Level up Your Road Trip Lodging at These Retro Motels

Motor lodges and hotels are having a moment. Here’s where to stay.

Rendering courtesy Americana Motor Lodge

A rendering of the backyard area at the Americana Motor Lodge in Flagstaff, AZ.

Written by Hugh Garvey, Krista Simmons September 5, 2023

Every year the Sunset Travel Awards honor the best in travel in the West. This year we had over 600 entries across all categories (a record number!). These hotels, motels, and lodges are the 2023 winners of the Where to Stay: Roadside Lodging category. Check out the complete list of winners here. For our definitive directory to travel in the West, click here.

Best Roadside Lodging

High Country Motor Lodge

This new motor lodge off Route 66 in Flagstaff melds vintage style, contemporary design, and an adventurous spirit. Book in for a soak in the Nordic Spa, sure to relieve tired bodies after a long road trip. Afterward, sip a craft cocktail by the firepits, or challenge your travel buddy to a round of pool or foosball in the game room.

Calistoga Motor Lodge

This funky motor lodge inspired by the Great American Road Trip has hula hoops, board games, and cruiser bikes, but the real draw is the mineral water that made this area a famous Napa Valley wellness destination. Soak in a private clawfoot tub filled with geothermal waters and get playful with a DIY mud painting, detoxing from a day of wine tasting.

Americana Motor Hotel

Built in 1962, this kitschy Arizona motel designed by Andrew Alford is a one-hour drive to either Grand Canyon National Park or the Sunset Crater Volcano. The vibrant, retro roadside retreat even has “dive in” movies, where guests can watch films from the pool, making it the perfect pit stop.

Vintages Trailer Resort

Tuck into a truly nostalgic trip in Oregon’s Willamette Valley at this park featuring 36 fully restored Airstreams, some of which are outfitted with soaking tubs. The grounds’ amenities include outdoor grills, cruiser bikes, a swimming pool, and fire pits. There’s also an on-site general store stocked with locally made goods and libations.

Egyptian Motor Hotel

A historic hotel located in Phoenix’s vibrant Arts District for over 70 years, the recent remodel brings traditional rooms and outfitted Airstreams, both of which come stocked with throwback amenities like Marshall Bluetooth speakers, retro refrigerators, and complimentary acoustic guitars to strum by the outdoor firepits.

Level up Your Road Trip Lodging at These Retro Motels