EXHIBIT 5 AND 23(A)
                                                              Attorneys at Law
                                                                    Suite 2800
                                                         1100 Peachtree Street
KILPATRICK STOCKTON LLP                           Atlanta, Georgia  30309-4530
                                                       Telephone: 404.815.6500
                                                       Facsimile: 404.815.6555

September 25, 1998                             E-mail: jsteinberg@kilstock.com
                                                     Direct Dial: 404.815.6283


Suburban Lodges of America, Inc.
1000 Parkwood Circle
Suite 850
Atlanta, Georgia  30339

     Re:  Form S-8 Registration Statement - - Suburban 
          Lodges of America, Inc. Employee Stock Option
          Plan, Amended as of March 1, 1998

Gentlemen:

     We have acted as counsel for Suburban Lodges of America,
Inc., a Georgia corporation (the "Company"), in the preparation
of the Form S-8 Registration Statement relating to the Company's
Employee Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") and the proposed offer
and sale of an additional 200,000 shares of the Company's common
stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), pursuant
thereto.  In connection with the preparation of said Registration
Statement, we have examined certificates of public officials and
originals or copies of such corporate records, documents and
other instruments relating to the authorization of the Plan and
the authorization and issuance of the shares of Common Stock as
we have deemed relevant under the circumstances.

     On the basis of the foregoing, it is our opinion that:

          The Company was duly organized and incorporated and is
validly existing under the laws of the State of Georgia, with an
authorized capitalization consisting of 100,000,000 shares of
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, and 5,000,000 shares of
Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share.

          The Plan and the proposed offer and sale thereunder of
an additional 200,000 shares of Common Stock have been duly authorized
by the Board of Directors of the Company, and the shares, when
issued in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan,
will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.


     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an
exhibit to said Registration Statement.

                                   Sincerely,

                                   KILPATRICK STOCKTON LLP


                                   By: /s/ James D. Steinberg
                                      James D. Steinberg, a partner