Quick summary of my travel experiences for anyone who might need it in the future for interviews:
I drove in from OOS and needed a place to stay for one night. For me, that place was the Howard Johnson Express in Bellmawr, about 5 miles from the UMDNJ campus.
The place is NOT the best hotel you've ever stayed at. However, the essentials are all there. The rooms are clean, free of any smells, and everything works. I was pleased to find that the heater didn't reek of mildew. Rooms have a TV, mini fridge, and free wireless internet (which was a wonderful thing to have). There's a basic breakfast in the morning - coffee/juice, bagels, etc. It gets the job done.
The best part is that a 2 bed room cost $55 through Kayak/Orbitz. Obviously your results may vary but if you've never been to the region and have a car, I think it's a good choice. Also, a tip: when you exit the HoJo to go to UMDNJ you can either turn right to go to the highway or left and take the local roads. If you've got a GPS or plan out a route beforehand (with that free wireless internet), the local roads are better since the highway is pretty congested. Plus, you get to actually see more of the area. The highway is set up so that you have to stop at the end of the on-ramp and try to wait for an opening. If you've got a not-zippy car like me, going from 0 - 60 is... hard.
Finally - if you're driving through Pennsylvania, it costs ~$33 in toll fees to cross the entire state. That buys you nice roads and plentiful, clean rest stops with eco-friendly bathrooms, but just be sure to have cash.
