We did exactly that several years ago before RVs came to our life. We called them 'mom and pop' places. It was actually pretty exciting. Traveled in a '96 F-250 diesel truck and would drive until we were tired and start looking at possibilities. Stayed in some pretty neat places (Winter Park, Co) and some not so neat places (Dubois Wy) Loved Dubois, but the motel was lacking a great deal.
We don't do that now - health issues with Ms C, but mainly because things have really gone down. Friends came back home with bed bugs in their luggage. That finished this kind of traveling for us. Bugs are not on my list of acceptible things.