<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0000920941
<NAME> RED ROOF INNS, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                              <C>                           <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                             YEAR                          YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-03-1998                      DEC-28-1996                  DEC-30-1995     
<PERIOD-START>                             DEC-29-1996                      DEC-31-1995                  JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               JAN-03-1998                      DEC-28-1996                  DEC-30-1995
<CASH>                                          13,154                           19,659                        4,427
<SECURITIES>                                         0                                0                            0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    9,658                           11,397                        8,480
<ALLOWANCES>                                       652                              420                          490
<INVENTORY>                                     10,002                            9,810                        8,860
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                36,582                           44,499                       26,535
<PP&E>                                         921,669                          807,305                      686,533
<DEPRECIATION>                                  89,287                           71,283                       44,307
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 954,758                          867,627                      755,348
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           51,743                           47,214                       43,188
<BONDS>                                        539,207                          484,158                      544,871
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                                0                            0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                                0                            0
<COMMON>                                           285                              284                          184
<OTHER-SE>                                     338,451                          318,815                      152,527
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   954,758                          867,627                      755,348
<SALES>                                              0                                0                            0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               351,945                          317,908                      291,824
<CGS>                                                0                                0                            0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  161,179                          162,365                      146,585
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               101,664                           74,116                       62,923
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   357                              368                          370
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              46,022                           41,383                       51,108
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 42,723                           39,676                       30,838
<INCOME-TAX>                                    16,619                           15,612                       12,516
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             26,104                           24,064                       18,322
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                                0                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                    746                                0                            0
<CHANGES>                                            0                                0                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    25,358                           24,064                       18,322
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .91                              .88                         1.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .90                              .87                          .99
        

</TABLE>