by Kirsty Bartholomew
If you’re planning a trip on Route 66 then it’s pretty likely that it’s history is one of the big draws for you. We’re looking today at the historic hotels on Route 66 that you really cannot miss on your journey.
These are the top, most popular and, some might say, best historic hotels and motels on Route 66 that you can still stay in. Of course, many have fell along the wayside over the years.
Many of them are locally owned – known as Mom and Pop motels – and not big names. You might not get the swimming pool and gym as you would with the chains but I think they more than make up for it in style, character and quirkiness.
It’s worth bearing in mind that as these are small businesses sometimes they do change hands and the experiences of others can change. I’d always recommend checking out recent reviews before you book.
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A note from the writer: Hey! I’m Kirsty and I’m a Route 66 enthusiast – I first became obsessed almost 20 years ago and then first visited in 2014. I’ve recently just come back from my last trip too! Comment below if you have any questions about your road trip and I’ll get back to you ASAP – or join me in my free FB group here.
Should you book Route 66 hotels in advance?
For many people trundling along the highway and stopping wherever takes your fancy is the highlight of this road trip and as such many people don’t book at all and do fine with that.
If you want to be sure of a bed, or if you have kids and want to sort all these things in advance (I know I did when I was travelling the route – I didn’t want to drive hours and find we were stuck!) then I do recommend booking in advance, even more so if you’re travelling in high season and holiday weekends.
There’s also some motels that get so busy because they’re popular and iconic such as the Wigwam hotels. What we did was book these well in advance as we knew we really wanted to stay there and we booked other hotels a few nights before when we were more sure of our route. Check out the cancellation policies before you book in case your itinerary changes.
Where possible I have linked to Booking.com which is my favourite booking site and one I use all the time – often you can book with no deposit and pay when you arrive. Some motels you must book direct on their own website. In all cases I recommend checking TripAdvisor for recent reviews.
Best historic hotels on Route 66 by state
I have ‘where to stay‘ guides with a list of the motels and hotels in each state along Route 66. This post is going to focus on some of the most iconic and best historic hotels on Route 66 that you can stay in but it won’t be comprehensive.
Historic Illinois Route 66 hotels
Chicago
Congress Plaza Hotel
Built – 1893
A historic hotel that has seen the beginning and end of Route 66 as it was built in 1893. Just a few blocks away from the start sign it’s in a perfect position for the beginning of a road trip. It has views over Lake Michigan and remains a good value option for the city.
Ready to book? – Check prices on Booking.com
Still planning? – Read reviews on TripAdvisor
Springfield
Route 66 Hotel and Conference Center
Built – 1950s
A good budget option if in the area this is actually on the site of the first Holiday Inn on Route 66. It’s locally owned and has plenty of memorabilia to look at and enjoy and also a really nice swimming pool!
Ready to book? – Check prices on Booking.com
Still deciding? – Read reviews on TripAdvisor
Read more about where to stay on Route 66 in Illinois
Missouri Route 66 hotels
Cuba
Wagon Wheel Motel
Built – 1935
Apparently the oldest, continuously run motel all along Route 66! It’s been completely updated and renovated and provides a great stop over.
Ready to book? – check direct here
Want to learn more? Read reviews at TripAdvisor
Lebanon
Munger Moss Motel
Built – 1946
Fun motel that fully embraces the Route 66 spirit! Lots of the rooms have Route 66 photos adorning it and every room is unique. A great place to stop by even if you don’t stay overnight as there’s a small gift shop on site too.
Ready to book? – check direct here
Interested in reviews? Read what other travelers have to say at TripAdvisor
Springfield
Best Western Rail Haven Motel
Built – 1938
A classic motel in the city of Springfield, MO with all you want -vintage neon, a cheap place to rest your head and right on Route 66.
Ready to book? Check prices on Booking.com
Still deciding? Read Tripadvisor Reviews here
Carthage
Boots Court Motel
Built – 1939
Stunning little art deco motel that really shouldn’t be missed. It was originally built in 1939 and has been restored inside to how it looked in 1949. Recently changed hands and looks like it’s starting to accept travelers again.
Ready to book? – check direct here
Want to read reviews? Read what other travelers have to say at TripAdvisor
Read more about where to stay on Route 66 in Missouri
KansasRoute 66 hotels
Kansas is just a small part of Route 66 (only 13 miles!) but you should definitely stop off in the towns there.
Baxter Springs
Rose Cottage
Something a little different in a trip filled with motels – Rose Cottage is a bed and breakfast in Baxter Springs in a historic old house.
Ready to book? – Check prices on Hotels.com
Need to know more? Read reviews at TripAdvisor
Read more about where to stay on Route 66 in Kansas
OklahomaRoute 66 hotels
Tulsa
The Campbell Hotel
Built – 1927
This hotel is a beautifully restored 1920s building with themed rooms. You might get a route 66 room or maybe even an art deco themed one. It’s a really nice and slightly different hotel to your classic motel. A great stop in Tulsa.
Ready to book? – Check prices on Booking.com
Want to know more? Read what other travelers have to say at TripAdvisor
Chandler
Lincoln Motel
A classic roadside motel with a great neon sign outside. Nice and clean inside and comes highly recommended.
Ready to book? – Check prices on Booking.com
Interested to know more? Read reviews at TripAdvisor
Elk City
Flamingo Inn
A nice independently owned inn in the west end of Oklahoma. This motel is a traditional style with lovely clean rooms with really nice and friendly owners.
Ready to book? – Check prices on Booking.com
Need more info? Check what other travelers have to say at TripAdvisor
Read more about where to stay on Route 66 in Oklahoma
TexasRoute 66 hotels
Shamrock
Western Motel
There are a number of options in Shamrock but the Western Motel is directly opposite the wonderful U-Drop Inn which lights up at night and is a really delight to see. It’s an inexpensive town to stay in as well.
Ready to book? – Check prices on Booking.com
Need more info? Read reviews at TripAdvisor
McLean
Cactus Inn
Another small, traditional motel and perfect if you want to stop the night in Texas. Right by the quirky Devil’s Rope Museum.
Ready to book? – Check prices on Booking.com
Need more info? Read what other travelers have to say at TripAdvisor
Amarillo
Big Texan Motel
Styled out front to look like an old wild west town, albeit a pretty bright one, this is a unique place to stay! Don’t miss the Big Texan Steak Ranch next door which is a must see on Route 66 where you can have a go at eating their 72oz steak!
Ready to book? – Check prices on Booking.com
Need to read reviews? Read what other travelers have to say at TripAdvisor
Read more about where to stay on Route 66 in Texas
New MexicoRoute 66 hotels
New Mexico is home to the stunning Tucumcari which has a heap of old, vintage motels to choose from. Even if you don’t stay there you can enjoy wandering round and seeing them all lit up.
Tucumcari
Motel Safari
Built – 1959
We’ve stayed here and can recommend it – very clean and retro. Just across from the Blue Swallow Motel and perfect for wandering in the evening.
Ready to book? – Check direct here
Read more first – Read reviews at TripAdvisor
Blue Swallow Motel
Built – 1939
Built in 1939, this is one of the most famous and most photographed motels on Route 66 – if you have your heart set on staying here then I recommend to book early!
Ready to book? – Check availability at Booking.com
Looking for reviews? See what other travelers have to say at TripAdvisor
Santa Fe
El Rey Court
Built – 1936
A great option if you head on the original Route 66 alignment north to Santa Fe. Accommodations are a little more expensive on this part of the road but with options like El Rey Court it’s still worth it!
Ready to book? – check prices on Booking.com here
Still deciding? Read reviews on TripAdvisor
Albuquerque
Casas de Suenos Old Town Historic Inn
Built – 1938
In the Old Town of Albuquerque which is well worth a stop over and time to explore. This old Bed and Breakfast is a great place to relax and take some time out from more traditional motels on the road. It can book up so if you want to stay here it’s best to book early.
Ready to book? – check prices on Booking.com here
Still deciding? Read reviews on TripAdvisor
Gallup
Hotel El Rancho
Built – 1936
Very famous hotel that has been frequented by many famous people over the years – lots of movie stars stayed here while filming westerns in the region.
Ready to book? – check prices on Booking.com
Need to know more? Read reviews at TripAdvisor
Read more about where to stay on Route 66 in New Mexico
ArizonaRoute 66 hotels
Arizona has so much to offer, from the small town of Holbrook with the wigwam motel (a must in my book!), to the Grand Canyon and then the small wild west town of Oatman.
Holbrook
Wigwam motel
Built – 1950
Stunning little motel – very atmospheric, if a little sparse inside. It’s worth booking well in advance, but probably one of the cheapest historic Route 66 motels we booked on our trip.
Ready to book? – check direct here
Want to read reviews? Read what other travelers have to say at TripAdvisor
Winslow
La Posada Hotel
Built – 1929
Built in 1929 this is a gorgeous hotel with a bit more features than your regular motels so good if you want a break from that.
Ready to book? – Check prices on Booking.com
Ready to read reviews? Read what other travelers have to say at TripAdvisor
Williams
Grand Canyon Railway Hotel
Williams is a great little town with lots to see including the Grand Canyon which is very close by. The Grand Canyon Railway Hotel is actually not a historic hotel at all, although it’s on the site of one that was built in 1908. It has all the feel of a historic, luxury hotel though and worth staying especially if you want to take the train to the Grand Canyon.
Ready to book? – Booking.com
Need to know more? Read reviews at TripAdvisor
Seligman
Supai Motel
Don’t miss Seligman – it’s a classic Route 66 town. Many pass through but if you want to stay the Supai Motel is a great, clean choice with an excellent neon sign.
Ready to book? – check prices at Booking.com
Still deciding? See reviews at TripAdvisor
Kingman
El Trovatore Motel
Built – 1939
Quirky but classic motel. This is a fun motel with lots of classic Hollywood themed rooms and the world’s longest map!
Ready to book? – Check prices on Booking.com
Not to know more? Read reviews on TripAdvisor
Oatman
No overnight stays any more but definitely worth checking out if you make the drive to Oatman!
Read more about where to stay on Route 66 in Arizona
CaliforniaRoute 66 hotels
The end of the road! Don’t miss these amazing stop offs before you head in to busy Los Angeles!
Barstow
Route 66 Motel
A gorgeous historic motel which has the added quirkiness or having lots of historic cars parked outside too – lots of photo opportunities! Great neon signs out front too – just what you want from a route 66 motel!
Ready to book? – Check prices on Booking.com
Not decided? Check out latest reviews on TripAdvisor
San Bernadino
WigWam Motel
A similar set up to the wigwam hotel in Arizona but this one also has a swimming pool, of course, it’s California! It’s just a must see and stay isn’t it?
Ready to book? – check prices on Booking.com
Need to learn more? Read what other travelers have to say at TripAdvisor
Santa Monica
The Georgian Hotel
Built – 1933
There’s a lot of choice in Santa Monica but if you’re looking for historic then this 1930s Art deco hotel should fit the bill. A luxury option which will be well deserved after the long road trip!
Ready to book? – check prices on Booking.com
Need to learn more? – Check reviews on TripAdvisor
I hope you’ve found this list helpful – obviously it’s not anexhaustive list but is made up from personal experience and recommendations. If I’ve missed anywhere special do let me know!
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🇺🇸 Route 66 FAQ 🇺🇸
Do I need insurance for traveling Route 66?
YES! I always recommend people take travel insurance even when travelling domestically! If you have booked something non refundable it might be the only way you’ll get money back if your plans change.
Check Travel Insurance Master for quote comparisons from different providers.
Who is the best car rental company for Route 66?
There are many car rental companies who you can choose from – I recommend comparing prices using DiscoverCars to get the best price for you or at least a good idea of a ball park figure. (see more)
Where to book Hotels for Route 66?
For hotels I recommend Booking.com as they tend to have good cancellation policies so you can keep flexible on the road.
Often some historic Route 66 hotels will need to be booked direct.
What to pack for Route 66?
Keeping yourself cool and comfortable is a must for any road trip.
See my post about what to pack for a Route 66 road trip
What’s the best guidebook for Route 66 ?
I really like the Route 66 Adventure Handbook but there are a lot to choose from depending on what stage of planning you’re at (see more)
Where to get flights for Route 66?
Skyscanner is my first port of call for finding cheap flights to start your road trip.
Kirsty Bartholomew
Kirsty Bartholomew became obsessed with Route 66 after taking her kids to see Cars at the cinema way back in 2006. She first visited in 2014 and it didn't help the obsession at all. She now writes about the road, the history and hopes to encourage others to visit and keep it alive.
