Some things don’t need to come back. You know, like giant belt buckles or COVID. Other things are welcome back anytime (looking at you Brut IPA beer and sherry wine).
One thing on the verge of roaring back is the roadside motel. These lower-profile lodging destinations used to be major attractions along major thoroughfares like Route 66. These days, they’re much less common but thanks to a love of both road trips and all things retro, they’re poised for a colossal return.
The roadside motel is a smart concept in that in combines some timeless elements with, well, good timing. In terms of the former, think mid-Century modern design, convenience, community (a layout less like a traditional hotel and more like a little neighborhood), and exploring car. In terms of the latter, there’s a collective desire to experience things first hand, away from the noise that comes from digital distractions and accounts of other people doing their own thing.
In other words, the stage is somewhat set for the return of the roadside motel. As we look for roads less traveled and memorable stays in places that are truly one-of-a-kind, we’ll certainly flock to many of our favorites below.
The comeback
“Motels are having a comeback because they were never meant to be precious,” says Abigail Plantier. She’s the founder and principal designer of Maximalist Experience Design and partner and interior designer of The All Inn Hotel, set to open very soon. “They were built for access, ease, and movement, and that DNA feels relevant again. In contrast to today’s increasingly homogenized hotels, motels feel grounded and human. They sit directly in their neighborhoods, and the experience begins the moment you arrive.”
The All Inn started as a mid-century roadside establishment on Colfax in the Mile High City. “Whether guests enter from the street or through the porte cochère, they are immediately part of the experience,” Plantier says. “There is no rigid separation between arrival, lobby, and social space. The check-in desk is integrated into the lobby bar, so the first interaction feels relaxed and intuitive rather than formal or transactional.”
Get off the road and get comfortable, that’s the name of the game. “The original building was designed for travelers arriving by car, pulling up, and settling in without ceremony,” Plantier says. “That clarity and informality feel refreshing now. People are craving hospitality that feels natural and participatory rather than staged or overly scripted. More broadly, cities are rediscovering overlooked corridors and roadside architecture. Reviving motels is not about novelty. It is about reclaiming pieces of our urban fabric and giving them relevance again.”
Read on for some others to check out, from Charleston to Palm Springs.
Trixie Motel
Pink is everywhere at the Trixie Motel, a pet project in Palm Springs of Trixie Mattel, drag icon. During your stay, you can indulge in pool activities under a warm sun and stay in themed room like the atomic bombshell room or the pink flamingo suite. Grab a cocktail at the Barbara Bar or peruse the colorful property at your leisure. The rooms are a feast for the senses, bursting with color and textures.
The All Inn
“Travelers are drawn to mid-century motel aesthetics because they are transportive,” says Plantier. These places invite imagination and allow people to step out of the present and into something that feels old and new at the same time. There is a sense of freedom, optimism, and possibility tied to the era that still resonates.”
This is on full display at the about-to-open The All Inn in Denver. The best parts of the past and all the comforts of now. “Mid-century roadside architecture was designed when travel was aspirational. Color, signage, and form mattered because they were meant to be seen from the road and remembered. That visual confidence continues to connect, especially when it is handled with intention rather than as a theme,” she says.
“At The All Inn, we resisted turning the building into a retro set piece. Instead, we treated the 1960s as a set of parameters rather than a costume. The scale, layout, relationship between rooms and outdoor space, and signage language all came from its original life in mid-century urban Denver. Travelers are not necessarily looking for nostalgia. They are looking for places that feel specific, layered, experiential, and rooted in story. When done well, that story feels timeless rather than dated,” Plantier says.
We can’t wait to visit when the hotel opens in a few months.
Capri Hotel
This gorgeous property in Ojai is the ultimate blend of California desert and mid-Century modern. Capri Hotel has stunning rooms and sites, a lobby straight out of Dwell magazine, a therapeutic lawn area, fire pits, a pool, and some of the coolest furniture and light fixtures imaginable. Be sure to check out our Ojai travel guide, should you get the chance to get out to the cultural oasis in the mountains.
MotoLodge
Set in the open country of Pendleton in eastern Oregon, this one features a pool, saunas, and signature cocktails. If you’re headed out there from Portland or Seattle, we recommend an exquisite road trip through the scenic Columbia River Gorge. A model motel, MotoLodge has all the facets, from doors that open from the outside, piping hot coffee in the lobby, and staff that know the local ropes and can help enhance your vacation. There’s even a bathing area for your pet.
Stardust Motel
This downtown Wallace, Idaho joint touts an incredible neon sign. It’s right in the heat of the old mining town, known lovingly at the “center of the universe,” and nestled in the beautiful foothills of the Rocky Mountains. There’s a shuttle that will whisk you away to nearby skiing opportunities as well as microwaves in every room. So great, so retro.
Starlight Motor Inn
This excellent Charleston motel is sets in a revamped 1960s building. The Starlight Motor Inn is independently owned and features not only one of the best signs in lodging, but a tremendous pool and generous bar otherwise known at the Burgundy Lounge. The building is recognized as the first modular motel constructed in the South. And if you want to stretch out in a bit larger confines, check out the cottages.
Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs
The name is longwinded but the theme is uber-relaxation at this cool Napa Valley hotel. You’re close to some great wine country destinations but you’ll be hard-pressed to leave, as their are mud baths on site and cool decor around every corner. And rooms start at a very reasonable $259 a night. Dr. Wilkinson’s is a sublime wellness destination, around since 1952 and currently set up with a garden spa, backyard, hot springs, pool, and more. And the aesthetic is just lovely.
The Ozarker
Set in rural Missouri, The Ozarker is a beautiful, lodge-like roadside motel set in some stunning topography. Surrounded by forests, lakes, and state parks, this is one for the outdoorsman. At the hotel, enjoy well-appointed rooms, a great grab-and-go general store, and one of the best settings around. The motel truly is the ultimate basecamp for any kind of outdoor adventure.
Consider the lodging for your next adventurous road trip set. A stay at any of the above will be more than memorable.
