84 Best Hotels in USA

Easy to find, this little downtown hotel is within walking distance of Malta's Amtrak station and a few blocks from the junction of U.S. 2 and 191. The large, clean rooms are modest but modern, with Wi-Fi, refrigerators, microwaves, and coffeemakers, and the customer service is excellent.

With its streamlined modern decor and tasteful palette, the fully renovated and upscale Monterey, like neighboring El Vado Motel, is one Route 66-vintage motel that—luckily for travelers seeking a more unique stay today—outlasted the trend of turning motels into chains. Drawing fans for its lively MOMO Lounge (enjoy cocktails and local spirits, and a DJ too), the motel also features a small yet deep swimming pool, room-facing parking, and dining within walking distance. Special “Stayat” (as in, Stay At) accommodations with compact bunk-bed units (some attached to standard queen-bed rooms) appeal to extended family and group travelers.

An old, rundown motel was reborn in 2022 as a hip motor lodge with attractive, minimalist rooms in black-and-white decor, supercomfortable beds, big-screen streaming TVs, and cool amenities—including a year-round hot tub and Pendleton Whisky barrel sauna. There's convenient parking right outside your room and downtown is just a 5-minute walk. While there are no eateries on site, rooms have mini-fridges for stashing your snacks and beverages. Off-season rates can be below $100, making this an affordable getaway for a no-frills but very comfortable stay. 

Once an old motel on the original Route 66 in need of a major facelift, the Mystic is now a hip hang-out with a funky Joshua Tree vibe that is heavy on the pastel colors and folky artwork. The rooms are simple but stylish with tile floors and soothing decor, and some have small refrigerators. There is a full bar in the inviting lobby that's good for socializing, and a large event space out back that can fit 200 people, making the Mystic a popular wedding location.

It may not look like much from the outside, but one of the only motels for 50 miles in either direction is a comfortable and clean budget choice and a handy base for exploring Olympic National Park, with spacious rooms with modern furnishings and framed landscape photos. A couple of accommodations do stand out, however: a kitschy Twilight-themed room with framed movie posters and a red-and-black color scheme, and one larger suite with a full kitchen and separate living room.

A young Ukrainian couple bought and completely revamped this older motel-style lodging in the center of Ashford, giving it a fresh, distinctive look and an upbeat energy. The unique hot tub—a bubbling cauldron over an open flame—is a particularly fun touch. Guest rooms have an inviting rustic-chic aesthetic, with timber ceilings, rough-hewn wood beds, and stylish bathrooms with heated floors.

New ownership in 2022 has made upgrades (remodeled bathrooms, new floors, and new TVs and furniture) to this classic option that sits conveniently between the beach and town, offering a range of room options, including top-floor two-bedroom suites with full kitchens. Many rooms have balconies, and there's a small outdoor social area with grills for your fresh catch. 

The playful, pink-neon bunny sign outside this motel has been a local landmark since 1952, making it an unofficial gateway to Steamboat Springs. The location is ideal if you're visiting the springs (across the street); the ski area (the bus stops outside); and downtown shops, bars, and restaurants. All rooms are standard motel style, although there's new carpeting and updated decor, along with EV charging stations. Most have balconies with views of the Yampa River, and there's a free shuttle to the slopes. Continental breakfast is included.

While not a fancy place, this hidden oasis has many perks that merit a stay, including a convenient location between the airport/UCSB and downtown; lush gardens around a lagoon with ducks, turtles, and koi; a solar-heated outdoor pool and hot tub; a fitness center; free parking and Wi-Fi; and relatively affordable rates for the region. This is a particularly good choice for families and is close to many restaurants and services.

This simple but clean family motel has wonderful views of the Madison Range and is within walking distance of downtown shops and galleries. There's a cozy fireplace in the lobby.

This older motor lodge might have new ownership, but it's still decidedly, and charmingly, stuck in the past: what used to be a complete homage to the American Western is now home to a kitschy, quirky vibe throughout the motel-style rooms, which are being renovated one-by-one. Vinyl records adorn the walls of one room, while another has a vintage rotary phone. The John Wayne memorabilia is gone, replaced by stronger Wi-Fi and updated fixtures. 

On a bluff with outstanding views of red-rock palisades, this motel with clean, basic, and reasonably priced rooms (a basic breakfast is included) is one of the closest to the western entrance of Capitol Reef National Park. There are two restaurants on premises, one serving steaks and upscale American fare, and another more casual spot with good pizza and barbecue and a patio with fabulous red-rock views.

This clean and attractively updated vintage motor inn is just across the river (and beside a bridge with a pedestrian lane) from downtown and makes a convenient and economical base for exploring the Umpqua Valley.  

This clean, bright, and handsomely decorated 17-room motor inn just a half-mile north of downtown Peterborough is a terrific find with large, affordable rooms furnished with tasteful modern pieces and high-tech conveniences like Keurig coffeemakers, smart TVs, and Alexa devices. Those on the second floor overlooking the Contoocook River are the quietest. The management also rents out a couple of nearby guesthouses. 

An enthusiastic family's work-in-progress restoration of a roadside motor lodge, this property on the edge of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park charms travelers with sanded and varnished original oak flooring and rough-hewn decorative touches. Guest rooms contain microwaves, refrigerators, coffeemakers, smart TVs, and comfortable beds and pillows. Two-room suites sleep up to six people, convenient for families and larger groups.

At this family-friendly, attractively designed motel on the Ilwaco Marina, guests have views of the Columbia River and easy access to nearby Cape Disappointment and Fort Columbia state parks and the lower reaches of Long Beach Peninsula. The cozy rooms have TVs, small refrigerators, and coffeemakers, and the on-site restaurant serves some of the better pub food around, including locally caught albacore fish-and-chips and Dungeness crab mac and cheese.

On Santa Monica's busy Main Street, the Sea Shore (family-owned for five decades) is a charming throwback to Route 66 and to '60s-style roadside motels, nestled in an ultratrendy neighborhood. Just two blocks from a popular beach and bike path, this excellent value features rooms with tile floors, quadruple-pane noise-blocking windows, and basic amenities. The rooftop sundeck is a prime spot come sunset. Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus line passes out front. This hotel is popular in summer, so be sure to book early.

This midcentury-modern lodge was designed by a Frank Lloyd Wright devotee, abandoned for decades, and is now restored to glory. Forty rooms all feature porches or patios, and an exemplary restaurant, Oak Steakhouse, offers views across the valley below. Perks of the modernization include heated bathroom floors and the gorgeous Butler's Bar speakeasy, featuring a small library, a fireplace, and a wall of windows to soak in the mountain vista. 

Step back in time and sleep comfortably in one of the fun, retro rooms or plan a weekend away with a group of friends or family at the cabins that can sleep up to six. Magnolia Network fans will recognize this newly renovated hotel's owner Lindsey Kurowski, who bought and renovated the roadside motel on the second season of her show Inn the Works.

Listen to waves gently lap the shores of beautiful Lake McDonald at this motel, which is on the National Register of Historic Places and was fully renovated in recent years, so all its rooms have Wi-Fi, new beds, and furnishings that fit with the historic style. Some rooms, including one ADA family room, have kitchenettes, and there are family units that sleep up to six people. A restaurant, bar, and coffee shop are nearby.

This cluster of tidy, well-appointed cottages opened in 2022 in a quiet area that's still a stone's throw from beaches and Dock Square. The cottages might look tiny from the outside, but soaring ceilings and whitewashed walls make them feel spacious. The “little cottages” are for two adults only; children 12 and older can stay in the “big cottages.” Some cottages are dog-friendly.

Walkable to the Village Green and with its own on-site brewery, this polished option features single rooms, suites, and luxurious cabins, making it suitable for any travel party. Canopy beds, shiplap, black exterior stain, and sapling trees used in porch construction lend thoughtful, boutique appeal. The property also includes Whiteside Brewing, which offers a full lunch and dinner menu, and a breakfast food truck. 

The real gems of this roadside motel are the updated cabins with warm, wooden walls and big windows, though traditional motel rooms are offered at a lower price, and all rooms have little conveniences like microwaves and refrigerators. Right in the center of town, the property is aging but has a big following, often booking up months in advance for the busiest times of year. There's a laundry on-site, and right next door is Stan's Burger Shak, which is regionally famous for its burgers, fries, and shakes.