Third-wave coffee, expert cocktails, and Frette robes were never associated with the all-American motel. Once ubiquitous post-war, often mom-and-pop-owned, and for decades designed with barebones rooms, filling stations, and basic cafes, the original motels put convenience, affordability, and functionality first. They were there for travelers visiting landmarks, on their way to national parks, or stopping through tourist-friendly towns, a no-reservations-necessary overnight rest stop of sorts, at which to pull over and get a night’s sleep. A neon sign was often the most notable design element and laundry machines on premise were considered a top amenity.
But motels have had a makeover, and are on their way back to cultural relevance. Nowadays travelers welcome their open-air hallways, touchless check-in, and approachability, yes, but also the opportunity they offer to discover a place owned by locals and designed and operated as one of a kind—not a chain or resort. A select new generation of motels celebrates their midcentury pasts while adding modern-day amenities. These are our favorite crash pads—new or recently redone—throughout the U.S.
Sound View Greenport, Long Island, New York
Direct and private beach access has made the Sound View one of Long Island Sound’s most in-demand stays since the 1950s. A recent renovation by Brooklyn-based design firm Studio Tack has turned it into the hottest city escape. Nods to the region’s maritime past—captain chairs and wicker sofas shaped like whaling boats—are seen throughout the property. Even the 55 rooms feel a bit like ship cabins, with cedar walls and ocean views. A modern version of Jack’s Shack, a 1935 beach concession run by the motel’s original owner, services the pool with seared tuna bites and boozy popsicles, while the Halyard, the main restaurant, showcases the best ingredients from the Atlantic Seaboard alongside North Fork wines.
The Dive Motel + Swim Club, Nashville, Tennessee
Lyon Porter and Jersey Banks, the brains behind Urban Cowboy hotels, eschewed the typical mid-century modern motel makeover and instead embraced 60’s era motel kitsch (shag carpets, leopard-print headboards, satin sheets) when they remade Nashville’s old Key Motel. Yolanda Baker, disco ball maker for Studio 54, handcrafted mirrored globes for each of the 23 rooms and a party switch allows guests to set the mood to house radio channels (Sex, Drugs, Rock n’ Roll, and Sleep). As per name, the motel has a classic wood-paneled dive bar with a DJ booth and antique beer lights. A much Instagrammed No Diving mural sets the backdrop to the pool, which thanks to a local swim club membership, turns it into a happening scene during hot summer months.
Hotel June Malibu, Point Dume, California
For decades, the Malibu Riviera Motel was the Bohemian hideaway of choice along the Pacific Coast Highway. (Bob Dylan holed up in Bungalow 13 to pen his album “Blood on the Tracks.”) The motel received a full overhaul in 2017, when it was reborn as the Native Hotel. This fall, it was reimagined once again as the sister property of L.A.’s stylish June Hotel. Beach-chic, minimalist bungalows have been decorated with black-and-white photographs taken by original owner, Wayne Wilcox, and mini bars are curated with locally made snacks. A heated swimming pool—a rarity in Malibu—with poolside tacos and lobster rolls are appreciated upgrades.
Mellow Moon Lodge, Del Norte, Colorado
You’d be forgiven for driving straight through Del Norte without realizing it. The Main Street of this tiny town in southern Colorado’s San Luis Valley barely stretches three quarters of a mile end to end. But there’s a lot tucked away in that span, including a new distillery, excellent bakery, and the expertly curated General Specific Store. A year-long remake of the 1940s El Rancho Motel—with vintage nods in the decor—gives roadtrippers enroute to nearby attractions like Great Sand Dunes National Park and Wolf Creek Ski Resort a reason to stay. Del Norte is a mountain bike mecca and the motel’s shop rents and fixes them, as well as provides post-ride beers.
Stonewall Motor Lodge, Stonewall, Texas
When Stonewall Motor Lodge opened in 1964, it catered to secret service and reporters tailing president Lyndon B. Johnson when he visited his beloved ranch, located just two miles down the road. Recently restored, the L-shaped, 12-room motel in Texas Hill Country now often welcomes oenophiles drawn to the region’s little local wine scene (it’s located along the Highway 290 Wine Trail, just outside Fredericksburg). Refreshed decor pays homage to both location (geo pattern Southwest throws) and history (vintage photos sourced from the LBJ Presidential Library), and the old darkroom in Room 8 (nicknamed the Press Room) is now a kitchenette. Four new cabins and five RV sites are set up for longer stays, allowing time to visit the nearby dance halls, hiking trails, and the LBJ Ranch.
Pioneertown Motel, Pioneertown, California
Silver screen stars, including Roy Rogers and Gene Autry, built this live-in movie set in the middle of the desert in 1946 so they could avoid the two-hour commute back to Hollywood while filming Westerns like the Cisco Kid. The rustic exteriors essentially look the same, but brothers Mike and Matt French restored and modernized every inch of the interiors to once again appeal to an L.A. crowd. The 19 rooms, not far from Joshua Tree National Park, include furniture and artwork from local artisans and a communal “Canteen” stocked with books, playing cards, and organic coffee; and a two-bedroom cabin with a wood-burning stove, kitchen, and porch are available for stargazing the clear desert skies. Last year, they revived the Red Dog Saloon and tapped L.A. barman Eric Alperin to create the first-rate cocktails and margaritas complemented by an array of equally top quality tacos.
