you in a suitable room. Do not try to sneak a dog in: if staff find an undeclared pet, or your pet causes damage, you can be asked to leave.
Can you leave a pet alone in a Motel 6 room?
This is the most searched part of the policy, and the answer has two layers. The rule is that pets should not be left alone in a room or in a car, and the FAQ says pets must not be left unattended in guest rooms for safety and noise reasons. Motel 6 also will not send housekeeping into a room with an unattended pet.
The reservation policy then allows an exception when it is unavoidable. If you must leave your pet in the room while you are offsite, you need to do one of two things:
- Secure the pet in a crate or travel carrier, or
- Tell the front desk that your pet is roaming free in the room, and when housekeeping may enter, either when the pet will be out or when it will be secured.
Motel 6 says rooms should be serviced every day, and on extended stays at Studio 6 twice a week, and it reserves the right to enter rooms for housekeeping, maintenance and safety. If your unattended pet stops staff from servicing the room, you may be asked to leave. In practice, keep any time alone short, crate the dog, leave the TV or a fan on for noise, and give the front desk your phone number. A dog that barks for an hour in a motel with thin walls is the fastest way to lose a free room.
Rules on the property
- Pets must be on a leash and attended whenever they are outside the room.
- Clean up after your pet and be considerate when walking it on the property.
- Pets should not be left alone in a room or in a car.
- An animal that is disruptive, damaging or aggressive can be asked to leave, and so can its owner.
Motel 6 property pages describe many locations as being near highway exits with outdoor walking areas or nearby parks, but most motels have no fenced dog run. Walk your dog on a leash and carry bags, since a motel parking lot is not a toilet area.
Arriving late with a dog
Many Motel 6 guests check in late after a long day of driving. Motel 6 says check-in is available any time based on availability, with rooms typically ready after 3 p.m., and that a reservation guaranteed with a credit card is held all night. That suits a road trip with a dog well, because you do not have to rush to a deadline. Two things help at a late arrival. First, walk your dog before you go to the desk, so you are not juggling a restless dog, bags and paperwork at once. Second, mention the dog as soon as you reach the desk, so you are put in a room that suits a pet rather than one next to the lobby. If you are paying with a debit card, note that Motel 6 says the hold for the stay and incidentals can take up to two weeks to be released by some banks.
Studio 6 is not the same
Studio 6, Motel 6's extended stay sister brand, shares the same website, phone line and most of the same rules. The difference is the fee. Motel 6's policy says that at some Studio 6 properties a pet fee may apply, and that you should check the property page for details. Studio 6 pages we looked at, such as Burleson in Texas and Tempe in Arizona, describe themselves as pet friendly and list Pets Allowed as an amenity, but the fee is not always shown up front. If you are booking a week or a month at a Studio 6, call and ask what the pet fee is and whether it is charged per night, per week or once.
Service animals at Motel 6
Motel 6 says animals that assist people with disabilities are always welcome. Under the ADA service animal rules, a hotel cannot charge a fee for a trained service dog and may only ask whether the dog is needed because of a disability and what task it performs. Like pets, a service animal that poses a health or safety risk may not remain, and service animals must also be declared at check-in. Emotional support animals are treated as pets at Motel 6, which in practice changes little because pets stay free anyway. Our guide to service dog hotel rights explains the law in more detail.
Motel 6 on a road trip with a dog
Motel 6 is built for road trips. Most locations sit close to an interstate exit, many have exterior corridors so you can walk a dog straight out to the car park without crossing a lobby, and check-in is often available from the afternoon with a noon check-out. A free pet policy across the whole brand means you do not have to research every stop the way you would for a chain where each hotel sets its own rules.
The trade-off is comfort and quiet. Rooms are basic, walls can be thin, and a dog that reacts to footsteps outside will bark. A crate, a familiar blanket and a long evening walk help. Our road trip with a dog guide has a full plan for overnight stops, and our list of hotels with no pet fee compares Motel 6 with the other chains that charge nothing.
Motel 6 compared with Red Roof and La Quinta
Two other budget chains come up against Motel 6 for pet owners. Red Roof also lets the first pet stay free, then charges for a second pet. La Quinta charges an optional USD 25 per night, capped at USD 75 per stay, for up to two pets. For one dog on a one night stop, Motel 6 and Red Roof both cost nothing extra. For two dogs, Motel 6 still costs nothing. For a week with two dogs, Motel 6 saves you the most, while La Quinta's cap keeps its cost predictable. Our Red Roof pet policy guide has that chain's full rules.
A sample trip: two dogs across three states
Say you are moving from Texas to Georgia with two dogs, a 60 pound shepherd mix and a 30 pound terrier, and plan two overnight stops. Their combined 90 pounds is well under Motel 6's 150 pound total, and two pets is the limit, so both dogs are covered at any Motel 6 on the route for no fee. At a chain charging USD 25 per pet per night, the same two nights would add USD 100. Book through motel6.com and note both dogs, declare them again at check-in, and plan your dinner stop so the dogs are not left alone in the room while you eat.
Common mistakes with Motel 6 pet stays
- Booking a Studio 6 for a long stay and assuming the stay is free for pets.
- Bringing three dogs and assuming the free policy stretches to fit.
- Leaving a dog loose in the room and blocking housekeeping.
- Not declaring a pet at check-in.
- Leaving a dog in the car outside the room on a warm evening.
Tips for a smooth stay
- Ask for a ground floor room near an exit, which makes late night walks easier.
- Pack a crate, bowls, food, bags and an old sheet for the bed.
- Keep your phone on when you step out, in case the front desk calls about noise.
- Follow the ASPCA's travel safety tips for the drive itself, including never leaving a pet in a parked car.
Before you book
Motel 6 is the simplest pet policy of any big US chain: two pets, free, declared at check-in, never left alone without a crate. If you are booking Studio 6, or staying somewhere with local pet rules, call the property first.