<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0001011449 <NAME> SURBURBAN LODGES OF AMERICA, INC. <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998 <CASH> 11,326,196 <SECURITIES> 28,721,517 <RECEIVABLES> 586,320 <ALLOWANCES> 55,392 <INVENTORY> 1,101,486 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 45,869,899 <PP&E> 218,495,175 <DEPRECIATION> 7,616,953 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 262,094,380 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 12,397,836 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 154,310 <OTHER-SE> 214,357,165 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 262,094,380 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 20,353,934 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 13,454,096 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 147,612 <INCOME-PRETAX> 8,343,850 <INCOME-TAX> 2,914,600 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 5,429,250 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 5,429,250 <EPS-PRIMARY> .35 <EPS-DILUTED> .35