Americana Motor Hotel isn’t the oldest or most historic stay on this list, but it has a distinct 1970s feel that earns it an easy spot. The motor hotel was originally built in 1962, and the current property, launched in 2023, plays off its history with what its designer, Andrew Alford, call “rustic futurism”—think disco balls, rugs in swirling stripes, bold colors, and geometric graphics.
Added modern-day perks include a year-round heated pool, bike rentals, and telescopes for stargazing
The hotel is located in the world's first International Dark Sky City
These retro stays capture the spirit of our country’s most legendary highway.
In 1926, Route 66 was born, ushering in the age of the family road trip. Nicknamed “the Mother Road,” it helped fuel a boom in car sales and transformed overlooked towns into thriving roadside destinations built to serve the American traveler.
This year, the legendary highway connecting Chicago to Santa Monica, California, celebrates its centennial, honoring not only its status as the country's most prominent artifact of transportation history, but also its cultural legacy. Travelers can still see original neon signs from the 1930s and old-school drive-up motels with communal firepits and radios instead of televisions.
While many of the original auto courts and motor lodges have vanished, others have been thoughtfully restored, offering comforts that meet the needs of the modern traveler without losing their old-school charm.
Below are nine revived hotels along Route 66 that have become destinations in their own right, celebrated as much for their history as for their style.