California remains one of the most popular destinations in North America for a road trip, thanks in large part to its dramatic coastal cliffs, towering redwoods, and Hollywood lights. The state is also the birthplace of the roadside motel, born in San Luis Obispo, halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, in December 1925—100 years ago, soon before Route 66 officially launched.
That first motel was the brainchild of architect Arthur Heineman, who named it the Milestone Mo-Tel (short for “motor hotel”). Designed in California mission style, it was a far cry from the more midcentury motels that remain today. It cost $1.25 per night, which included garage parking (a mere $23 today). The middle of the 20th century saw a boom in motels, particularly along Route 66. In 1961, there were more than 61,000 motels across the country; Milestone Mo-Tel itself hung on until 1991.
Vintage motels have been having a revival in the past few years. Hoteliers—attracted by nostalgia and priceless midcentury-modern details—have been sprucing up once-forgotten motels with modern amenities and thoughtful interior design. While a motel was once simply a place to sleep before continuing on a road trip, some of these revamped lodgings are destinations unto themselves.
Kimberly Walker, founder of Nomada Hotel Group, began transforming run-down motels into design-forward stays in 2012. Today, Nomada is a collection of five properties, including Hotel Ynez in Solvang, River Lodge in Paso Robles, and Skyview Los Alamos. Walker grew up in Southern California and takes her inspiration from the ocean, mountains, vineyards, and laid-back vibe of the region. “Nature and environment are always something we want guests to experience,” she says."I love exploring color, pattern, nature, and how they can all intersect to create an inspiring space for guests to enjoy.”
Our latest installment of Hotels We Love celebrates the 100th anniversary of the motel with these 14 exceptional retreats—read on and start plotting your own epic California road trip.
Azure Sky Hotel
- Location: Palm Springs
- Why we love it: An intimate, adults-only hotel in Palm Springs’ own midcentury-modern style
- From $300
- Book now
There are just 14 guest rooms at the Azure Sky Hotel, an immaculate conversion of a 1959 motel whose decor balances midcentury-modern details and a desert-inspired aesthetic. Twelve guest rooms have kitchenettes and 11 have private patios, the perfect place to gaze at the nearby San Jacinto Mountains that tower over the city. Take in the views from the pool and Jacuzzi or, on a rare cold evening, around the hotel’s two firepits. Breakfast is included and delivered each morning (yogurt, fruit, granola, and a muffin from local bakery Aspen Mills), and several restaurants are within walking or cycling distance (bikes are available to borrow).
The Bungalows by Homestead Modern
Recently revamped, the Bungalows by Homestead Modern were designed by acclaimed midcentury-modern architect Harold Zook.
Photo by Yoshihiro Makino
- Location: Joshua Tree
- Why we love it: 14 suites and rooms that feel homey but elevated, all with fully equipped kitchens
- From $300
- Book now
This 1960s motel-turned-hotel has all the trappings that visitors expect from a Joshua Tree getaway: desert expanses, midcentury-modernist rooms, and a dash of New Age magic. The Bungalows, which opened in June 2022, is located on the Joshua Tree Retreat Center, aka the Institute of Mentalphysics, which runs all manner of classes improving physical and emotional well-being; it is also has the largest collection of Lloyd Wright (son of Frank Lloyd Wright) buildings in the world. The rooms at the Bungalows are steeped in midcentury details: original post-and-beam ceilings, polished concrete floors, and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors. The property abuts the Mojave Desert Land Trust, so even if you don’t make it to nearby Joshua Tree National Park, there are hiking trails and sights to explore right outside your room. There is no restaurant on property, but the Bungalows’ kitchens are well kitted out for cooking, and there are two propane barbecues for guests. For barbecue without the cleanup, drive 15 minutes to Pappy & Harriet’s in Pioneertown.
Cambria Beach Lodge
The design at Cambria Beach Lodge is inspired by the local coastal community.
Photo by Johnny Valiant
- Location: Cambria
- Why we love it: A beachside hotel with Pacific views, in walking distance of the beach and restaurants
- From $146
- Book now
Cambria Beach Lodge touts itself as offering “surf, wine, and one of the most beautiful sunsets you have ever seen,” and anyone who’s been to Cambria, located on Moonstone Beach, knows how scenic its coastline is. No wonder William Randolph Hearst chose to build Hearst Castle 10 minutes up the road. The 27-room lodge has everything modern travelers have come to expect from a boutique beachside hotel, including coastal-inspired decor, Linus bikes for tooling along the coast, a curated mini-bar, and Pacific Ocean views. Although you’ll need a car to get here, you can leave it at the hotel and walk to Cambria’s downtown strip, home to some of the area’s most popular restaurants. Sea Chest Oyster Bar is just 300 feet from the hotel. Get there early; seats go fast and they don’t take reservations.
Capri Hotel
At Capri, guests can cool down poolside, hang on the lawn area, or on rare chilly nights, warm up by the lobby fireplace.
Courtesy Capri Hotel
- Location: Ojai
- Why we love it: A stylish, Amalfi-inspired place to lay your head in a tiny town that packs a big culinary punch
- From $350
- Book now
Don’t sleep on the enchanting SoCal town of Ojai in Ventura County north of Los Angeles. There aren’t lots of places to stay in Ojai—and that’s the point. Rather than construct new properties, Shelter Social Club, a small hotel group that also puts on community events, has been quietly building a small, thoughtful collection of restored boutique motels. And one of the most stylish and recent to open is the midcentury rebuild Capri Hotel. Dating back to 1963, the 21st-century incarnation has 30 rooms inspired by Italy’s Amalfi Coast with coastal resort hues of sandy beige and pastel pink. Guests can enjoy the pool or lawn area or warm up by the lobby’s fireplace on rare chilly evenings. And while there is no on-site dining, Ojai has become a hub for culinary talents, including at the Dutchess, a bakery by day, Burmese restaurant by night, pizza spot Pinyon, and farm-to-table stalwart Rory’s Place—all within walking distance of the hotel.—Michelle Baran
Coachman
A two-bedroom suite at the Coachman can sleep seven people, has a kitchenette for easy breakfasts, and a living room with a fireplace.
Courtesy of Coachman
- Location: South Tahoe
- Why we love it: A wide range of rooms for every configuration of travelers, plus nightly s’mores around the fire
- From $153
- Book now
World-class ski destinations don’t always conjure images of roadside motels, but there’s a little wave of old-school beauties being gussied up in South Lake Tahoe, part of the famed Northern California lake and ski region. Coachman, one of the earlier hotels to get in on the revivalist trend, is still one of the best. There are 103 guest rooms, ranging from standard kings and double queens to one-, two-, and three-bedroom suites, and amenities fitting its larger size—free s’mores every night, bikes available to borrow, and a heated pool and hot tub. The Coachman Café doubles as the check-in area and serves coffee, breakfast, dinner, and drinks in a cozy atmosphere where patrons can grab some board games and linger. Coachman is five minutes from Heavenly Ski Resort and a stone’s throw from the lake (you can walk to both), making it a great base no matter the season.—MB
Cuyama Buckhorn
The rooms at Cuyama Buckhorn are pleasingly minimalist, but with desert-inspired accents.
Photo by Stephanie Russo/courtesy of Cuyama Buckhorn
- Location: New Cuyama
- Why we love it: Remote enough to stargaze, but accessible enough to have a farm-to-table restaurant
- From $200
- Book now
The building that now houses Cuyama Buckhorn was opened in 1952 as a roadside respite in Santa Barbara County’s high desert region. In 2018, it was transformed into its current incarnation—21 rooms, farm-to-table dishes at its Buckhorn Restaurant & Bar, plenty of artsy, western-inspired personality, plus a pool, hot tub, and sauna. Its remote location, unspoiled by light pollution, makes it an ideal location for stargazing. To explore the local area, join one of the hotel’s guided hikes—they are led by the bartender and include making trailside mocktails—or drive an hour to Carrizo Plain National Monument, home to the largest single native grassland prairie in California, more than 250,000 acres, and bursting with native wildflowers in spring.
The Green Room Hotel
Committed to maintaining the 1950s structure, not a single wall was removed during renovation of the Green Room Hotel
Photo courtesy of the Green Motel
- Location: Oceanside
- Why we love it: All all-suite motel five minutes from the beach, with surfboards and bikes for guests
- From $160
- Book now
The Green Room Hotel is the brainchild of couple Stephen and Brett Poovey, who came across the 1950s motor lodge sited on the Pacific Coast Highway while out on a date. The Pooveys were adamant about not making any drastic modifications that might take away from the original spirit of the building, and not a single wall was removed during renovation. Yet the Green Room is anything but old and musty. It’s the kind of place where guests walk incarrying surfboards (borrowed from the hotel) and relax around the communal firepit after a day on the beach. The beach is just a five-minute walk away, or you can borrow one of the hotel’s bikes and go a bit further.
There are 12 suites at the Green Room, each offering midcentury- modern–inspired furnishings, local art, and Moroccan rugs. In keeping with the old motor lodge theme, there’s no reception at the Green Room. Rather, guests can simply check into their rooms with an electronic code sent directly to their phones.
Hotel Ynez
Hotel Ynez has 22 rooms with patios and hammocks.
Photo by Sydney Brown/courtesy Nomada Hotel Group
- Location: Solvang
- Why we love it: Plenty of on-site amenities, including a bocce court, restored 1950s pool, hammocks, and Linus bikes to borrow
- From $200
- Book now
When Nomada Hotel Group bought present-day Hotel Ynez, it transformed the 1951 hotel’s former driveway into a walking path, added fountains, firepits, and a bocce court to a courtyard shaded by old-growth White Oaks, and restored the original pool. (While the hotel is open to all ages, the pool is reserved for guests 21-plus). The 22 guest rooms have whitewashed wooden ceilings with exposed beams and private patios that were once parking spaces (today spruced up with greenery and hammocks). Borrow one of the Linus cruisers and ride 10 minutes to Santa Ynez for a big caprese sandwich from the Lucky Hen Larder with burrata and black lava salt. —Sophie Friedman
The Pacific Motel
- Location: Cayucos
- Why we love it: A charming coastal stayin a laid-back beach town
The Pacific Motel is located in the underrated Central Coast beach community of Cayucos.
Courtesy of the Pacific Motel
- From $170
- Book now
The Pacific Motel is owned and operated by longtime Cayucos residents Ryan and Marisa Fortini. There are 20 rooms; 6 of them are in converted 1920s bungalows once used as military barracks at Camp San Luis Obispo and moved to Cayucos in the 1950s. All of the accommodations have been thoughtfully redesigned to embody a light and airy, coastal California–inspired ambience. The Pacific Motel is a three-minute walk from the beach—and right next to the supermarket for all your picnic needs. Grab one of the hotel’s beach towels and watch surfers crest the Pacific waves (or try it yourself with rentals from Good Clean Fun or Cayucos Surf Company). After spending the day by or on the water, retire to the hotel for a little ping-pong or playing cards around the indoor fireplace.
River Lodge
After a day of winetasting at nearby vineyards, cool off in the adults-only pool at retro-charming Riverside Lodge
Photo by Karyn Millet/courtesy of Nomada Hotel Group
- Location: Paso Robles
- Why we love it: Read a magazine or book in hammock on your private terrace or by the lively adults-only pool
- From $200
- Book now
Paso Robles is both a standout wine region and a perfect midpoint on the road between San Francisco and Los Angeles. It’s an ideal place to rest your head and literally take your foot off the gas for a bit, and now there’s a revitalized motel worth stopping for. River Lodge, in a property originally built in 1947, reopened in summer 2024 with 28 guest rooms. Its new owners, Nomada Hotel Group, have preserved roadside motel nostalgia (its red and blue vintage “Motel” sign out front), while offering modern amenities like an adults-only pool and hot tub, around which you can order California-inspired Italian dishes and cocktails from on-site restaurant Ciao Papi.
River Lodge is right off Highway 101 and a 10-minute drive from downtown Paso Robles, with its central square park and myriad bars, cafés, and restaurants. Go for a bite at mini food hall Paso Market Walk, where you can eat ramen and pizza and taste local wines. (For something even more Southern Californian, go next door to Finca for killer tacos.) If you don’t want to spend the night but are still eager for a dip, River Lodge offers day passes for visitors who are 21 and over ($65, including $15 restaurant credit). —MB
San Luis Creek Lodge
Break up the drive between L.A. and San Francisco with a night in San Luis Obispo.
Courtesy of San Luis Creek Lodge
- Location: San Luis Obispo
- Why we love it: A comfortable, smartly designed base from which to hike, taste wine, and enjoy farm-to-table fare
- From $180
- Book now
On the edge of San Luis Obispo’s charming downtown on the Central California coast, halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, San Luis Creek Lodge has 25 guest rooms spread across three unique buildings. The airy spaces are decorated with bohemian, contemporary farmhouse-inspired design, with artwork and pillows from L.A. block-printing studio Block Shop. Premier rooms, with either two queens or a king, have gas fireplaces. Coffee and scones are delivered to guests’ rooms each morning; if you want to venture farther for breakfast, you can make good use of the hotel’s free bikes. Use them or your car to explore the area’s local vineyards, gorgeous coastal hikes, and the Monarch Butterfly Grove in Pismo Beach. —SF
Skyview Los Alamos
Amenities at Skyview Los Alamos include an on-site restaurant, Linus bikes to borrow, and an adults-only heated pool.
Courtesy of the Skyview Los Alamos
- Location: Los Alamos
- Why we love it: A retro-style pool and an original 1950s vineyard with delicious wines
- From $159
- Book now
When Skyview was originally built in 1959, its pool was an oasis for road-trippers driving between L.A. and San Francisco. After several years sitting vacant, this wine country motel underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation and got a second life in 2019. Set on a hillside overlooking the Santa Ynez valley, the motel overlooks the property’s original vineyard—still in operation today—and the surrounding countryside. The 33 guest rooms at the Skyview have hardsome dark hardwood floors and white shiplapped walls and ceilings. The restaurant and poolside bar, Norman, serves up bites like fish tacos and cornbread with fermented hot honey. If you can tear yourself away from the heated pool, borrow a bike and ride into town, which has a handful of decent restaurants.
Trixie Motel
Each of the rooms at the Trixie Motel is centered around a retro theme.
Courtesy of the Trixie Motel
- Location: Palm Springs
- Why we love it: Throwback vibes and a bold personality, with just seven guest rooms
- From $450
- Book now
Owned by world-famous drag queen Trixie Mattel, the Trixie Motel opened in September 2022 with much fanfare and is every bit as pink and Instagrammable as you’d expect it to be. Trixie found the motor inn, built in 1953, while scrolling through Zillow, and quickly began renovations in 2020 after purchasing it—a process documented on the show Trixie Motel. Today there are seven guest rooms; three are suites, retro in decor and bursting with color. Expect extravagant themes, ranging from “Queen of Hearts” (think heart-shaped mirror above the bed and shag carpeting) to “Yeehaw Cowgirl” (decorated with baby blue and pink horseshoes and other western paraphernalia). Located in Palm Springs’ Old Las Palmas neighborhood (the haunt of Hollywood stars like Judy Garland and Elizabeth Taylor), the motel is walking distance of the city’s main strip. Enjoy a very pink cocktail, like a Paloma, at on-site Barbara Bar before a night out in Palm Springs.
White Water
If it’s too cold to swim in the Pacific during your way at White Water, you can gaze out at the ocean from a warm bath.
Photo by Jonny Valiant/courtesy of the White Water Hotel
- Location: Cambria
- Why we love it: Gaze out at the Pacific Ocean from your room or from the beach, a one-minute walk away
- From $251
- Book now
The original White Water Inn opened in 1988, and in 2020 underwent a serious renovation. The result is 25 beautifully appointed rooms created by interior designer Nina Freudenberger, known for her work in private homes and her books Bibliostyle and Surf Shack. Freudenberger was inspired by the Central Coast’s unique ecosystem, which is dotted with Monterey pines, cypress trees, and tide pools. In the guest rooms, expect dark greens intermingled with melon-orange tones and textiles sourced from small shops along the coast. Each room has views of the Pacific Ocean, including some where you can see the waves from your bathtub. The hotel is a minute’s walk from the beach, and you can go by foot or borrow a bike from the inn to get to the dozen-odd restaurants in town. (The White Water doesn’t have a full-service restaurant, but the lobby lounge serves boards of locally sourced meats and cheeses, plus local beers, wines, and ciders.)
This article was originally published in 2023 and most recently updated on July 23, 2025, with current information. Sophie Friedman and Michelle Baran contributed to the reporting of this story.
