Since Erie, PA was largely sold out or outrageously priced, I found this more reasonably-priced option at $140 through Expedia.com (though outrageous for an Econo Lodge). From the outside, it looked nice enough. It is in a small cluster of stores, with an Applebee's right next door.
The moment I walked in, however, I was greeted by 3 unpleasant realities: 1) A sign on the front door announcing that the hotel is closed from midnight to 6:00 am, the front door will be locked, and no one will be on staff. Seeing as I was arriving late and had not eaten all day, it was disappointing to learn I had a curfew. 2) An overwhelming smell of cigarette smoke despite it being a non-smoking facility; the smell goes throughout the hallways and rooms and gets refreshed by ongoing smoking. 3) The sickeningly dirty area rug at the front desk and hallway carpets, foreshadowing the experience I would have.
The first room I was assigned had a bag of garbage in it and a stripped bed. The front desk attendant did find me another room after telling me there were none. The new room was passable for a night. The hotel was loud (both because of the guests and the noise transmission from slamming doors and conversations in the hallway). A drunk man was wandering and seemed to appear everywhere I went. The cable in my room did not work, and the attendant forgot to give me the wifi info. I would not stay here again even at $50/night!